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Balls in the 21st Century

Vancouver dancers welcomed the new centurywith a Millennium Hogmanay, when MaryWattum’s generosity brought John Ellis and HisHighland Country Band from Scotland. HowardMeredith’s glittering hangings transformed thespace, so as Committee Chair Duncan MacKenzieremembers, “You wouldn’t have known it was agymnasium.”

Dancers at the Millennium Ball, 31 Dec. 1999

A very different event was held to usher in 2001,the Shoestring Gala organized by HowardMeredith and Wendy Swaine. They stressed funand participation: all teachers were invited tosuggest dances for the program, and dancersbrought food for a potluck supper and designedtheir own playful hats. Howard set the tone:

The Shoestring Gala will bring together all LowerMainland dancers and teachers in an evening offestivity fit to carry us into the new century. Fromthe start, this is an event based on participation byeveryone, and focused on unity and appreciationwithin our dance community.

The early 21st century also saw the start of a grandcooperative venture as reported by Sandy Caruthin January 2004:

One cold and rainy day this last November,dancers from Seattle, Skagit, Bellingham,Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and Victoria met asa newly formed Steering Committee and launchedthe idea of uniting for one grand SCD experience.Thus the seed for the Pacific Northwest Ball wassown.

Shoestring Gala organizers Howard Meredith (Lwith Isobel James) and Wendy Swaine (R with

Ken Bennett)

The name “Thistle Ball” was soon chosen for theevent. The inaugural Ball, held in Vancouver atthe Squamish Nations Hall, coincided with theBranch’s 40th anniversary. Benefactor MaryWattum enabled the Branch to bring MarianAnderson and her band from Scotland. All 280tickets were sold out months in advance, and theevent was a huge success. A subsequent ThistleBall was held in Bellingham, sponsored bySeattle, and one was planned in Victoria but hadto be cancelled. A further Thistle Ball was held inVancouver in 2008, coinciding with YouthWeekend West and the Pearl Holmberg Workshopfor Teachers and Musicians.

Benefactors Mary Wattum (L) and PearlHolmberg in the 1990s

Photo courtesy of Mary Ann McDevitt

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Dancers at the Thistle Ball 2008: RebeccaBlackhall-Peters and Bill Zobel in foreground

Photo courtesy of Jean Wagstaff

Since 2010, the annual Branch ball has beenknown as the Heather Ball. It draws on thetraditions both of earlier Branch balls and thehighly successful Delta Spring Flings held at theGizeh Temple in March and featuring the music ofBobby Brown and the Scottish Accent.

Dancers at the Heather Ball 2012: to L of LouiseMurphy is Nell Bird, still dancing in her 90s

Photo courtesy of Kerry McDevitt

The Vancouver Branch’s 50th anniversarycelebrations culminated in a Golden Jubilee Ballon 21 March 2015. 186 guests, including 50 fromout of town, danced to the music of the TorridonBand from Ontario enhanced by guest musiciansIan Muir from Scotland and Judi Nicolson from

Texas. That evening also saw the launch of theGolden Anniversary Collection of dances byVancouver Branch members, and the presentationof a Branch Award to 50th Anniversary CommitteeChair Jean Wagstaff.

Dancers at the Golden Jubilee BallRachel Pusey of Seattle in foreground

Photo courtesy of Kerry McDevitt

Branch Chairs at the Golden Jubilee Ball:L to R in order of their terms of office areDuncan MacKenzie, Hazel Robb, Brian

Corbould, Elizabeth Peerless, Ed Wagstaff, PaulLowe, Jennifer Shearman, and Gerry Stensgaard

Photo courtesy of Kerry McDevitt

Children’s Classes

A year after the Branch began, children’s classeswere established at community centres throughoutthe city, at Hastings, Kitsilano, North Vancouver,Dunbar, Kerrisdale, Marpole. The Children’sFestivals started by Mary Shoolbraid continuedeach year. The 6th annual festival in 1969 had 38

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teams and was judged by Stewart Smith. MaryShoolbraid Brandon, “the founder of the festival,”returned as a judge in 1970.

In 1967 Sheena Ellis was appointed as the firstCoordinator of children’s classes. For many years,Mary Anderson was an energetic children’sleader. Her class of 10-year-olds eventuallyblossomed into a teenage demonstration team,with Mary driving them to performancesthroughout the city. Through newspaper drives,Mary raised much of the cost of running children’sclasses.

From 1993 until her retirement in 2015, MaureenHood served as Children’s Committee Chair.Assisted by her daughter Colette and others,Maureen organized Saturday morning classes atthree levels on the North Shore as well as aChildren’s Christmas Party and annual Children’sWorkshop and Dance in the spring.

