What's in a Name?
Have you ever wondered about that enigmatic half-smile that plays around the lips of the Mona Lisa? Clearly, she knows something we don't. For one, she knows her name, her true identity. Who is she really? The puzzle has confounded art historians for centuries. In Italy she is known as La Gioconda. Researchers have said she is Lisa Gherardini, wife of the rich Florentine silk merchant who commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to paint her. But others have insisted that she is Leonardo himself, a self portrait in female accoutrements. Or perhaps the model was a male apprentice in Leonardo's workshop. No one is sure, though. If we fast forward to the late 1830's when Louis Daguerre first started capturing images of people on those tin rectangles you will find in antique shops (pick them up carefully, though; the sharp tin edges will cut your skin), the problem of identification is exacerbated. Who are the people in the hundreds of daguerreotypes that still exist? Imagine the enormity of the problem of identifying photos today!
At the Canadian Slovenian Historical Society, our Archives are slowly but surely building up a fine photographic collection that traces the history of Slovenians in Canada. While we know who donated the photos, many of people pictured in them remain anonymous to us. Who are they? Knowing their names, opens up opportunities to know their stories, their activities, and their participation in the Canadian Slovenian community.
One way of approaching this conundrum is our program KDO SMO? Perhaps you have seen us at community events. We make copies of pictures donated to our archives, enlarge them, and put numbers over the heads of the people in the photo. Then at KDO SMO? events we ask Slovenians in Canada to tell us if they recognize anyone. As CSHS volunteers, we find this activity to be particularly rewarding: not only do we find out the names of who is photographed, but we also get to hear their stories, the ups and downs of their lives. Often these encounters lead to more photographs, documents and other materials for our Archives. The addition of even one name adds to the history of Slovenians in Canada; a small group but proud of our heritage, we can point to the CSHS Archives to let Canada know that we also count in Canada's history.
Look for our KDO SMO? table at future community events. Call us if you would like us to come to your event. Our archivist, Frank Majzelj, who holds certification in genealogy, will gladly accept materials for the archives. We are members of the Archives Association of Ontario (AAO) and of the Canadian Oral History Association (COHA) and abide by all the policies and regulations of recognized Archives.
Is KDO SMO? an interesting activity? Is it fun? Does it take you down memory lane? Try it for yourself. If you can identify anyone from the photo of the Slovenian Sports Club women's volleyball champions (early 1970's) reproduced here,
contact the archivist at fmajzelj@cogeco.ca
Watch for updates in this bulletin.
By: Anne Urbancic
Dr. Anne Urbancic
Slovenska dneva 2011 - Bled Planica, Beamsville in Slovensko letovišče, Bolton
KDO SMO? Bled Planica
Miriam Čekuta
V nedeljo, 16. junija je Bled Planica 13 - Social Club praznoval Slovenski dan v svojem parku v Beamsville. Po maši in procesiji je sledil pestri in zabavni kulturni program. Kanadsko slovensko zgodovinsko društvo je postavilo razstavno mizo pod napisom Kdo smo? in dali na razstavo nekaj starih fotografij z željo, da bi navzoči ugotovili nam neznane osebnosti s slik, ob enem pa smo tudi kazali video o dogodkih pred dvajsetimi leti, ko smo Slovenci upali, da bo tudi Kanada priznala samostojno Slovenijo. Veliko zanimanja je bilo ob razstavljenih slik in mnogi so si jih ogledali in poskušali ugotoviti, kdo so te neznane osebe. Zanimalo jih je tudi delovanje našega društva. Tega dneva sta se udeležila tudi Tomaž Kunstelj, veleposlanik, in dr. Boštjan Žekš, minister za Slovence v zamejstvu in po svetu. Oba sta si ogledala rastavo in se zanimala, kako napreduje naše delo z zbiranjem arhivov po Kanadi.
Jožica Vegelj in Miriam Čekuta na Slovenskem dnevu v Beamsville
KDO SMO? Slovensko letovišče
Anne Urbančič
Our Kdo Smo? Program volunteers looked forward to July 3, 2011 when the CSHS set up a display at the Slovenian Farm in Bolton. The annual event, held in conjunction with Slovenski Dan festivities on the first Sunday of July, focused this year on celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Slovenian Independence. Our archivist, Frank Majzelj, together with Dorothy Lenarčič, Mary Rožmanc, and Anne Urbančič, welcomed the visitors stopping by to view pictures commemorating the involvement of Canadian Slovenians in Slovenia's
1991 struggle for independence. This year our guests also enjoyed video clips of the many televised news reports that described the exciting and challenging steps leading to the declaration that Slovenia was an independent republic. The support of Canadian Slovenians was clear in those filmed excerpts, as was that of many Canadian politicians. It comes as no surprise, then, that Canada was among the first countries to recognize the new status of Slovenia (January 15, 1992). Canada's recognition preceded even that of the UN (May 1992).
