Branch Activities - 2007

 
August 2007 - Fergus Highland Games in Fergus, ON
Clan Reps gathering with John Campbell on their way to the MacNicol tent.
Member Linda Fearnley and her sister Karen Poos visit our tent.
Member Janelle (Robinson) Bird and husband Bruce pose with Ted
 
August 2007 - Glengarry H.G. in Maxville, ON

Clans prepare to march in opening ceremonies
 
July 7th and 8th – Attending the Annual Gathering of the Clan Gunn Society of Nova Scotia.
We have been members of the Clan Gunn Society of Nova Scotia for about 10 years and have often thought of attending their events, but we always found a reason not to: too far – over 1,000 kilometers (650 miles), not the right time, etc. However, this year, we decided that the time had come. So we left Quebec City early on June 6th and arrived the following day at the Stonehame Lodge and Chalets. It is located on top of a mountain with a marvelous view of the Pictou valley and estuary including the Northumberland Strait in the distance. The most important fact is that it belongs to a Gunn family who have owned the huge property and farmed it for several generations.

Soon after our arrival, a reception was held in one of the large log cabins where Iain and Sharron Gunn were the hosts. After exchanging e-mails with Iain and Sharron for some time, it was good to get to know them as well as their son John who is the web master of   www.clangunn-ns.com  . As people continued arriving, the cottage filled up with noisy Gunns enjoying appropriate refreshments. We were particularly pleased that Reg and Phyllis Gunn as well as their son Bill and his wife Jeanine were present since it was several years since we had last seen them - that was in Scotland.

 
Ted with Ruth,  Bill and Jeanine Gunn 
Sunday was the big day of the weekend. The Gathering was held in the main room of Stonehame Lodge. After registration, President Bill Gunn welcomed the group and then there was a Church service performed by T. Campbell Gunn, followed by the A.G.M. Later, Louise and I made a short presentation describing what we do as commissioners of CGSNA as well as our implication in all things Scottish at home in the Quebec City area. In our presentation to the Gunns of Nova Scotia, we also talked a bit about genealogy. Although I do not know of any close relationship between my Cattaig Gunn line and the various Gunns of the region, our comments seemed to have been of interest to some of those present.
We continued our trip on to St. Peters, Cap Breton Island, where we visited MacIsaac Kiltmakers shop and the Nicolas Denys Museum before returning to the mainland and to Bill and Jeanine’s for an overnight visit. We even had the privilege of sleeping in the ¨Squeeze Inn¨, a small cabin located next to Reg and Phyllis’ cottage, so called because of the cramped quarters and lack of some modern comforts. However, with an unsurpassed view of the Canso Strait, the west coast of Cap Breton Island in the foggy distance and a small island with a light house just a mile away in the bay, its location makes up for those so-called modern amenities that we take so much for granted. In spite of their busy family reunion, as well as the coming and going of visitors to their lovely location, Reg and Bill were absolutely wonderful hosts and we could again experience the true meaning of kinship, and what it means to share a common heritage.
Looking at the Gulf of St. Lawrence from the Gunn domain in Bayfield, N.S.
We then went to our first visit of Halifax where we saw the Tall Ships in the harbor and stopped by Pier 21 to do a little research. There, we were surprised to learn that my father, Hector Fraser Gunn, had emigrated from Scotland to Canada via Boston MA in 1912, about two years after his first visit to Canada. Our return trip included a short stop in Truro to watch the incoming tidal wave and an overnight stop in Fredericton.
 
June 26th 2007 Ceremony for the Montreal Disaster
A celebration was held at the Cap Rouge Marina to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the sinking of the paddle steamer Montreal. It was organized by Marc Lestage, journalist, CGSNA member and Ensign of the 78th Fraser Highlanders, in cooperation with La Société historique de Cap Rouge. It included the lowering of the Scottish flag, a musical presentation by the 78th Fraser Highlanders, a musket salute and an interesting description of the event by local historian, Denis Robitaille.
Mr. Denis Robitaille, historian from Cap Rouge Pipe Major Alan Stairs at the Cap Rouge Marina.
 
