We are reprinting an article originally published on our website on October 27, 2010:
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Slovak League, I wish to congratulate the Executive Officers and members on the 70th Anniversary of Branch 23 in Welland.
At this time, I would like to give special recognition to Branislav Galat for his dedicated service not only in the Welland Branch but also in the various Head Office positions that he held over a span of twenty-five years.
This platinum jubilee marks a significant milestone, and it is an opportunity to honour the founders and past members who built the Welland Branch to help Canadians of Slovak descent preserve their culture, history and language, and to support them with integration and settlement issues. Despite the changes in our society during the past 70 years, this largest branch in the organization deserves to be commended for upholding a family-based philosophy at the core of its membership. It is remarkable that there are some families that have three and four generations of active members in the Canadian Slovak League.
Once again, please accept my best wishes for a memorable anniversary and the continued success of the Welland Branch in the years to come.
Mary Ann Doucette
President, Canadian Slovak League