The Delbrook DancersPhoto courtesy of Cindy Goodman,

North Shore News

The more experienced members of the NorthShore classes perform as the Delbrook Dancers.They have danced throughout the LowerMainland: at Arts in Action, the BC HighlandGames, the Langley Harvest Festival, theVancouver Children’s Festival at Vanier Park, andeven with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Inanother music-dance partnership, the groupchoreographed a dance to perform with a musical

piece by the young fiddlers of the North ShoreCeltic Ensemble. A highlight of the year, Coletteremembers, was dancing at the PNE: “The girlsworked and practised and got free passes to thefair. You can imagine how much they enjoyedthis!”

Colette also writes, “It always amazed anddelighted Maureen and me to watch the girlsdevelop and grow in confidence and skill. Weencouraged the older girls to mentor and co-teachthe younger ones, and all enjoyed this.”

The Delbrook Dancers with Maureen Hood on RPhoto courtesy of Lisa Birrell

The March of Technology

Changes in technology have had many effects onour dancing over the years. In the 60s and 70s, theteacher’s equipment consisted of record playerand LPs. In the midst of teaching, she had to selectthe correct track and delicately lower the needle,trying to avoid scratches and that awful “stuck inthe groove” shudder. The record player had to beplaced well away from shocks travelling throughthe floor from over-enthusiastic feet.

Even then, reproduction of the music could be lessthan ideal. This comment appeared in The Thistle16 about the 1964 camp: “Those musical peoplewho were excruciated by the poor fidelity of thegramophones last year will be glad to know thatthis year we shall have available at least three first-class machines in the various classes.” However,there were complaints about the “atrociousartificial amplification” for the Teuchters’ band atthe 1964 ball (The Thistle 21).

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Sometimes, unexpected things happened. WhenLiz Johnston was teaching children in a Point Greychurch, she did not know that recorded chimeswere played through the belfry instead of actualbells. But one afternoon one of the children camein and said, “Mrs. Johnston, do you know they’replaying Scottish country dance music all overPoint Grey?” Someone had flipped the switch andjigs and reels were replacing the solemn bells.

By the late 1980s, records were displaced bycassettes. Unless cued beforehand to a specifictrack, these were impractical in class. So diligentteachers spent many hours copying music to five-minute (in the case of reels and jigs) or ten-minutetapes (in the case of strathspeys), amassinglibraries of these short tapes. Once CDs came onthe scene, the tapes were not worth the plastic thatencased them.

For nearly 20 years, CDs reigned supreme.Through the Pearl Holmberg Fund, the Branchgenerously provided the groups with monumentalCalifone machines which seemed destined, withtheir engraved plaques, to last for ever. But Davidagain vanquished Goliath, and the completeteacher these days strolls into class with hundredsof digital recordings instantly available on a laptop/ I-Pod / I-Pad connected to small but powerfulspeakers.

Newsletter technology, too, has changeddramatically. For twelve years from 1976, LizJohnston produced a monthly newsletter on amachine she called her “tripewriter” and ran offcopies herself on an old Gestetner machine andlater on a photocopier. As much material wassubmitted by phone, it was fortunate that Liz knewshorthand. (This newsletter, with its wonderfuldiatribes, was signed not by Liz herself but by“Patti Baask” with “Ron Dell” lurking in thebackground. Most knew the actual name of theeditor, but Liz remembers one teacher whopersisted in addressing her as “Patti.”)

Even when the newsletter was sent out to a printer,things were not simple. Photographs for the earlyWhite Cockades of the late 90s had to be taken anddeveloped, then screens of the chosen shotsproduced and glued to the finished printouts,sometimes a little crookedly. All that ended, ofcourse, with the advent of digital photography.

In 1994, editor Jackie Wilkie asked Al and HelenHughes to help her mail the newsletter. Since then,Al and Helen have stuffed, stamped and mailedevery single envelope. Helen regularly visits anauctioneer on Cordova Street to buy old stamps ata 10% discount. That has meant as many as 800stamps to be stuck on 400 envelopes each month!Envelopes, of course, will soon becomecollectors’ pieces themselves, as regular maildelivery follows record players and cassette tapesinto extinction.

Masthead of the newsletter, 1980s

The public face of the Branch is now our website,www.rscdsvancouver.org. Angela Gauld created aweb presence for the 1999 Whistler Workshop,and the website evolved from it. For some yearsthe site was maintained by the late StuartSomerville, whose roots ran deep in theVancouver SCD scene. His parents were strongsupporters of Mrs. Bingham, serving on theExecutive Committee of her West Vancouvergroup, and he had early memories of being takento the Stanley Park tennis courts on dancing nightsand standing by the upright piano. Our currentwebsite manager is Mary Ann McDevitt.

