Page 61 - RSCDS Toronto Golden Jubilee Book

Connections
memorable moments
Margaret Birnie
Sometime in the early ‘50s, I attended a military occasion in a Toronto Armoury and, being of Scottish ancestry, was captivated by a display of men Scottish Country dancing. I wished I could learn something like that! In 1954, I travelled to London, England, to work, and dis- covered that the church I attended, St Columba’s Church of Scotland, had a Scottish Country Dance group. Eureka!
Of course I joined and had my "basic training" there. On occasion, some of the Scots on the Palace staff attended
– they danced with great abandon and much heuching !!! (In 2005, when visit- ing London, I had the pleasure of danc- ing again at St Columba’s and meeting two people I remembered from 50 years before.)
When I came home to Toronto in
1956, I was unable to find a SCD group in Toronto but, interestingly, it was suggested to my minister at Calvin Presbyterian Church that a group should be started there. So in the fall of 1957 we started, under the benevolent triumvirate of Ed Mason, Forbes Brown and myself. The Calvin group became part of the Toronto Branch (as the Association was then known), and are active to this day, celebrating 50 years with a dance this spring.
I moved out of town and, though I’m not a certified SCD teacher, I’ve taught the group at Pretty River for about
23 years. I’ve been on a Social Group Executive, a demo team and, wonder- fully, I’m still dancing!
I believe RSCDS Toronto has helped all groups to continue by promoting Scottish Country Dance to the public, and by encouraging dancers to join in The Dance. They are the glue that holds us together.
Anne Bishop
Country Dancing is one of the most popular entertainments in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, during the summer season. This picture was taken in July 1964. My team, from the Northfield- Duddingston Community Association, was invited to give a demonstration at
Anne Bishop and friends dance at Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh.
the Ross Bandstand. My friend Elaine and I (I am on the left) caught the cam- eraman's eye from the Scotsman news- paper as we danced down the middle and up. It was a wonderful experience and we were delighted when we were invited back the following year to dance in front of Prince Philip – after which he presented us with medals.
Forbes Brown
Forbes Brown was a founding mem- ber, along with Margaret Birnie and Ed Mason, of the Calvin group in 1957.
He has been a member of branch and social group executives and demo teams. He enjoyed meeting such a diverse group of dancers and shar-
ing the fun of making huge mistakes. Sometimes a dance would simply come to a ‘stand-still’ because we laughed
so much." A special memory is of the Kitchener Ball sometime in the early 1960s at the Walper House. "It was an exciting event – good group, great ball, excellent music. A number of dancers came from Toronto and we just had a terrific time."
Jessie Bryden
Jessie Bryden danced all her life, as
a child and as an adult, with various groups in Edinburgh and, after emigrat- ing to Canada in 1957 with Ed and her
two daughters, with Jean Anderson's demonstration team at the Royal Alex, Massey Hall, and the CNE Bandshell.
Jessie formed the Bloorlea Group
in 1966 and obtained her teaching certificate at an early TAC Summer School in Kingston, 1974. She taught Bloorlea until 1995, with only a brief interruption when the family moved to Orangeville and, on their return, a few years with the Mississauga Group. After her "retirement" she formed the West Acres Seniors Social group in 1996 and taught there until a week before her death on February 28, 2005.
She was on the founding committees for both the West Toronto Ball and
the West End Workshop – both events have continued successfully for over twenty years.
Jessie loved the traditional dances and music, particularly those recorded by the Canadian bands: Stan Hamilton, Bobby Brown, Bobby Frew and Don Bartlett. The Bloorlea Christmas and end of season party programmes were always familiar and dancer-friendly.
Her sparkle, enthusiasm, and encour- agement introduced many people to the joy of Scottish Country Dancing. She is missed. . . .Nora Sutherland
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