[...][1]After a private meeting in March 1835, initiated amongst others by the physician Dr. Daniel Arnoldi, the German Society of Montreal was formally founded on April 21, 1835, at the Hotel Nelson.

Over the course of its history, the leaders and members of the Society have ranged from tradespersons such as butchers to professionals such as lawyers, politicians, business people, doctors and diplomats.

Even though large numbers of Germans (and other Europeans) arrived in Montreal, not many remained in the city for long: most moved on to Canada's west or the United States.

A Grand Trunk Railway train with 467 passengers, many recently immigrated Germans, failed to stop at an opened moveable bridge across the Richelieu River.

Good relationships with different shipping and railway companies allows the Society to negotiate fare discounts for Germans wishing to travel further west.

During and after the Franco-Prussian War (which also contributed to the large flow of migrants to North America) the German Society's relief efforts were also directed to Germany to support widows and orphans.

[7] Recognizing the issue, the German Society, along with other organizations pushed the government to implement harsher immigration policies to stop the migration of people without the means to support themselves.

Efforts of the Society and Wagner to promote immigration to Manitoba included the publishing of information brochures in German and a reduction of transportation fares.

[7][10] Presidents of the society have come from a wide array of professions and trades, including politicians, diplomats, butchers, teachers, lawyers, doctors, and many others.