On 25 August 2018, the Canadian Association of German Language Schools (KVDS) celebrated its 40th anniversary in Toronto as part of its annual training conference. Only through the commitment of these 24 schools, the cultivation and promotion of the German language is possible outside urban Centres in Canada. The schools are supervised by the Central Agency for Schools Abroad (ZfA). Most schools offer the German Language Diploma (DSD) of the Conference of Education Ministers.

Representatives of a delegation from Germany were also present at the reception of KVDS and the Consulate General Toronto in the Alumni Hall of Victoria College. Mr Grosse-Brömer, First Parliamentary Director of the CDU/CSU Group in the German Bundestag, paid tribute to the work of German language schools in Canada. He emphasized that the effect goes far beyond the classes, which usually take place on Saturday mornings. The parliamentarian was accompanied by his representative, Mr Patrick Schnieder, MdB, and Paul Göttke. Michael Lauber, Consul General a.i., emphasized the value of the work of the language schools and the board of the KVDS, without which the network of 24 language schools would not be conceivable.

Isolde Winter, President of the KVDS, reaffirmed the tireless work of all those involved - the teachers, the school administrators and the school boards/parent councils, which are often based on volunteer work. How challenging the cooperation inside the KVDS can be, was emphasised by KVDS treasurer, Christine Höhne: The distance between her (Halifax, Atlantic coast) and Ms Winter (Pacific coast) is 6400 km, roughly the distance between Berlin and Kabul - yet they would cooperate excellently across the five time zones.

The reception was rounded off by a compilation of this year's short films of the ZfA video competition on the topic “School of the Future” (pasch-net).