About the Danish Canadian Club

The first Danes in Canada reached Hudson's Bay in 1619 when Captain Jens Munk tried to find the Northwest Passage. He attempted to establish New Denmark at what is now Churchill (Manitoba), but most of his crew died of scurvy. Captain Munk and two others managed to sail back to Denmark.

More than 265 years later, after the Canadian Pacific Railroad drove the last spike for the trans-Canada railroad on November 7, 1885 – linking east to west – Danes returned to Western Canada in great numbers.

The first Danish settlement in Alberta (Dickson, 1903) was pioneered mostly by farmers. Along with later settlements at Standard, Dalum and Tilley, these farmers were instrumental in developing Alberta’s modern dairy industry. These settlers also brought with them their system of agricultural co-operation, and teaching methods from Danish Folk High Schools. Later, in the 1950s, most Danish immigrants were trades people. The West is now home to almost 80% of Canadians who claim Danish ancestry.

The success of Danish immigrants at agriculture, dairy production and the trades – and their general cheerfulness – led Anglo-Westerners to consider Danes as close cousins from the very beginning. Of course, this was encouraged by the familiarity of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; and Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales, which were as dear to Anglo-Canadian children as the stories were to Danes themselves.

Today, between 40,000 and 50,000 persons of Danish descent reside in Calgary and the surrounding area (out of a total population of about 1 million).

Around 1928, three Danish clubs were established in Calgary. In 1933, however, the clubs decided it would be to their mutual benefit to join forces. So on November 30, 1933, 72 chartered members formed a new and integrated club named The Danish Canadian Society.

In 1944, The Danish Canadian Society moved into its own premises at 114-7th Avenue S.E. next to the York Hotel. On November 9, 1945, the name was changed to its present name, "The Danish Canadian Club", commonly known as “DCC”. In 1964, The Danish Canadian Club (DCC) sold its property on 7th Avenue and purchased its present location at 727-11th Avenue S.W. Although we have stayed in the same place for over 40 years, the Club was completely renovated in 2001, and is refurbished almost every year.

We are the strongest and most popular “private club” in Calgary. While the Club is for Members and Guests, we will be very happy to sign you in as a “special guest” so you can experience our wonderful Mermaid Inn Restaurant, meet some Members, and see what we’re all about. We welcome everyone.