Evolution of the Vancouver Branch

The 1970s and 80s were heady times for Scottishcountry dancing, not only in Vancouver butthroughout Western Canada. Immigration fromScotland was still high and ensured a steadysupply of dancers. A classic event was hosted bythe Calgary branch every October at the BanffSprings Hotel; in 1974 some 200 dancers wereregistered (including 68 from Vancouver) andanother 200 had to be turned away. A report of the

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event mentions “partying all night, meeting newfriends, even some dancing.”

That same year, some 21 adult SCD classes wereoffered in Vancouver, and the Branch Committeereported “not enough tickets to fulfil demand forany of this year’s balls or the Burns Supper.” TotalBranch membership stayed well above the 400mark through the 70s and 80s, and attendance atmajor events was correspondingly high: 200dancers came to the 1985 workshop.

By the 1990s, however, membership began todecline, and attendance at events also began tosuffer. In 1998, Branch Chair Angela Gauld wroteto RSCDS Chair Bill Clement:

The Vancouver local association is very activeand enthusiastic, but our membership . . . isageing, and we notice a slow erosion in ournumbers as a result. In addition, a significantreduction in immigration from the UK hasresulted in a corresponding decline in ourtraditional source of members. We are graduallyincreasing our publicity effort and hope to attractyounger members, as well as those from differingethnic backgrounds.

In response to this need, several changes tookplace. Briefing dances slowly became the norm atBranch socials and parties, with a formal motionin April 2000, “Given the changing requirementsand wishes of members and other local dancers,the Vancouver Branch Committee of Managementencourages briefing at all formal and informalevents organized by the Branch.”

In 2001 a Task Force under Carole Berger wasappointed to survey members and makerecommendations. These focused particularly onthe needs of new dancers, and includedrecommendations for a welcome package forbeginners, greeters at events, more audienceparticipation at Stanley Park, and the creation of acore list of easy dances to help dancers prepare forevents.

Thanks to the energy of Duncan MacKenzie, onesignificant initiative was the monthly ceilidhs foryoung people which are still going strong. Theseevolved in Fall 1999 from classes for young

people sponsored by the Saltire Society. Duncanwrote in 1999, “The emphasis is on fun, and thehope is that some of the attendees will want tocontinue into the more formal classes.”

Duncan MacKenzie (centre) leading a ceilidhPhoto courtesy of Mary Ann McDevitt

In 2005, former Coordinator of the SFU Centre forScottish Studies Harry McGrath wrote a piece forThe Scotsman called “Changing Times for BritishColumbia Scots.” Commenting on the changingfortunes of Scottish organizations in Vancouver,McGrath wrote, “While some groups are gettingstronger as others fade, ultimately Scottish cultureand traditions will survive because what they’redoing is reinventing themselves.”

Our Branch has risen to this challenge. Ourenergetic Publicity Directors, most recently DianeCoulombe and Cathrine Conings, have inventednew ways to connect us to the wider world ofcontemporary Vancouver. While the MulticulturalFestivals of the 1930s were enclosed within thewalls of the Hotel Vancouver, the Canada Dayparades of the early 21st century are noisy, verypublic downtown demonstrations of our country’smulticulturalism. Cathrine Conings wrote thisreport of the 2013 parade:

Our wonderfully large and colourful group of 35dancers reeled and jigged and waved bannersalong the route behind our tartan truck. TheScottie dog, as well as the flags, balloons andbanners, helped to increase our visibility and thesound system, turned up to full volume, managedto compete somewhat with other entries’ powerfulspeakers!

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Canada Day parade 2008: Gerry Stensgaard andJanet Mather carry the banner

The Vancouver Branch has continued its traditionof fine teachers. In particular, Mary Murray,Simon Scott, Ruth Jappy and Rebecca Blackhall-Peters are in demand for workshops and schoolsaround the world. We are proud of them!

Jim Murray, Mary Murray and Simon Scott,Burns Supper 1996 – Photo Sid Dyke

Rebecca Blackhall-Peters with former BranchChair Paul Lowe, Pearl’s Party 2012Photo courtesy of Mary Ann McDevitt

The Vancouver Branch has also been fortunate inits volunteer leaders, especially its DancingCoordinators (previously Teacher Coordinators),who have organized classes, functions, andworkshops. They have included Mary Murray, LizJohnston, Mary Anderson, and Wendy Swaine.Since 2004, Fran Caruth has brought skill anddedication to this demanding job.

Fran Caruth receives a Vancouver Branch awardat the Love to Dance workshop, 2013

Like other similar organizations, our Branchdepends on its many willing volunteers. They arethe people who sell tickets, hang decorations,brew tea, serve food and wash dishes so that othersmay enjoy their dancing. Without them we wouldnot be dancing.

