Timeline

A chronology of the group (1969 – today)

1969	Horst Schmid (later Alberta Minister of Multiculturalism) starts a schuhplattler group of three couples to perform in his Hofbräuhaus in Edmonton. Rudy and Hilde Kirrmaier join the group.
January 4 1971	The Bavarian Schuhplattlers of Edmonton is registered as a non-profit organization in Alberta. Rudy Kirrmaier becomes leader of the Group. The band Mellow Tones becomes Erwin’s Alpine Band and accompanies the Group on its performances.
1974	The Group made two trips to the World’s Fair in Spokane, once in July to represent Alberta, and again in October to fill in for a German delegation that was unable to make the journey. Siegfried Przybilla performs in Japan. Erwin’s Alpine Band ends its association with the Group.
September 1974	The Group performed in Fort Smith, N.W.T. for the Centennial Celebrations and in Newfoundland to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that province.
Spring 1975	Through a government grant, Ehrenvorplattler Rudl Dullinger and his wife Centa are brought over from Munich to teach the Group new dances and Bavarian traditions.
September 1975	Gustl Paulitsch and Rudy Kirrmaier performed in Korea.
1976	The Group purchases its first set of group-owned Lederhosen for the men, and the girls have a set of Dirndls made. Rudi and Eric Seneka performed at the 1976 Olympics in Quebec.
1977	Trip to Quebec
1979	The Group performed in Kitchener, Waterloo for the Oktoberfest celebrations. The Family Sydel adds its musical and singing talents to the Group.
1982	The Kirrmaiers purchased the cow bells, or Schellenspiel in Traunstein, Germany on behalf of the Group, and the girls begin playing the bells at performances.
1983	The Group moves into the German Canadian Cultural Centre.
January 1989	George Lauf is elected the second President of the Group.
1991	Helmut Eder teaches the Group a variety of new dances from the Jachenau group in Munich.
July 5-8 1991	Group participates in the biannual North American Gaufest held in Vancouver, B.C.
Sepember 1991	The group’s first trip of many to Kimberley, B.C, where the annual Alpine Volkfest is held.
January 1994	George Kuhse is elected the third President of the Group.
January 1995	Ronny Fritz is elected the fourth President of the Group.
October 1995	The Bavarian Schuhplattler Home Page comes on-line, edited by Frank Friesacher.
July 6-7 1996	The Bavarian Schuhplattlers celebrate their 25th Anniversary!!
December 1996	Vice President Bernd Kallenbach initiates annual Christmas newsletter to all past and present members.
July 1-5 1999	The Group travels to St. Paul, Minnesota to participate in the biannual North American Gaufest.
July 22-31 1999	The Group performs at Edmonton’s Klondike Days Festival, where the host country for 1999 is Germany.
September 2000	The junior Schuhplattler group Die Alpenspatzen is created, under the instruction of Bernd Kallenbach and the Bavarian Schuhplattlers.
January 2001	Bernd Kallenbach is elected the fifth President of the Group.
July 2002	The Group performs at the Opening of the FIFA Soccer World Championship for Women U-19 in front of +20.000 in the Commonwealth Stadium here in Edmonton.
March 2003	The group attends the first Western Canadian Schuhplatter Workshop & Dance in Calgary.
May 22-25 2003	The group travels to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to participate int the 19. Gaufest.
March 2004	The group travels to Vancouver to attend the 2. Bi-annual Western Canadian Schuhplattler Workshop & Dance.
May 2004	The group representatives shows its new Tracht at the Gau Delegates meeting in Lancester, PA and gets accepted as prelimenary member to the Gauverband North America.
June 2005	The group travels to Buffalo, New York to attend the 20. Gaufest.
May 2006	The groups sends representatives to the Gau delegates meeting and gets accepted as full member into the Gauverband North America.
May 2006	The group hosts the 3rd bi-annual Western Canadian Workshop & Dance in Edmonton
January 2007	Frank Friesacher is elected as the 6th President of the group.
June 2007	The group attends the 21. Gaufest in Hershey, Pennsylvania and performs the Ehrentanz with the full group in Tracht.