Christmas Message from Westcoast German News

A Focused Year of Stories

Blogs go through seasons—and lately I’ve made a conscious decision to focus more clearly on selected topics, rather than trying to write about everything at once. This year, my attention has naturally turned to soccer—for obvious reasons. I’m genuinely excited to welcome Switzerland to Vancouver, Germany to Toronto, and Austria to San Francisco. To get into the soccer spirit, I have attended six Vancouver Whitecaps matches as a photographer for Westcoast German News and grown my TikTok channel to over 3,000 followers.

WISE or Westcoast International Soccer Enthusiast.

I will, of course, continue to share important local and international news relevant to the Austrian, German, and Swiss communities. At the same time, my focus is shifting toward key stories, events, and themes that truly matter—such as the Hannover Messe when Canada was the partner country, or local highlights like the Vancouver International Film Festival 2024 and the Web Summit 2025.

VIFF 2024 | Web Summit 2025 | Advantage Austria Breakfast

Vancouver International Film Festival 2024

Even promoting well-known German, Swiss, and Austrian visitors—from those who now call Canada home to those here only temporarily—has been a privilege. Highlights include the German National Rugby Team, Christian Löffler, whom I first saw live at the Commodore Ballroom with an all-access pass on September 7, 2024, and who will return for a new show on Friday, March 20, 2026, and Florian Hoefner, a German-born, Newfoundland-based jazz pianist who performed in Lions Bay. Thomas Müller, now playing soccer with the Whitecaps after leaving Bayern Munich, rounds out this remarkable list of visitors.

German National Rugby Team | DJ Christian Löffler | Florian Höffner and finally Thomas Müller after a winning Whitecaps Match (7:0)

There were also other iconic artists I didn’t get the chance to meet in person, such as Kraftwerk and Babymetal, whose presence still underscored how vibrant the German-speaking cultural scene is on the West Coast. But I did get to see Sleeping Beauty at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster and 9 to 5, the Musical, which I really enjoyed.

Sleeping Beauty at the Massey Theatre | 9 to 5 at the Massey Theatre

Sleeping Beauty Ballet at Massey Theatre 2025

Meanwhile, the Westcoast International Networking Klub has also officially come to an end, simply because there were not enough participants to sustain it long term. I am sincerely grateful to the steady and loyal attendees who showed up to meetings, our speakers who generously shared their expertise, and everyone who supported the Klub through our Facebook pages. Your engagement, encouragement, and community spirit were truly appreciated, and I wish you all continued success and connection in the year ahead.

WINK members attending a panel discussion organized by the UBC German Student Association “Germany’s Election & Europe” 2025

The publication’s mandates are threefold:

First, to report on Austrian, German, and Swiss news and stories relevant to audiences on the west coast of Canada and the United States, with an emphasis on accuracy, context, and relevance.
Second, to inform the local community about cultural, business, sports, and media developments that shape transatlantic connections.
Third, to document and showcase German Canadian, Swiss Canadian, and Austrian Canadian initiatives—both locally and abroad—providing visibility to projects taking place in North America as well as in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.

Sleeping Beauty | Panel Discussion at UBC | Quantum Games at SFU

UBC German Student Association and their panel discussion.

There’s also a personal connection behind this work. My grandfather—my Opa—was a photojournalist in the 1930s. I’m one of his eleven grandchildren, following in his footsteps in my own way, with a blog, an iPhone, and a lot of creativity.

Photojournalist Wolfgang Karl Fritz Klaue | Elke Porter – Austria Club

Thank you to everyone who advertised, read, shared, and sent encouraging words. Your support truly matters. Independent media exists because of engaged readers and partners who believe that diverse voices, thoughtful reporting, and community-focused storytelling deserve a place alongside large, corporate outlets. Westcoast German News has been expanding their reach to all kinds of Vancouver adventures.