Volunteers Heather Hankin, Pat Hollingdale,and Elspeth Rennie, 2014 Betwixt and Between

Photo courtesy of Mary Ann McDevitt

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Three … Dance Groups in the Vancouver Area

In Mrs. Bingham’s day, the various groups(misleadingly called Branches) operatedindependently. Each sent delegates to theProvincial Executive Committee whichadministered regional events like the annual ball.In many ways, that structure has continued underthe Vancouver Branch. The Branch Board islargely an umbrella group responsible for teachertraining, summer dancing in the park, theDemonstration Team, and events like the Betwixtand Between, Burns Supper, annual ball andannual workshop. This has left other groups andclubs free to develop their own distinctive styleand identity, and the range of approaches toteaching and dancing in our area is one of ourstrengths. Following are accounts of several ofthese groups, most written by their own membersand leaders.

Burnaby Scottish Country Dance ClubBy Elizabeth Peerless

In September 1972, Flora Thompson wasappointed by the Vancouver Branch to teach aMonday night school class offered by the BurnabySchool Board at the Bonsor Community Centre. Acore of keen members soon emerged. Numbersgrew and in 1973 a beginners’ class was started,taught by John Duke.

In 1974 the arrangement with the School Boardceased and Burnaby became an independent club,responsible for finding and funding its own spaceand teachers. Maggie Misfeldt was the first clubpresident. The new dance location was atEdmonds Secondary School on Edmonds andCanada Way.

In 1977 three members of the class, MaggieMisfeldt, Doris Tycho and Eileen Bennett, tutoredby Margaret Zadworny, successfully took theirPreliminary Teaching Certificate, with MissMilligan herself as the examiner. Two years laterthey gained their Full Certificate, this time withNancy Arnott as the examiner.

The Burnaby Club now functioned at the JamesCowan complex and offered three classes, with thesenior class on Mondays and intermediate andbeginners’ classes on Wednesdays. The club alsoorganized and ran three functions a year: a Falldance in November, a Spring dance in March anda summer Tea Dance at the Burnaby LakePavilion.

Long-time members of Burnaby Club at 40th

anniversary dance: L to R Elizabeth Peerless,Susan and Gerry Stensgaard, Janette Steel, Pat

and Drum Cavers

The members have always enjoyed many socialgatherings outside class time and events. In theearly years there were trips to the Calgaryworkshops at the Banff Springs and Chateau LakeLouise Hotels. There were Burns Night excursionsto the Harrison Hot Springs Hotel. One hasn’tlived unless one has experienced a happy group inthe hot tub at Harrison at 2 a.m. belting out “TheNorthern Lights of Old Aberdeen.”

This socializing has long been a feature of the clubwith annual picnics, a group trip dancing aroundScotland in 2011, and a large contingent sharing ahouse at the Seattle Fort Worden workshop in2014.

Since 1990, the club has been taught by RosemaryCoupe with the assistance of Elizabeth Peerlessand Cathrine Conings. After many years at theEdmonds Seniors’ Community Centre, in 2013 theclass moved to the Scandinavian CommunityCentre in central Burnaby.

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Burnaby annual dance, March 2015Photo courtesy of Kerry McDevitt

Carisbrooke Scottish Country Dance ClubBy Cathrine Conings

The Carisbrooke Club, founded in 1970, wasnamed after the elementary school in the UpperLonsdale area whose gym has served as itsheadquarters. It was the first Scottish dance clubin North Vancouver, started by the CaledonianSociety and the RSCDS as a joint project. BobMenzies ran the club, which in its first year had 60dancers, taught by none other than Mary Murray.She certainly gave it a wonderful start!

After that, the club benefitted from a number ofexcellent teachers, including Doris Tycho, MairiMorgan, Alison Steele, John Allan, BarbaraMacPhail, Alan Brown, and Mary Anderson. LizJohnston, who started with the club when it began,became a teacher for Carisbrooke in about sixyears. After Bob Menzies, Joe Hutton was at thehelm for a time, then Bob again briefly, before thelongest-serving chairman and teacher, CharlieDobie, took over in 1978. In that year HelenHughes was elected treasurer, after dancing withthe group since the beginning. Helen provided thecontinuity and stability so important for a clubwith a constantly changing membership.

Also in 1978 Al Hughes decided to vote himself“chairman of the floor” and gave himself“sweeping powers” because the dancers got thegym after the soccer players, who seemed to leavea lot of dirt behind them. In that same year ValerieRalston served briefly as secretary, then Charlie,his wife Margaret, and Helen found themselvesmanaging the club. The club had a large

membership in those days, and hosted aValentine’s Dance every year for all the localdancers.

Unfortunately Charlie became ill and had to stepdown in January 1991. Helen Hughes took over aschairperson. Mary Anderson taught for the winterterm, and then Cathrine Conings took up thechallenge, working through her preliminary andfull teaching certificates with the Carisbrookedancers as her long-suffering “guinea-pigs”!

Carisbrooke continued to offer classes underCathrine’s teaching and Helen’s administrationuntil 1998.

