Alberta's German-speaking community—it really ought to be called " group of communities" because it consists of several diverse ethnic groups with many different geographical origins and religious affiliations—has a long and proud history. Immigrants from constituent parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Russia and its successor states—either directly or via the U.S.—and from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland have been among the founders of the sociocultural and economic fabric of the province. They settled in virtually all areas of the province, urban and rural, some in remote and isolated areas, others on homesteads scattered across the landscape or in colonies, and others again in the towns and cities in ethnic neighbourhoods or by themselves. Historically and numerically, German-Albertans have played a significant role in the province's history, and they still are among the largest ethnic groups in the province:

According to the 2011 Census, about 743,500 Albertans claim some measure of German, Austrian, or Swiss ethnic heritage in their origin. Albertans of German origin (683,830) occupy third position after English (about 886,760 single and multiple responses) and Canadian origin (776,695), and ahead of Scottish (670,955), Irish (565,120), French (396,115), Ukrainian (345,410), Dutch (182,270), North American Indian (177,140), Polish (174,380), and Chinese (155,960). German mother tongue in Alberta ranks in third place (64,580) after English (2,775,660) and Tagalog (67,390). It is followed by French (64,475), Punjabi (49,805), Chinese (46,160), Spanish (41,960), Cantonese (36,245), Arabic (26,050) and - another Albertan pioneer language - Ukrainian (24,345). German as a home language, "the language spoken most often at home," may be the best yardstick of the linguistic and cultural viability of an ethnic group. The 2011 Census reported 35,490 Albertans who spoke German "most often" at home, and another 18,190 spoke German "regularly" in the home environment.

But who are these people? Recent immigrants from German-speaking countries or the descendants of pioneer immigrants?

Click on the links on the left for more information about "the Germans" in Alberta.