The German-Canadian Benevolent Society of BC celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.
Elke Porter for Westcoast German News Media:
The Vancouver Rowing Club on Stanley Park Drive transformed into a slice of Bavaria on
September 25th, 2025, as the German-Canadian Benevolent Society of BC celebrated its
remarkable 60th anniversary. Under gloriously sunny skies—a blessing that would give way to
rain just one day later—hundreds of guests gathered in traditional dirndls and lederhosen to
honor six decades of community service and cultural preservation.
Elke Porter from Westcoast German News captured the infectious atmosphere as guests raised
their beer steins in true German beer hall fashion. The doors opened at 6:30 PM, the welcome
announcement was at 7 pm and the heartfelt speeches, that painted a vivid picture of the
organization’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming a cornerstone of Vancouver’s
German-Canadian community, started at 8 pm.
MC Rudi Kischer, Director and Board Member welcomed the crowd, and announced dinner.
Afterwards, we heard from Jutta Purchase, CEO of the German Canadian Benevolent Society,
George Chow, MLA for Vancouver-Fraserview, who praised the Society’s unwavering commitment
to seniors’ care. He even said he might move in one day in the future. Rudi Kischer shared
touching stories of the German Canadian Care Home’s impact, while special guest Deputy Consul
Dirk Jakobi, accompanied by his wife Laura, brought greetings from the Vancouver German
Consulate.
The evening’s most poignant moment came when speakers honored Elisabeth Ochs (1903-1990),
the remarkable visionary who founded the German-Canadian Benevolent Society in 1965 with
just a small group of dedicated German immigrants. What made her achievement truly
extraordinary was the lightning speed with which she transformed a dream into reality—
establishing the care home at its current 2010 Harrison Drive location by 1969, a mere four years
after the Society’s founding. This stands in stark contrast to today’s lengthy building approval
processes that can stretch for decades.
Frau Ochs and her fellow immigrants understood the urgent need for German seniors to have a
place where they could receive care while maintaining their cultural identity and companionship.
By 1978, their grassroots initiative had grown so successful that the home joined the provincial
long-term residential care program.
Through numerous renovations and upgrades over the decades, Elisabeth Ochs’s original vision
has continuously evolved, incorporating new technology while preserving the warm, communitycentered
approach that defined her leadership. Her legacy lives on not only through the
compassionate care provided to German-Canadian seniors today, but through the Society’s bold
new redevelopment project—proof that her pioneering spirit of rapid, decisive action continues
to inspire the organization she founded sixty years ago.
Entertainment proved as authentic as the Bavarian atmosphere. The S-Bahn Band had the crowd
swaying to Oktoberfest favorites including “Die Hände zum Himmel,” “Fliegerlied,” and
“Schneewalzer.” The Edelweiss Dancers from the Austria Club brought boisterous, happy energy
with their bouncing, smiling performances that had the entire crowd grinning along, while the
evening’s showstopper was Franz, who balanced precariously on two chairs while yodeling at
increasingly frantic speeds as the delighted audience chanted “Faster, Franz!”
Traditional German cuisine satisfied every palate—succulent bratwurst with tangy sauerkraut,
followed by heavenly apple strudel crowned with vanilla sauce and fresh whipped cream. Each
guest’s drink ticket ensured authentic toasts echoed through the venue, recreating the
communal spirit of a genuine German beer hall.
As the evening wound down, guests reflected on sixty years of the German-Canadian Benevolent
Society’s dedication to preserving cultural heritage while serving Vancouver’s aging German-
Canadian population. The celebration wasn’t just about looking back—it was a toast to the future,
ensuring that Elisabeth Ochs’s vision continues to flourish for generations to come.
Sponsors were Sodexo Canada (food services), Wissner-Bosserhof, (hospital and nursing beds)
Community Therapists, Kasian Architecture and Interior Design, as well as Field and Marten
Associates. (full service real estate consulting) Christian Johannsen from Foot Solutions was also
there to support Seniors – https://footsolutions.com/locations/vancouver/book/. General
Manager Lorenzo Lepore from the Vancouver Alpen Club was there, as well as members from
the St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, including the new pastor, Ulrich Hossbach.
The celebration proved that the community truly cares about seniors and their well-being.
Beyond the festivities, guests learned about an exciting milestone: the Society’s ambitious
redevelopment project set to break ground in early 2026. The new state-of-the-art care home will
accommodate 178 residents in private rooms—46 more than current capacity—featuring 15
intimate households of 12 residents each, complete with kitchens, dining areas, and laundry
facilities.
The revolutionary design includes neighborhood spaces connecting households and a central
village with community hall, library, spa, and rehabilitation room supporting the Society’s
innovative Comfortzeit® care model. With completion expected in 2029, this project represents
Elisabeth Ochs’s vision evolving for the next generation.
The evening demonstrated that even after six decades, the bonds between Germany and Canada
remain as strong as ever, united by shared values of community, tradition, and genuine
Gemütlichkeit—now expanding to embrace cutting-edge senior care.