Deep Cove Scottish Country Dance ClubBy Dorothy Hargreaves

In 1985 I resigned from teaching Branch classesas I was taking a course which demanded much ofmy time. In the Fall of 1986, a friend in Deep Covewho was in charge of the communityprogramming for the area asked me if I wouldconsider teaching a SCD beginner class. I told herI would if she could find twelve interested peopleand if it was close to home in Deep Cove. I thoughtit would take her a long time to find twelve in thisarea who might be interested.

To my surprise she phoned me within two weeksto say she had twelve and to ask when we couldstart. Thus our club was born. Of that originalgroup there were, until recently, six still dancingwith us. Most of them had Scottish heritage, butsome like me just loved to dance.

Dorothy with her Branch Award, 2010Photo courtesy of Kerry McDevitt

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We have held our classes in many venues aroundDeep Cove: all the local schools and then ParkgateCommunity Centre when it opened. Recently wemoved to Maplewood School, which is as far westas we can go without being out of the Deep Cove/ Seymour area.

As our beginners became advanced, I started anew beginners’ class. A few years ago one of ourfounding members, Kay Sutherland, obtained herteaching certificate and is now teaching one of theclasses. During the years five women from DeepCove have gained their certificates and we nowhave a teaching team of four instead of one.

Deep Cove Dance 2015: current teachers KaySutherland (L) and Alison Moen (centre)

Photo courtesy of Kerry McDenitt

Delta Borderers Scottish Country Dance ClubBy Ruth and Alex Jappy

The Delta Borderers Class was started in the fallof 1978 with approximately 13–15 people.Heading up the original group were Alister andDoreen McCorquodale who danced in Vancouverfor many years and lived in Tsawwassen. So forthe first few years, the class was held inTsawwassen. The class was attracting people fromother areas and therefore was moved to Ladner foreasier access. Some years later and for the samereasons, the class moved to Richmond andremains there today.

I started teaching with Alex and Maureen playingfor the class in 1979, and together Alex and I have

had a wonderful association with the DeltaBorderers over these many years. Music hasalways been a huge part of the class, and we havealways focused on making the dancers aware of it.We therefore started running Friday night socialswhere we could dance to Alex and Maureen alongwith other musicians in a social atmosphere ratherthan a class. These proved to be very successfuleven though there was no published program, anddancing to the music was always the focus.

The club has been run in the same manner for allthese years and with some of the same people incharge – namely founding members Jim and MairiMaxwell, Allan and Christine Fairbairn, andEmily Gordon. Over the years we lost theMcCorquodales and Bob and Ann Simpson whowere stalwarts of the club. We are very fortunate,like many other clubs, in having many willinghelpers to do whatever is needed.

Delta Borderers founder members, 1978Photo courtesy of Mary Ann McDevitt

We held our 10th Anniversary celebration at theGizeh Temple on 19 March 1988 with music bythe Alex Jappy Trio consisting of Alex, Maureenand Freddy Collins on drums.

On 18 March 1989 we held our first Spring Flingat St. Joseph the Worker Hall in Richmond. Webrought out from Toronto Bobby Brown andKathy Fraser, so along with Alex, Maureen andFreddy we had a five-piece band on stage. Oneweek later on March 24 we ran an evening ofModern and Old Time Dancing at the Cultural

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Centre. Both these events were greatly enjoyed byall who attended. For the next four years until1993, we continued bringing Bobby and Kathy outto head up our Spring Flings. The 1990 SpringFling was held at St. Joseph the Worker, and thenin 1991 we moved to the Gizeh Temple, awonderful venue for dancing.

Alex and Ruth Jappy at the Spring Fling, 2003

Our goal had always been to bring the entire bandof Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent out toplay. On 19 March 1994, we achieved that,leading of course to an instant hit with all thedancers. Here in Vancouver: the best SCD bandand the best floor to dance on. Our Spring Flingscontinued until 15 March 2008, the last one thatwe did as a club. We held 20 Spring Flings in all.

Scottish Accent Band at the Delta Spring Fling:L to R Laird Brown, Fred Collins, Don Wood,

Bobby Brown, Kathy Fraser-Collins

We continue to run our November dance inTsawwassen and since 2008 we have held a seriesof dances focusing on music from bygone eras andtributes to many of the great bands. On 28November 1998, we invited Donald Bartlett fromToronto to play with Alex, a wonderful reunion ofthese two musicians. In November of 2013 and2014 we again had the pleasure of invitingDonald, this time to play solo piano. This wasgreat exposure for the dancers as most had neverheard Donald playing solo.

Although the club has held many other fun socialevents over the years (picnics, car rallies, golftournaments, Christmas Dinner Dances, and ourNew Year’s Evening Dinner/Party), the weeklyclasses are still about dancing and always aboutmusic.

It is a great pleasure to teach this class.

