Stane + Erna Vrsnik
Stanislav (Stane) Vrsnik was born in Solcava, Slovenia, in the region of Styria (Starjarska) in 1932, the second youngest of 9 children. He grew up on a family farm which has since become the family-run Turisticna kmetija Vrsnik (Govc). Stane emigrated from Europe to Canada in 1958.
Erna Vrsnik (born Kvartic) was born in Velenje, Slovenia in the region of Styria (Stajesrska) in 1942, the second eldest of 4 children. Erna’s father had roots in lumber and commercial enterprise. Erna emigrated to Canada post WW2 in 1950.
Stane and Erna met in Winnipeg through family as Stane’s brother Louis was married to Erna’s aunt Valda. Stane and Erna were married at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Winnipeg on May 18, 1963. They bore three children: Philip, Victor and Nina.
Shortly after Stane immigrated to the city of Winnipeg in the late 1950’s, he began attending meetings at the Slovenian Club of Manitoba which was comprised of Slovenian immigrant men. Stane recalls his first involvement was to write to the Slovenian priest in Toronto, Father Kopach, requesting approval to purchase a church at 95 MacDonald Ave to meet the demands of the Slovenian community in Winnipeg. Previous attempts at securing a priest for Winnipeg were unsuccessful. Father Kopach liked the proposal and forwarded it to the Winnipeg Archbishop, Father Flahiff who approved the purchase. This led the way for the procurement of a Slovenian priest. Father Jose Mejac, originally from Slovenia, came from South America, to Toronto and was then sent to Winnipeg to reside as parish priest and received an overwhelming welcome by the community. In preparation for the priest’s new home and church, major renovations and remodelling were required, including improvements to the basement; a gathering place for the community. Stane volunteered his time after his work days as an electrician to provide and install the electrical wiring for the church, completing this task on the eve of his own wedding.
When Stane and Erna returned from their honeymoon in the summer of 1963, Our Lady of Lourdes church had just had its opening celebration. Erna along with her sisters Vladka and Vicky, and a number of other Slovenian singers joined the new church choir in 1963. Erna sang in this choir for over 20 years.
Stane continued his involvement with the Slovenian Club and was elected president at an emergency meeting about a failed financial investment and the subsequent loss of funds. Stane served as president for approximately 5 years. During his term, Stane along with his new board brought new ideas that generated both revenue and community involvement. Dances were held frequently in the Slovenian church hall. Stane’s efforts to enhance these dances with good quality dance bands, such as Winnipeg’s Schneider band, led to more interest from both inside and outside of the Slovenian community. Before long, the club had secured enough funds to purchase land for the future development of the Slovenian picnic grounds located just outside of Winnipeg. Stane, along with other club members, was involved in the purchase of the grounds and the layout for the new building.
In 1972, Erna was involved in the choir for the Slovenia Folklorama Pavilion and was instrumental in finding a much needed choir director named Velma Schellenberg, the music teacher at Lord Wolseley Elementary School. Erna also helped form the young dance group Zvoncek. Through her involvement new dances were created that are still taught today. Erna also found a dance instructor in Toronto, named Nezka Skulj. The Slovenian Club granted permission to bring Neska to Winnipeg to lead workshops teaching the more authentic Slovenian dances. Erna, along with Mrs. Theresa Lebar, led the Zvoncek Group for a few years until she moved on and became secretary for the Slovenian Folklorama Pavilion. Erna’s contributions led to improving the quality and authenticity of the various performances.
Stane, too, was involved in Folklorama. He served as Folklorama Coordinator for the pavilion in 1972 and 1973. Stane and Erna were both involved in Folklorama in various capacities over the years: from setting up the entertainment tent to running the kitchen.
As the community members began to age, the need for an elevator at the church became a priority. In 2012, Stane initiated the elevator lift project at the church and volunteered hundreds of hours. As Project Manager, Stane coordinating the chosen construction company, sub-trades and dedicated church volunteers. He was also involved in taking on the role of coordinator when repairs were required after the church flood in 2014.
While Stane and Erna may have stepped back from their physical roles, their passion and commitment to their Slovenian community and church has not waned. Their efforts over the decades has inspired their children and grandchildren to participate in this vibrant community.
November 2021
