Home Page

Duck Feast

Menu:
Roasted duck, dumplings, braised cabbage, and lokše
Apple strudel

Price: $18.00

Please register by Friday, November 22nd!
Send a message via this Facebook page’s Messenger
or call 204-589-7483 (voicemail).

The club is open every Thursday from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM.

BBQ in Winnipeg

Dear Friends,
this is a reminder as well as an invitation to our barbequed Smokies evening this Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the CCBA Club 154 McKenzie St. Club opens at 6:30 pm.

We look forward to seeing you!

CCBA Club Board

Board

The board of CSAC Winnipeg for the period of 2017

Committee Members

History

The first record of Czech and Slovak organization and community-building in Manitoba dates back to 1907, when the first musical ensemble was formed. It quickly gained popularity at community gatherings. In 1913, seventy compatriots decided to form a community organization, with fifty-four becoming founding members of the Czech-Slavonic Benevolent Association. During the First World War, many members saw the need to establish a local chapter of the National Association, which worked closely with the National Association, the National Union of Czech Catholics, and the Slovak League (all Chicago-based organizations). Together, they united in support of establishing the Czechoslovak Republic.

Between 1918 and 1938, the activities of the Association slowed, and most members returned to working within the Benevolent Association, which continued to focus on education and support for the Czech and Slovak community—particularly assisting new immigrants settling in Manitoba.

On April 2, 1939, the Consul General of the Czechoslovak Republic in Canada summoned representatives of the local Czech and Slovak communities to the consulate, where the idea of founding a resistance organization was discussed. A general assembly was held on April 30, during which the first committee of the new Czechoslovak Association was elected. This committee met at the founding congress in Toronto on May 24–25, 1939. The organization was initially named the National Association of Slovaks, Czechs, and Carpatho-Ruthenians in Canada, and was later renamed the Czechoslovak National Association in Canada.

The Winnipeg branch was established on May 25, 1939, with 124 registered members. František Dojáček was elected as the first chairperson. During the war years, the branch organized one successful fundraising event after another, in support of the Red Cross, Canadian and Czechoslovak military units, and other causes. Nationwide, the organization grew to include 91 branches with 2,000 members, and in Manitoba, aside from Winnipeg, there were branches in Flin Flon, Morden, Steinbach, Dominion City, and Minetonas. At the so-called Victory Congress in 1945, a proposal to dissolve the organization was rejected.

In the postwar years, activity declined once again. In Winnipeg, this lull lasted until 1956. In December of that year, 17 founding members re-established the local branch of the National Association. By 1963, the organization had 105 members, with František Baleja elected as chair. All branches outside of Winnipeg were dissolved and became represented by regional delegates. These districts included Cloverleaf, Darlingford-Morden, Dominion City, Dufresne, Glenboro, Grande Pointe, Ridgeville, Sanford, Sperling, and Transcona.

The National Association continued in its original form until September 28, 1960, when it was officially incorporated nationwide. The Government of Canada formally granted the organization its Charter on March 11, 1961, at the 8th Congress held in Hamilton.

Under František Baleja’s leadership, the Winnipeg branch was ready to welcome and assist the new wave of immigrants in 1968. When Brother Baleja decided to step down as chair in the early 1970s, Adolf Klimek, a long-time friend of František from the postwar emigration, took over the leadership. After Brother Klimek, it was the new wave of Czech-Canadians who took up the mantle. These included Miroslav Folta, František Kadlec, Gabriel Adamec, Josef Dobrovolný, Jan Slavíček, Miroslav Němeček, Vilém Kun, Richard Pešík, František Hlubuček, and today, Eva Sailerová.

Written by Míša Gogelová

Chairs of the Winnipeg Branch:

69. Kongres

Česká a Slovenská Asociace v Kanadě zve všechny krajany na svůj 69. Kongres, který se bude konat 2. až 4. června 2023 v hotelu Norwood, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Tradiční neformalní setkání proběhne v pátek 2. června v prostorách klubu České a Slovenské Jednoty. Sobotní banket se uskuteční v konferenčních prostorách hotelu Norwood.

Těšíme se na setkání.