Here are just a few events of 2025 that did not directly have to do with German. The event on the right was the “Road to the Web Summit Event” and how to deal with media. The event in the middle was in Richmond, called Capital Empowerment and Win-Win Cooperation where they decided to invite other cultures to attend. Finally, the third picture on the left is the Team Ukraine Fundraising Gala the night before the Invictus Games held in Vancouver & Whistler.

Road to Web Summit | Capital Empowerment Conference | Invictus Games – Team Ukraine Fundraiser

Capital Empowerment & Win-Win Cooperation

Every click, share, comment, and advertisement helps protect editorial independence and makes it possible to keep publishing stories that might otherwise go untold. Audience support isn’t just appreciated—it’s vital. It’s what allows independent platforms to remain curious, accountable, and connected to the communities they serve.

Christmas Wish Breakfast | Christmas Market | the Nutcracker Ballet

Christmas Wish Breakfast at the Pan Pacific Hotel 2025

This brings me to the WBN Digital Platform owned by George Moen and the World Referral Network. I have also written 700 articles there. Together with Karalee Greer, I write about Vancouver, Kitsilano, Sea-to-Sky, the North Shore and German Canadian Business News on the WBN News Platform and hope to see you reading my work.

Web Summit Prep | FIFA Countown Vancouver | Content Creator – Me!

II’m very much looking forward to what 2026 will bring—with so many events, visitors, and matches ahead. If you’d like to get involved, there are several meaningful ways to do so. You can sign up for the newsletter to stay informed and help amplify independent reporting, place an advertisement to reach a highly targeted international audience, or join the business directory to increase your visibility within the German, Austrian, and Swiss communities.

FIFA Trophy Image | Austrian breakfast | Swiss Bell | Gernie’s View

Holding Team Germany Jersey (Die Mannschaft) from 2014 next to the actual FIFA Trophy.

I’m also available for public relations and communications services, helping individuals, organizations, and brands tell their stories clearly and effectively. However you choose to participate, your involvement helps strengthen independent media and the community around it.

Here are just a few pictures of some of the six Whitecaps Games I attended as a photographer

Whitecaps score 4 goals and win the match

Swiss Chamber of Commerce | YVR Entrepreneurs Club Monetize the Mic Workshop | FIFA Draw Watch Party at False Creek

YVR Entrepreneurs Club with Monetize the Mic Workshop

In the picture below, I helped write the story of the Alpen Plattlers performing at the European Festival of 2025, talented artist Annette Arndt showing her dreamy landscape paintings in Kitsilano and Nicolai Pogadl, the Head of the German Secretariat of the Energy Partnership with Canada; Senior Manager, Canadian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce at the 2025 Hydrogen Conference.

Alpenplattlers at European Festival | Artist Annette Arndt at Kits House | Nicolai Pogadl at the Hy-FCell Hydrogen Conference

As this year draws to a close, I hope you’ll give yourself permission to slow down, unplug, and enjoy a well-earned pause. The holidays are a perfect time to reflect on what the past year has taught you—personally, professionally, and creatively—and to acknowledge the resilience, connections, and small wins that carried you through.

Jägerhof Restaurant | Swarovski Store | Vancouver Alpen Club

Take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come, then gently turn your thoughts toward 2026 with curiosity and hope. Whether it brings new opportunities, fresh ideas, or simply more balance and joy, this season is an invitation to reset, recharge, and imagine what’s possible.

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory | Gernie’s Restaurant | Web Summit

Gernie's Restaurant overlooking Okanagon Lake next to 2 golf courses.

Allow Westcoast German News to be a part of your journey—keeping you informed, inspired, and connected as you move into the new year and beyond.

Opera Madame Butterfyl | Kitsilano Business Leaders Meet-up Group

Westcoast German News is also closely connected to the Serendipity Group, the World Referral Network, the Vancouver German Toastmasters Club, and the European Festival. In addition, Elke Porter works with the Swiss Canadian Chamber of Commerce and is especially excited that Switzerland will be playing in Vancouver on June 24, 2026.