Page 12 - PCYC 75th Anniversary Book

Opening day – August 22, 1936

From an article in the Evening Telegram

“Entirely built by member volunteers, the new Port Credit Yacht Club Building was officially opened on Saturday, when
a program of water sports and entertainment was presented before a large gallery.
Entertainment, following the raising of the Club’s Burgee included a pillow fight with competitors astride a pole.
Percy Oke and Charles Cousins found the going rather tough and Cousins took the round when Oke lost his balance.
Half a dozen were entered into the canoe race without paddles and Cousins experienced a spectacular upset
to the accompaniment of much applause and laughter. After a wild scramble at the turning buoy, J. Bradley led
the field home.
A rigging race followed with crew headed by Percy Oke and J. Macmillan. The team of Macmillan and Green won
that scramble.
Tilting in canoes came next, one of the most exciting events of the evening. Macmillan and Bradley challenged
Charles and Howard Cousins for the first boat. It proved to be a short one as Macmillan took a stiff poke from
Howard’s padded bamboo paddle. The winners were pitted against another pair, Ned Green and Bert Waters, the
bout lasting some time until Cousins abandoned his pole and pushed his opponent into the water.
Not many were successful in walking the greased pole to reach the prize at the end of it, until some of the
contestants coated their feet with sand and made some headway. But it remained for Macmillan to reach the end
and grab the prize before he fell in. Percy Oke, to show how it should be done, walked breezily to the end of the pole
and nonchalantly dived in.
Dancing and refreshments followed and a large birthday cake, decorated with ships and a lighthouse, was cut by
Commodore J. Morch. Two pieces of cake were auctioned off by the Commodore at fancy prices.”

Port Credit Yacht Club – Opening Day 1936
From left to right: Sea Scouts Alan Hare and Howard Cousins, Ted Schofield, Rear
Commodore Percy Oke, Commodore Jack Morch (holding burgee), Eric Hamilton,
Secretary/Treasurer Don Ketchum, Bert Waters, Vice Commodore George Cousins,
Ned Green, and Sea Scout Jim Bradley.
Photo by: Executive Officer Eldon McEachern.

Port Credit Yacht Club History 11