Fort Langley Scottish Country Dance ClubBy Derek Bisset

In August 1999, it started with three couples andan enthusiastic teacher-in-training. All gottogether one afternoon at the Fort LangleyCommunity Centre to take some photos which akind supporter turned into a brochure advertisinga new dance class locally. Much enthusiasm andsupport since then have produced a verysuccessful dance club.

The brochure went to the local paper, leading to aphoto shoot and a full page article. Rebecca usedher local connections to find a place to dance; thefirst classes were set for Tuesdays in September;and the group waited for that first big night. Nearlyfifty people, with only six who had danced before!Oh dear! Have you got enough juice, Margot?Over to you, Rebecca. What a debut!

The three original couples (Margot and TonyPopplewell, Karen and Mike Hamilton, Chris andDerek Bisset) had met and danced at theAbbotsford class led by Joan House. Not a lot ofdancing experience, but the Fort Langley venuewas wonderful. The upstairs floor in theCommunity Centre was one of the few remainingwood sprung floors so highly prized in early days

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for dancing. Fortunately we had RebeccaBlackhall-Peters as a beginning teacher who oughtto have been in shock, but instead took it in herstride and started with emphasis on simpledancing and fun; style and formation learningwould come in time. It worked and everyone cameback for more.

The class developed quickly. Alex Jappy came toplay for the Christmas Dance, becoming a regularfixture for years. The enthusiasm carried on intospring and the class continued later than most withthe Whisky Tea Dance at the end of May and awrap-up barbecue in early June including theVoyageurs Canoe dance on the blacktop at theBissets’. Stella provided the haggis trap as a prizefor the biggest mistake of the year.

Fort Langley 5th Anniversary Dance, 2004

The group wanted to emphasize live music andhave regularly sponsored musicians specializingin SCD music for dances. Julie Smith plays pianofor all classes. When Sid and Lee Dyke decided tohang up their dance shoes, they gave the club alegacy of equipment which raised money for ascholarship fund enabling dancers to attendworkshops. Within a few years a group of twentytoured Scotland, dancing with Jessie Stuart inDufftown and with David Cunningham in FortWilliam, and ending with the last dance of thesummer in Pitlochry. There was birling.

Meanwhile we participated in the May Dayparade, dancing at Fort Langley Celtic Days, atFort Brigade Days, at Campbell Valley Park, and

other events with the emphasis less ondemonstration than participation in an enjoyablesocial activity.

Fort Langley 10th Anniversary Dance, 2009

Dancing elsewhere to gain experience and socialinteraction with other classes were encouragedearly on, with many other teachers and dancerscoming to take part in Voyageur activities. Earlysupport from the Vancouver Branch wasappreciated. Recognition goes to the classmembers for supporting activities requiring extrahelp. Maureen and Larry Onotera joined the classearly and have been invaluable in their unfailingefforts to keep the group running smoothly.

Learning to dance socially, meeting dancers in thelocal area, and then joining a global dancecommunity – all add up to a rewarding experience.

Rebecca Blackhall-Peters (2nd from L) withmembers of Fiddlesticks and Ivory Band at Fort

Langley Dance, 2013

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Glenayre Scottish Country Dance ClubInformation from Betty Lyon, Jean and EdWagstaff, and Brian Corbould

In the very early 1960s, an informal group begandancing in the home of Greta Smith, who lived inthe Glenayre district of Port Moody. About 1963,when the group became too large for Greta’shouse, it moved into Glenayre School and evolvedinto the Glenayre SCD Club. Classes and dancescontinued at Glenayre School into the 1980s.Greta Smith also led the Glenayre Junior Dancers,who took two awards in the 1969 Children’s SCDFestival. In 1970, Greta left to return to Scotland,where she later became the Vancouver Branchrepresentative at the RSCDS AGM.

Glenayre prospered under its new teacher, MaryMurray. When an adult SCD competition was heldat the Highland Games in Mission, the Glenayreteam, coached by Mary, won in both 1970 and1971. Team members, who included manystalwart early members, were Bob Currie, BillLyon, Glen Allan, Mike Miller, Harriet Allan,Betty Lyon, Isabel McCartney, and Mairi Morgan.

The winning Glenayre team, 1970Photo courtesy of Jean Wagstaff

When Glenayre held a Christmas party in 1971,the Branch newsletter reported, “Every dancerfrom milesaround must have been there.” Thespring dance of 1972 was obviously well attendedtoo, as we read that the Glenayre Club had therecord for the area’s largest turnout excluding theBranch Ball. In November 1974, Glenayre and

Burnaby held a joint fundraising dance withballroom dancing and entertainment as well asSCD, and the newsletter reported that 200attended and “the floor was jumping all evening.”

