Calgary’s Danish Canadian Club (DCC) history spans almost 100 years. It first formed in the 1930s as a place for new immigrants to connect with others from their homeland. After 60 years in its downtown location on 11th Ave S.W., the club sold the building and moved into its new home at the Austrian Canadian Cultural Centre, located in northeast Calgary. In June, the club relocated much of its traditional furniture and artifacts to the new Mermaid Inn, DCC’s restaurant and lounge, which remains under the same name. The inn is open to the public to discover Danish culture and heritage from Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“The Danish Canadian Club in Calgary really was an incredibly important place for all these Canadians to find language and their food and celebration of their culture, and that hasn’t changed,” says DCC’s manager of operations Annemarie Pedersen. “We are looking forward to working with existing members and new partners to build a dynamic community that celebrates everything Danish, including food, arts and culture, architecture and design, in unique ways.”
A pivotal time of evolution
The decision to move was based on a combination of factors. The building was aging and the membership was decreasing. “We’re finding that the next generation is not as committed to cultural clubs and not doing the same kinds of things. When my parents were going to the Danish club regularly, they were going to dances and dinners all the time,” explains Pedersen.
At this pivotal point of the club’s evolution, DCC is finding new ways to connect with the community and address how people gather today. To achieve this, the DCC has a new goal of helping spread the word about opportunities beyond its own offerings.
Calgarians can discover Danish culture through local performances of Danish musical works or Danish-American film screenings, like the one happening at this year’s Calgary International Film Festival. Not to mention, food has always been at the heart of DCC’s cultural sharing — you can still find Danish dishes at the Mermaid Inn, like open-faced sandwiches and frikedeller (Danish meatballs).
Grand opening month
Although DCC officially moved into its new home in June, the club wanted to get settled before hosting an official celebration. This month marks its grand opening, and Calgarians can find a new Danish special on the menu every week. On September 24, the club is offering a one-day-only traditional Danish pork roast dinner with all its bells and whistles, including the crackling and gravy. As always, the club is hosting events including a members-only event in early October, which will involve a lively evening of food, music and a medley of both Austrian and Danish cultures.
As DCC continues to evolve, all are welcome to join the public celebrations and become members, regardless of their heritage. “We really welcome the idea of bringing new communities, new cultures, and inviting them to learn more about Denmark. Canada is an inclusive society and we definitely want to represent that in our work as we go forward,” says Pedersen.
To learn more about the new space and upcoming events, visit facebook.com/TheDanishCanadianClub or www.danishclubcalgary.com.
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