June 2007 - Cobourg Highland Games in Cobourg, ON
The day before the Cobourg Highland Games, we visited the tombstone of relatives who moved from Scotland in the 19th Century. Alexander Fraser was the cousin of grandma Gunn, née Fraser. 
 
The Scottish Studies Society's Tartan Day Celebration

On April 18th 2007, The Scottish Studies Society's Tartan Day Celebration was held at Casa Loma in Toronto. Jean Watson, affectionally known as ¨The Mother of Tartan Day¨, was honoured as Scot of the Year. For details and photos, see website   www.scottishstudies.com/950jeanwatson.htm   . Jean is the Immediate Past President of the Federation of Scottish Clans in Nova Scotia.

 

Auld Alliance Awards Dinner 2007

On April 14th 2007 at the Auld Alliance Awards Dinner held in Montreal at the Officers' Mess of The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada, Ted was honored by being named a Fellow of the Quebec Thistle Council - FTC. This was in recognition of our ongoing promotions regarding Tartan Day and the organization of related celebrations, as well as our presence and support of other Scottish events within the province of Quebec. Our son Ken of Toronto joined us for this event as did CGSNA member Ann Cochrane of Quebec City. On this evening, the 2007 Scotsman of the Year and Guest of Honour was The Rev. Dr. Joseph C. McLelland. The Quebec Thistle Council is the umbrella group representing Quebec Scottish-oriented organizations known as the Kindred Societies in Montreal; details can be found on the Council website listed in the EXTERIOR LINKS section of our website. 
 

Ted receives award from T.R. Anthony Malcolm

 
Tartan Day 2007
Smiling faces during the afternoon celebration of Tartan Day 2007 - Photo courtesy of Jeannine Ouellet Mme Andrée Boucher, the gracious Mayor of Québec City, accepting the Tartan sash of the 78th Fraser Highlanders, presented by Edward Gunn - Photo by photographer Mike Reshitnyk

This year, April 6th fell on Good Friday so we decided to hold a small celebration on the previous Thursday afternoon. However that day started rather badly with a snowstorm and some freezing rain making traveling in and out of town rather difficult. By early afternoon the weather improved and we gathered in front of City Hall for the ceremonial raising of the Scottish flag accompanied by the pipes and drums of our 78th Fraser Highlanders. We were then greeted by Mayor Andrée Boucher who was very charming and made everyone welcome. Speeches completed, the pipeband formed ranks to lead our group for a short parade to the nearby Morrin Centre where our celebration continued with a book launching and reception. Because of the bad road conditions, our star of the day, historian and genealogist Jeannine Ouellet, had to travel by bus from Rivière-du-Loup QC (ex-Fraserville). Before she presented her book entitled Des Écossais à Rivière-du-Loup et leurs descendants (1763 à 2004), we surprised Jeannine as she was inducted as an Honorary Milady of the Quebec City Garrison of the Frasers. This ceremony was conducted by Ensign Erik Plourde. Those present seemed to enjoy the proceedings regardless of the inconveniences of the day.

 
January 2007 - Quebec City 78th Fraser Highlanders Robert Burns Supper
Ted addressing the Haggis - Photo by James Mackay Sue Berry and Hamish Williamson performing Immortal Memory - Photo by Marc Lestage

January was busy as we coordinated the program for the Burns Night Supper hosted by the Fort St. Andrew's Garrison of the 78th Fraser Highlanders. Captain Jacques MacKay was the M.C. and many other members of the Highlanders were involved in this event, held at the classy Quebec City Garrison Club. Clan Gunn members were prominent in the success of the evening: Ann Cochrane, publicity; Ted Gunn, Address to a Haggis; Marc Lestage, Burns poem in French; and our own Scot from Fife, Hamish Williamson, who presented the Immortal Memory to the Bard in a most humorous way. More than 75 people were present, some for the first time at a Burns Supper, and most of them expressed their pleasure and satisfaction with this Scottish experience.

 
January 2007 - Burns Dinner at the Granite Club of Toronto
Piping in the Haggis 48th Highlanders
Our son Ken attended the Burns Dinner at the Granite Club of Toronto once again this year. Other CGSNA members present included Alan Wilson and his daughter who were showing off their new collection of clan flags.