In 1975 Glenayre held the first dance at which IanPrice’s band Schiehallion played. Classes tookplace for some years in various Coquitlamschools, and later in the Cameron CommunityCentre and the Dogwood Recreation Centre. Since2008 the club has met at the Jewish CommunityCentre near Coquitlam Centre. Teachers forbeginner and intermediate classes have includedMairi Morgan, Jane Price, Mike Miller, DorothyHargreaves, Liz Johnston, Colette Hamner, andsince 1989 Glenayre’s current teacher JeanWagstaff, who now shares the joint Beginner-Intermediate class with Fran Hillier.

The dance Schiehallion was popular among groupmembers too. Brian Corbould, who joined the clubin 1976, remembers the beginner group learningand practising that complicated dance, with its“zoomin’ loops” as described by Liz Johnston:“We were determined we were going to do it.”

For the past few years, the Glenayre Club havegone en masse to the Fort Langley St. AndrewsDance, held on a Tuesday, class night for bothclubs. Musicians for this event have been AlexJappy and Mary Ross, and Jean Wagstaff wantedher new dancers especially to experience dancingto live music. The Fort Langley dancersreciprocate by attending the Glenayre Christmasdance.

Glenayre annual dance 2015: Louise Steinwayand Ed Wagstaff dancing in centrePhoto courtesy of Kerry McDevitt

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Glenayre members at 50th anniversary dance, April 2013: L to R in centre teacher Jean Wagstaff andlong-time members Brian Corbould, Alison Hume, Beth Armour, and Cathie Devlin

Photo courtesy of Jean Wagstaff

Gleneagles Scottish Country Dance ClubBy Marion Dutcher, Archivist, and Simon Scott,Teacher

Inspired by the dancing in the 1960 film Tunes ofGlory, Dean MacKay and wife Jean along withother member-couples of the Gleneagles GolfClub of West Vancouver approached MaryShoolbraid for instruction. From the sounds of apiper outside the Clubhouse for one evening’sevent, other local couples were attracted. So in1962 the Gleneagles Scottish Country Dance Clubwas on its way with some 40 members. HarveyBarnes and Simon Scott then became the Club’steachers.

Classes grew at various levels and were latertaught by May Loudon, Janet Dickson, AlisonSteele, also Hellen Stephen, Rosemary Coupe,Dorothy Hargreaves, and Maureen Hood, thenPhyllis Gaskell, Scott Macdonald, MarieDisiewicz and Louise Murphy.

The Club’s annual highlight is the GleneaglesBall, just before Christmas each year, the firstformal Ball being held in 1967. The firstmusicians to play for these special occasions wereMurray Black and the Teuchters. Others have

included fiddler Alasdair Fraser and pianist StanHamilton, Ian Price and the Schiehallion Band,the Alex Jappy Trio, Angus MacKinnon and theScots Canadians, fiddler Calum MacKinnon, theSan Francisco band Fiddlesticks and Ivory, andcontinuously for the past 21 years the VancouverFiddle Orchestra.

Gleneagles teachers Janet Dickson, Simon Scott,and May Loudon with copies of tunes named for

them in the Schiehallion recording of JohnDrewry’s dance Gleneagles Dominie, 1979

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In 1977, for the first time, the annual ball was heldin the Pacific Ballroom of the Canadian PacificHotel in downtown Vancouver. This resplendentBallroom in the renamed Fairmont HotelVancouver continues to be the venue of choice.On this occasion, the annual balls of 1988, 2003and 2013 were recognized and celebrated as theClub’s 25th Silver Anniversary Ball, the 40thRuby Anniversary Ball, and the grand 50thGolden Anniversary Ball.

Grand March at the Gleneagles Ball

Gleneagles is a cultural and social club of longstanding in West Vancouver. On the occasion ofthe 50th Anniversary Ball the District’s Mayorsent a letter of congratulation, as did the Chairmanof the RSCDS. Greetings were also received fromthe Lieutenant Governor of BC on behalf of HerMajesty Queen Elizabeth II, Patron of ourworldwide society..

Richmond ReelersBy Nan McKay

The Richmond Reelers dancing groupcommenced in 1994–95 because of a Burns supperheld in the local Presbyterian Church when theorganizers “imported” dancers! We ladies said,“We will dance next year,” and we did.

We are still going strong and have three of theoriginal members with us. We have had a fewteachers throughout the years and now we arefortunate to have Laurie Lang.

Thursday ThistlesBy Laurie Lang

It had come to my attention that there was nomorning class. It became my mission to start oneat the Vancouver Branch – a class I thoroughlyenjoyed. Marie Disiewicz

In the summer of 2012 I met with Marie as shewanted to give a “new” teacher a chance to teachusing the skills she had acquired. Thus I took overthe class in October, 2012. We are a small socialgroup who prepare for upcoming programsby working through the more “difficult” dances,also try out new dances and enjoy each other’scomradeship. We named ourselves the ThursdayThistles in September 2014. Our enthusiasticmembers range up to the age of 92.

