| HISTORY/BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: | The Vasa Order of America was founded in New Haven, Connecticut, on September 18, 1896. The Order is named for Gustav Vasa, who liberated Sweden in the 16th century and became the first King of modern Sweden. The Order was established as a Swedish sick and death benefit society. The Vasa Order’s objectives were to preserve Swedish culture, and to provide financial aid to members who were incapable of working due to illness or other misfortune, or to families of deceased members. The income for this was received through entrance fees, monthly dues, donations, and interest on other deposits and other sources. The Vasa Order was initially a strictly Swedish organization, and the English language was not allowed to be used at meetings until the 1920s. Though primarily a men’s organization, women participated in auxiliary activities and children’s clubs were formed to encourage interest in the history, culture, and language of their ancestral country. The lodges also serve as gathering places for Swedish festivities or events. The Alberta District Lodge No. 18 was established in 1930 to serve as the overseeing body for individual Alberta Lodges. The individual lodges were: Branting Lodge 417 in Calgary, organized in 1925; Norden Lodge 513 in Meeting Lake, established in 1928; Skandia Lodge 549 in Edmonton, founded in 1924; Tegner Lodge 565 in Stavely, organized in 1930; and Lethbridge Lodge 579, Lethbridge, established in 1932. In January 2004, all of the lodges were still operational except for Tegner Lodge 565. |