As usual Kdo Smo? pictures led to reminiscences and stories from people who stopped to view our display. We look forward to more community presentations as successful as this one.
Dorothy Lenarčič in conversation with Mr. Andrej Pahulje and Mr. Tone Podobnik
Anne Urbancic and Mary Rozmanc - after a hard day S of volunteer work for the Historical Society
It happened 20 years ago
Demonstrations in support of Independent Slovenia
Demonstrations in Edmonton, Manitoba. Speaker: Frank Klemen
Demonstrations at Queens Park, Toronto, Ontario - July 6, 1991 Mr. Tone Podobnikprovided 600 new flags
Župnija Brezmadežne praznuje 50. obletnico It happened 50 years ago
(povzeto po brošuri "Cerkev Brežmadežne s čudodelno svetinjo 1962")
First Parish Council and Building Committee - Cerkveni odbor cerkve Brezmadežne s čudodelno svetinjo, ki je nosil težo gradnje: sede od leve na desno: Franc Jereb, Feliks Sebanc, Stane Ulčar, predsednik, Tine Tekavčič, blagajnik in delovodja, Franc Osredkar, tajnik. Stoje od leve na desno: Stane Čermelj, Franc Petrič, Jože Jaklič, Janez Sibenik, Franc Anzelc, Dore Pleško, Janez Vičič.
... ko sem začel organizirati cerkveni odbor, ki naj bi zbiral denar za bodočo novo cerkev in bi bil dušnemu pastirju desna roka pri organiziranju nove župnije, so se pojavila vprašanja, ki jih je mogel rešiti le nadškof to-rontske nadškofije kardinal McGuigan. Z g. župnikom Kolaričem sva šla k njemu in ga vprašala, kdo naj imenuje cerkveni odbor in komu bo podrejen. Kardinal je odločil, naj si kandidate za cerkveni odbor izbere dušni pastir, ki bo novo cerkev zidal in župnijo organiziral, kardinal bo pa cerkveni odbor potrdil. Potem bo cerkveni odbor neposredno pod vodstvom dušnega pastirja, ta pa bo odgovoren neposredno kardinalu...
Janez Kopač, C.M.
Volunteers of 20 years ago
Twenty years ago if anyone had asked me about Slovenia's independence I would have claimed political ignorance. But when the Yugoslav tanks rolled in, I suddenly paid attention. Attending a meeting at Marija Pomagaj, it became clear we would demand Canadian government support for Slovenia and to do that we needed to protest and start an information campaign. I volunteered to set up the Slovenian Information Centre with Leander Škof and sprang into action. Daily press releases provided the media with the background information they needed to report the story from a
Volunteers of today
Danielle Biss
I became involved with the Historical Society about 6 years ago, through volunteering at "Kdo Smo?" at the Dom Lipa Christmas Bazaar and "Povejte Nam Kaj" throughout the years. When help was needed to organize the Archives, I jumped to the occasion. I have been working at the CSHS Archives for over a year now, learning even more about my Slovenian culture and history. It is thrilling to interpret and catalogue documents and artifacts from up to 70 years ago -sometimes I feel like I am travelling back in time! This opportunity has allowed me to connect more deeply with my Slovenian heritage. I'm proud to see the Archives grow each time we receive a donation, and I look forward to continuing to work with the team.
Danielle Biss - volunteer at the Canadian Slovenian Historical Society
" Dorothy Lenarčič
Canadian perspective. Our protest marches were timed to maximize media coverage. Convincing all the major television stations to send reporters to the Slovensko Letovišče for Slovenski Dan was a challenge, as they had to drive nearly an hour out of Toronto. It helped that I could offer them a politician from Slovenia and excellent Slovenian food! They all came and we received wide coverage on the news that evening. Thankfully, the crisis in Slovenia was relatively short and we can be proud of our contribution to the recognition of Slovenia as an independent state.
Mimi O'Handley
I started volunteering with the Archives when I was 12, helping at community events like Kdo Smo? and Povejte Nam Kaj. Then my first trip to Slovenia really inspired me, so I decided to get more involved. I discovered that by working at the Archives I could combine my love for studying history and my interest in knowing my own heritage better. Every time someone donates documents or artifacts to the Archives, it's like opening a treasure box. I have a great appreciation for archival studies.
Thanks to my involvement in cataloguing all the donations, I feel really proud of what the Slovenians in Canada have achieved.
Mimi O'Handley at work in the offices of the Canadian Slovenian Historical Society
OUR STORY is published by:
Canadian Slovenian Historical Society
52 Neilson Drive,
Toronto, ON M9C 1V7
For more information contact:
Frank Majzelj
Telephone: 905-643-3563
E-mail: fmajzelj@cogeco.ca
IN THIS ISSUE	
•	What's in a name? • •	Slovenska dneva 2011 - Bled Planica, Beams- • ville in Slovensko letovišče, Bolton • •	It happened 20 years ago	It happened 50 years ago Volunteers of 20 years ago Volunteers of today