The 2021 Old Czech Hall calendars are now for sale.
Al Kominek, from The Old Czech Hall in Dresden, told the Sydenham Current this is the biggest fundraisier this year for the hall, as they have been hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dana Haggith caught up with Kominek for an interview. Listen, below:
Kominek said to order, people can message the Old Czech Hall on Facebook, here.
They can also call Al or Marion at 519-683-2097.
Calendars are $20 each, tax included.
Kominek said you will find great stories about local Czech families, as well as recipes.
Here is an example of one of the stories:
The Yankovitch Family
Mike and Mary Yankovitch came to Canada in the early 1930’s.
Mary (Tažiar) was born in the Prievidza, Slovakia.
Mike, originally named Matej Jankovič was born in Borský Mikuláš, Slovakia.
Mike and Mary met when she was only 16 and married that year.
They worked hard on their farm located outside of Dresden where they raised their three children, Julia, Margaret and Bob.
Mike and Mary maintained their culture through baking, church, friends and… arguing, which was typically done in Slovak (so the children wouldn’t understand).
Mike and Mary never returned to Slovakia.
Mike said he wouldn’t return to a country run by “damned communists” and Mary never returned mostly because her family was here in Canada.
Mike’s parents (Jozef and Emilia Yankovitch) purchased a farm from Verna McKay in 1942 just outside of Dresden.
Jozef farmed and raised cattle.
Emilia, like most Czech and Slovak woman got a customary visit from the RCMP for growing poppies used in her baking.
Even into her 90’s, Emilia maintained a garden of over an acre.
Mary’s Parents (Mike and Julia Tažiar) farmed in Waterdown, where the grandkids, Julie, Margaret and Bob would spend summers hauling milk, baling hay and picking fruit in the orchard.
Plums were grown of course, which were sold in the market and may have been used to make a little bit of slivovica.
Mike Yankovitch farmed all his life and was awarded the silver platter from the Canadian Canners for “Highest Tonnage of #1 Tomatoes” in 1964.
Mary was a staple at MacTavish Pharmacy in Dresden for close to 25 years and faithful parishioner at St. Michael’s Church.
Mike and Mary always looked forward to the dances at the “Canadian Czech Friendship Club” in Dresden where they would join friends such as John and Štefka Samek, Stan and Fran Kominek, Charlie and Tony Čajka and George and Marilyn Adkin.
Mike passed away in 1997 and Mary in 2006.
Both are buried side by side in the Dresden cemetery.
Their farm, which they purchased from Walter Holmes in 1946, is now home to their Grandson Michael, his wife Carolyn and daughters Hannah and Katie.
– This story is sponsored content
