WHO WE ARE

The purpose of the Club is to operate as a non-profit, non-political and non-religious organization. Our objective is to foster closer cooperation among members and the general public through social and cultural activities.

How we do it?

We achieve this goal by hosting events and working with other associations in organizing events. Among the activities that we get involved in are teaching the Indonesian language (Bahasa), welcoming newcomers and various recreational sporting activities such as badminton, bowling, mini-golf, cultural shows, dancing, dining events, etc. We also disseminate information and news to our members on our new emailing list.
Here are some activities that we did in the past:

• Free Easter Party (April)
• Free Stampede Breakfast & Activities (July)
• Independence Day Celebration (August)
• Free lunch at our annual AGM (December)
• Discounted rates for sporting events, some include memberships
• Warung Sabtu (Saturday Food Fair) Gathering
• Pasar Malam (Night Market)
• Opportunity to learn and take part in Indonesian dance
• Access to CISC Facebook Group and CISC webpage
• Community Information
• Use our Facebook page to promote members own business
• Being part of other Community events
• Volunteering opportunities
• Meeting & making new friends
• Experiencing the taste of Indonesian food and culture

Who are our members?

Our members consist primarily of self-employed and professionals working in all sectors of the Canadian economy. Our members work for multinationals, government-linked companies, small and medium enterprises, in the banking, finance, information technology, and engineering fields. In fact you can now find our members in any kind of business here and some of our members are now retired. Most of our members are here in Calgary and Southern Alberta but also can be found in other cities in Canada and around the world

What is our history?

The Canadian Indonesian Social Club were founded by Canadians of Dutch and Indonesian descent living in Calgary and became a formally registered non-profit association in Canada on February 28, 1983. These 10 men and women helped local Calgarians understand more about the Indonesian culture and enjoy fun times together. Currently, a team of 12 volunteers manages the organization. In short, we have fun and end up creating friendships along the way.

But what is Indonesian Culture? (if you are not familiar with Indonesia)

First we must know a little about Indonesia. Indonesia is the largest archipelago and the fourth most populous country in the world. Consisting of five main islands (Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Papua) with 33 provinces, 39 small archipelagos, it has a total of 17,508 islands of which about 6,000 are inhabited. It stretches 5,150 km from one side of Indonesia to the other.**

The Indonesia culture is as vibrant and versatile as its landscape and natural beauty. The rich Indonesian culture is the result of the influence of the various neighboring countries and its very own ethnic culture. The influence of India and the China since the ancient times and the European and the Middle Eastern influence in the medieval age are behind the vibrant culture of Indonesia. Religions also had a big effect on the Indonesian culture. Though the largest Muslim country in the world Indonesia still has the influence of Hinduism and Buddhism embedded in its everyday life. The culture of Indonesia is well depicted in the arts and crafts of this South Asian country.

Note:

** As comparison to Canada, the longest distance from east coast to west coast Canada is 5,515 kms. Thus Canada is only 365 km wider than Indonesia, about the distance from Calgary to Edmonton.