Read Westcoast German News for Olympic Updates

PR Log (Press Release) – Aug 25, 2009 – Westcoast German News has the ambition is to be a source of reference for the 2010 Olympics as it pertains to the German, Austrian & Swiss Community. With a humble beginning in 2007 as “German VOICES Vancouver”, Westcoast German News has since expanded to the west coast of Canada and the US.  Now with the Olympics coming to Vancouver in February and the Paralympics in March, it plans to devote at least 2 pages of each issue on topics such as accommodations, important contacts, travel tours, while showcasing athletes from the 3 German-speaking European countries represented in 2010.

Potential readers can download archived issues, subscribe to the newsletter or read the blog found at: www.germanvoicesvancouvercom/blog .  A typical reader is anyone living away from Germany and who would like to be in the know as far as the German-speaking community in western Canada and the US goes.  There are meetup groups; social groups, clubs, churches, non-profits, businesses and online communities, yet most of these are concerned with their own membership and with increasing their own profits.  Westcoast German News, found at www.germanvoicesvancouver.com, in contrast, tries to connect and represent them all.

Elke Porter, the editor, came up with the idea of a simple, versatile newsletter after spending some time in the German-Canadian Congress and after the Kanada Kourier went bankrupt.  She writes mostly in English, as it is more inclusive and allows 2nd and 3rd generation Germans to participate in the community.  A regular columnist, Karin Waechter, also contribues “German Matters” and a “Learn German” page, perfect for those interested in increasing their knowledge of German trivia and language.  Porter is also a member of the German and Swiss Chambers of Commerce and the new publisher of the Swiss Herald.  

Meanwhile Porter says” Anyone who has an article idea or information for visitors regarding the upcoming Olympics is welcome to get in touch.  Articles, photos & events by Swiss living in the Lower Mainland are best for the Swiss Herald and articles for the international and local German-speaking Community are best for the Westcoast German News newsletter.” The best e-mail address is for either is germanvoices@yahoo.ca.