- Target:
- Government of Ontario
- Region:
- Canada
German speaking people were among the earliest settlers in Ontario; throughout the 19th century, tens of thousands of Germans immigrated to Ontario, and a large and industrious community emerged in the province.
While many wished to retain the language and cultural heritage, they came to Ontario to escape hardship and injustice in central Europe. They became proud and prosperous citizens of the province, but unfortunately there was always pressure to assimilate and give up their language.
When the First World War started, draconian measures were undertaken to eliminate German culture in Ontario, even though most German-Ontarians remained loyal citizens and even served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
By the end of the war, German culture in Ontario was effectively destroyed, and has never recovered.
We, the undersigned, request that:
1) The Government of Ontario acknowledge the historical wrong committed against German-speaking people of the Province of Ontario;
2) A region of southwestern Ontario comprising of Waterloo, Wellington, Huron, Perth, Bruce and Grey Counties be designated a "German Heritage Region";
3) The Government of Ontario fund and promote German heritage, cultural, and language projects in the "German Heritage Region" in order to restore the German community in Ontario.
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The Create a GERMAN HERITAGE REGION in Ontario petition to Government of Ontario was written by Anonymous and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.