The Slovenski Dom in Toronto Celebrates their 50th Anniversary

Oscar Koren

This may sound like an understatement as we celebrate Slovenski Dom’s 50th anniversary, but 50 years is a remarkably short period of time in the life of a Slovenian cultural organization in North America.  I am thinking here of Slovenian Women’s Union at 83 years, Slovene National Benefit Society (SNPJ) at 105 years and the grandfather of the Slovenian cultural organizations the American Slovenian Catholic Union (KSKJ) which is heading for 115 years.

Fifty years is an important milestone and we must celebrate it with pride and enthusiasm. Slovenski Dom at 50 is a celebration not how long we have been around, but of what we have accomplished in those 50 years. More than that, it is about the next 50 years and what we have yet to achieve together.

For the past few years our members have been poring over photos and historic records and generally thinking of how to best showcase Slovenski Dom’s fascinating history.  All this effort culminated with the publication of the book, “History of Slovenski Dom/Zgodovina Slovenskega Doma”.  You can read this remarkable history complete with photos from the early days of Slovenski Dom in both languages Slovenian and English.

We are fortunate to have many of the people who helped shape Slovenski Dom still involved with the organization.  The vision for Slovenski Dom was set by the founding fathers. The first Directors of the non-profit corporation named Slovenski Dom of Toronto were Peter Markes,  Joseph Turk,  John Kastelic, John Muhic, Alois Dolenc, Otmar Mauser, Frank Demsar, Peter Klopcic, Joseph Kastelic and Bozo Kosir. The first President was Alois Dolenc.  It is with great pleasure to note that two of the first Directors of Slovenski Dom are still among us today.    At one of the early Slovenski Dom banquets the guest of honour was Dr. Miha Krek, a former minister of Yugoslavia residing in Cleveland, Ohio.  Dr. Krek made the following prophetic toast, “The soup which you prepared today, you will have to drink for your time eternal”.  This was a reminder that the consequences of decisions last forever.   I believe that Dr. Krek’s words are truer today than they were when he spoke them.   In those few words are the seeds of our commitment to continue to serve the needs of the Slovenian community and our drive to continue promoting Slovenian culture and heritage.  Slovenski Dom at 50 is a place to be – old enough to know what we want and young enough to go after it.   And I feel tremendously proud to be leading Slovenski Dom at this time in its history.  Our vision for the next 50 years is to become a leading cultural organization serving the needs of the Slovenian community.   A vision we can only achieve if we plan for it.

Now, as we celebrate the past, we must also make plans, ask questions, recruit new members, engage the Slovenian community, bridge the intergenerational gap between seniors and youth, look for a new building to prepare for future growth, provide benefits for our members and improve our website www.slovenskidom.com.  We need to work hard to find new and better ways of creating unity among different Slovenian organizations for the benefit of all Slovenians.  And we need to reach out and make our non-Slovenian family and friends welcome amongst us. 

Slovenian Home Association
864 Pape Ave, Toronto, Ontario
M4K 3T8 Canada
Website: www.slovenskidom.com 

Oscar Koren - President
14 Oakmount Crescent
Concord, Ontario L4K 2C3
Canada
Tel: 905-669-2365
Fax: 905-669-4838
Email: okoren@sympatico.ca