Sokol Montreal

"A healthy beautiful human body, a harmonious development of the total personality with a well rounded, firm character, truthful and just; people that are strong, beautiful, good and honorable - that is the goal of the Sokol idea and of Sokol activities."

Sokol is a many-faceted organization guiding its members throughout life to physical and moral health. This goal is pursued through general physical fitness activities, gymnastics and sports, as well as varied cultural and social activities.

The Sokol idea is based on strict adherence to principles of freedom, democracy, equality and justice for all. Not to demand equality, but to give it - that is the sense of Sokol brotherhood. Freedom in Sokol is combined with voluntary discipline. All work by Sokol officers, instructors and committee members is performed voluntarily, without any remuneration, following the motto for Sokol activity: "Neither for profit nor for glory."

The Sokol Organization is perhaps best known for its famous "Slets" - physical fitness and cultural festivals. The most important of these, "All-Sokol Slets", attended by Sokols from many lands, are held in Prague at periodic intervals, except when interrupted by wars or when Sokol was banned and dissolved. During that time "Czechoslovak Sokol Abroad" was established as the temporary successor to the Czechoslovak Sokol Organization (ČOS). Following the collapse of communism at the end of 1989, the Sokol organization in Czechoslovakia was again revived.

Founded on February 16, 1862 by Dr. Miroslav Tyrš in Prague, present capital of the Czech Republic, Sokol soon spread abroad. It was brought to Canada by a group of Czech miners who arrived in 1910 and settled in Western Canada near Crow's Nest Pass. New immigrants from Czechoslovakia established Sokol units in Montreal (1928), Winnipeg (1929), Toronto (1931) and Regina (1932). Separated by great distances, the units existed in virtual isolation from each other. In 1940, with the arrival of Bata organization in Canada, the town of Batawa near Trenton, Ontario, was built and a Sokol unit was established there. Being relatively close to the Toronto Sokol unit, coordination of both units' activities commenced and gradually resulted in cooperation of all the units of the Northeastern district (Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit). The arrival of refugees after the Communist coup d'etat in 1948 resulted in the establishment of "Sokol Canada", associating all Sokol units in Canada for the first time in a national organization.

Sokol's activity consists of several national events held annually, such as Gymnastics championships held in May, Summer Games with competitions in track and field and swimming, Winter Games with competitions in skiing. It also includes systematic schooling of Sokol instructors and annual summer camps for Sokol youth. Periodically, generally every four years, Sokol Canada conducts a national "Slet".