Page 16 - RSCDS Toronto Golden Jubilee Book

Social Groups
Alistair Stewart, a charter member, says: "Our approach was to have fun. We were as concerned with what hap- pened from the neck up as from the knees down." That was the reason Glenview hosted ski weekends and other non-dancing activities in addition to dancing.
Bill continued teaching until his sudden death in 1995, when Robin Matheson took over and continued for the next decade. Robin began dancing in Oakville with Bob Campbell. He got
his teaching certificate in Hamilton in 1965 and shortly thereafter moved to Toronto. After dancing with Iain Macfarlane at Calvin, Bob Millar
at East York, and Betty Thompson at Newtonbrook, Robin moved to Glenview.
Glenview Crest Presented
Highlands of
Durham
The Highlands of Durham Scottish Country Dance group was formed in the autumn of 1999 by Stewart Bennett and Doug Moffatt as the result of interest generated by the Highlands
of Durham Games held each July in Uxbridge's Elgin Park. Classes were started in Memory Hall, Utica (a small hamlet between Uxbridge and Port Perry), and the first teacher was Joan Reeves from Peterborough.
In 2005, the club was accepted as
a social group within the RSCDS Toronto Association and it is truly a social group where the fun of Scottish Country Dancing is essential. The group regularly hosts Hogmanay festivities, a Robbie Burns Supper and Dance, and
a White Heather Ball in July. For 2007, the date of the Ball has been changed to October 6 (Thanksgiving Weekend) and the location is the historic Trafalgar Castle in Whitby, which boasts a won- derful wooden floor.
The group spreads the joy of Scottish Country Dancing by demonstrating at many venues—nursing and retirement
homes, churches, Parkwood Estate, Port Perry street fests, and Highland Games. Local residents are joined by mem-
bers from Richmond Hill, Stouffville, Ajax, Oshawa, and Newcastle for classes taught by Carole Skinner every Thursday from September to May. This September, we will enjoy the teaching of Wendy Loberg. On Monday eve- nings, many of the group get together to dance for extra practice in order to prepare for upcoming events or simply for the fun! .
. . . Marjorie Mason
Hillcrest
In September, 1975, a set of new danc- ers arrived at a new class to be started by a very new holder of the RSCDS Preliminary Teaching Certificate, Jean Noble. In January of 1976, the class moved to the Hillcrest Public Library, North York, and became known as
the Hillcrest Scottish Country Dance Group. The group eventually moved
to larger premises at Seneca Hill Public
Jean Noble
School, where they danced for many years. After another couple of location changes, the group became happily located at the Toronto French School at Lawrence Avenue East and Bayview Avenue.
Over the years, the group have had many happy Hillcrest Dinner Dances, Burns Suppers, and ceilidhs, includ-
ing their thirtieth anniversary dance in 2006. Some of the original members
of the group still dance with them on a regular basis. A number of their dancers attend other groups, support Toronto Association functions, and have served on the Toronto Association Executive.
William Stoddart
Glenview regularly hosts party nights that are great fun, including theme nights with decorations. As well, we celebrate Robbie Burns with a dinner; Hogmanay with a ceilidh, and guest musicians accompany dancers for final nights. For a few years now, a large number of us have attended dance weekends in Kingston and Ottawa.
In the past, we have performed dem- onstrations for Sunnybrook veterans, Belmont House, church functions, and the Orillia and Fergus games.
In 2000, Robin Wood (Branch Chair from 1989 to 1991) and Donalda McDonald began assisting Robin Matheson in teaching the class. Upon the latter’s retirement in 2005, Moira Korus completed the set of three who currently share teaching responsibilities in rotation.. . . Nancy Matheson
Carole Skinner
15