Over the years, the annual dinners and dances continued to steadily increase in popularity and size. After World War II, a wave of Hungarians immigrated to Canada to start a new life. In Calgary, a group of former soldiers, guided by Fülöpp József and v. Duska László, established the Calgary Chapter of the Hungarian Veterans' Association. They organized their first veterans' dinner in 1956. Growth of the Magyar Gála ultimately necessitated a move from the Hungarian Cultural Centre to larger venues. The event officially became a ball in 1965 when ten couples performed the Palotás dance in front of more than 300 guests in the Trade Winds Hotel. 1967, Canada’s centennial year, the ball was held at the Palliser Hotel Ball Room and marked the first year of the presentation of the debutantes and the inclusion of dignitaries representing Canada and Hungary. The ball was moved to the Calgary Inn (Westin Hotel) in 1971 to accommodate over 400 guests, and in 1972 the first Attila jackets (the gentlemen's Palotás costume) were introduced. Furthermore, the first official ball patron was the Honourable Douglas Harkness LCol. Minister of National Defense (1960-63). By 1975, 65 dancers were performing in front of an audience of 500, and the Hungarian folk dance had also become a popular element of the evening. Since its inauguration, the Magyar Gála has evolved into the spectacular showcase of Hungarian culture it is today, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Hungarian Veterans' Association. The event adds to the multicultural fabric of the Canadian community, and it has become one of the most elegant social events in Canada.