Croatian National Home in Canada hosts fundraiser gala for new building

by croatiaweek
November 10, 2022
in News

(Photo credit: Croatian National Home)

Around 350 people have turned out for a fundraiser event in support of the new building project for the Croatian National Home in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

It was the first Gala after the lifting of restrictions with State Secretary of the Central State Office for Croats Abroad, Zvonko Milas, the key note speaker.

(Photo credit: Croatian National Home)

Milas has been touring Canada and meeting various communities across Ontario and British Columbia.

(Photo credit: Croatian National Home)

Guests of honour who also attend the event included Chad Collins, Member of Parliament for Hamilton East – Stoney Creek and Chair of the Canada-Croatia Parliamentary Friendship Group, Fred Eisenberger, Mayor of the City of Hamilton, Vice Skracic, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Canada and Ante Jovic, Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in Mississauga.

State Secretary Zvonko Milas, CNH President Ivan Luksic, Ambassador Vice Skracic and Consul General Ante Jovic (Photo credit: Croatian National Home)

Members of the Executive of the Canadian-Croatian Folklore Federation (East) (Photo credit: Croatian National Home)

Members of the Executive of the Croatian Fraternal Union of America (Photo credit: Croatian National Home)

State Secretary Zvonko Milas (Photo credit: Croatian National Home)

Ambassador Skracic (Photo credit: Croatian National Home)

Member of Parliament Chad Collins (Photo credit: Croatian National Home)

Mayor Fred Eisenberger (Photo credit: Croatian National Home)

Founded in 1928, Croatian National Home is Canada’s oldest Croatian cultural organization. In 1934, the CNH established a Croatian tambura and folklore program for children.

Today, approximately 100 children and 40 adults are enrolled in these programs. The organization built its first hall in 1930, on Beach Road, which was then the heart of Hamilton’s Croatian community. In 1982, it completed renovations on a larger building on Barton Street in Hamilton.

(Photo credit: Croatian National Home)

The organization has outgrown this facility and has embarked on a fundraising drive to build a larger facility on a one-hectare property on land it owns in Stoney Creek.

The city of Hamilton has one of the largest Croatian communities in Canada – approximately 1 in 10 Croats in Canada live in the city of Hamilton.

“The organization has a $5 million campaign to build a new hall, of which $2.1 million has been raised with a further $300,000 in pledges. Building and site plans have been submitted to the city of Hamilton for approval. We anticipate ground breaking on the construction of our new facility in fall 2023,” CNH President Ivan Luksic tells us.

Croatian National Home proposed exterior perspective

Attendees enjoyed a beautiful meal prepared by Croatian cooks and were entertained by tambura band Grupa Volta along with the band VIS Plavi Dim. More photos from the night below.