Ontario Basque Club

The organization began in 1947 when Serafina Uberuaga Mendiguren thought of organizing a Basque Ladies Club in Ontario. She communicated her idea toTimmie Yraguen Echanis and together they called a meeting which marked the beginning of the Ontario Basque Ladies’ Society. The club would later be known as the Ontario Basque Ladies’ Club, Ontario, Basque Club, and finally the Ontario, Oregon Basque Club.

In the beginning, the club met at the homes of members. Over the years meetings were convened at various locations around Ontario until the club inaugurated Ontario Basque Center in 2007.

For many years, the Basque Ladies Club remained just that, however, since 1994 men have been welcome to join. Membership is composed of Old World and American born Basques and their families. Ontario Basque club members collaborated in the formation of North American Basque Organizations, Inc. (NABO) and Ontario Basque club became a member of NABO in 1973.