West End Scottish Country Dance Club

As soon as he obtained his teaching certificate,Duncan MacKenzie remembers, Jim Fairleyinsisted that now that Duncan was “certified” heshould have a class. Jim did “a lot of the legwork”in organizing the class, and the West End classbegan in 1992. Residents in the downtown areacome and go, so the membership of the club isconstantly changing although a few have attendedsince the beginning. The West End group hasalways offered teaching practice to those takingteacher training, beginning with DeniseCunningham. Now Denise co-teaches withDuncan; they take turns in preparing the class planand also alternate teaching dances.

Gerry Stensgaard, Pascaline Denblyden, LindsayCarter and Alison Moen at the Fall Frolic 2015

Photo courtesy of Kerry McDevitt

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The first Fall Frolic was held on 3 September2011, with Michael Beech playing the pipes towelcome dancers. It has been held every yearsince, always with live music, most often theTartan Players. It is a wonderful opening to thenew dance season.

West Point Grey Scottish Country DancersBy Wendy Hutcheon, Margaret Moore, MargaretNichols, and Ann Thrasher Rogers

One of the early Scottish country dance clubs inVancouver was started in the 1960s at West PointGrey Presbyterian Church at 12th and Trimble. Itwas a children’s class; Joyce Lind, a young girlfrom the church, was the instructor. In the 1970sRon Arrowsmith started the adult class, ablyassisted by Jim Shaw who looked after the music.The dancers included Pearl Holmberg, MaryWattum, Jean Aspinall and Marjorie Thrasher.

One night, Jim turned on the music for the dancers,not realizing that the switch for broadcasting thechurch bells on a Sunday morning had not beenturned off. Wendy Hutcheon, a resident livingnearby, heard the music and traced it to thebasement door of the church. Opening it, she wasgraciously invited in by Ron Arrowsmith. Wendycontinues as an active dancer in the group.

Back L to R Margaret Nichols, Margaret Moore,Paulina Barnes, Ron Arrowsmith. Front L to RLorna Mornin, Edward Mornin, Larry Moore

Photo courtesy of Margaret Moore

Ron set an excellent example for dancers tofollow. He not only taught dancing, but also wrotemany dances. In 1986 Ron wrote a reel – TheMerry Moores – for the 25th anniversary of

Margaret and Larry Moore, and for Ed and LornaMornin he wrote the strathspey The Mornins’Awa. In 1994 he published The Doune Collectionof Scottish Country Dances, and a secondcollection followed in 1998. Another dance, TheRoyal Deeside Railway, continues to be one of thegroup’s favourite reels. Ron taught the West PointGrey dancers for two decades.

In the 1990s Paulina Barnes became the instructorand wrote dances for the class and for otherpublications. Her strathspey The Shamrock isfrequently danced by the group. One night a waterpipe broke in the upper floor of the church, andwater cascaded down the steps onto the dancefloor. The result was another dance by Paulina,The Great Flood. When Irene Vavasour, amember of Paulina’s class, announced she was tobe married in the summer, the group secretlywrote and then performed the dance Irene’sWedding. It was danced at her wedding in St.John’s, Newfoundland, in 1994.

Irene Vavasour (front row 2nd from L) andWendy Hutcheon (front row R)

Photo courtesy of Margaret Moore

In 2002 the group moved to Aberthau and IreneVavasour, formerly a member of Paulina’s class,became the instructor. Irene received her teachingcertificate in 1998. Several couples dancing in ourgroup have announced their engagements at classsession. The most recent to include Scottishcountry dancing at their wedding receptions wereDaniel and Fiona Been and Michael and Sandra

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Mendenhall. Irene continues as our muchappreciated instructor with Wendy Hutcheon asthe substitute teacher. In 2015 the class consists ofan enthusiastic group varying in age from theirmid-twenties to a few of Ron’s original dancerswho are now in their eighties.

White Rock Scottish Country Dance ClubBy Gerda Barwieck

In September 1954, thirteen SCD enthusiastsdecided the time was ripe to form a club in theWhite Rock community. Little would they haveimagined that in 2014 a much larger group wouldbe celebrating their Club’s success on its 60th

anniversary.

Dancing started in October 1954 and continuedevery second week at the White Rock Hotel, underthe guidance of Mrs. Bingham from Vancouver.Music was provided by pianist Mrs. R.M. Deyfrom New Westminster. In 1956 teaching wastaken over by Mrs. Davidson with Mrs.Wintersteen as pianist. The following year weeklydance classes started and a special course wasoffered for teenagers. In 1958 classes were movedto the Ocean Park Community School, and arecord player was purchased.

On 22 October 1959, the SCD Society of BCinvited the White Rock group to affiliate with theparent group at a fee of $10 per annum. Theinvitation was accepted. Several Club memberswere privileged to attend a special class taught byMiss Jean Milligan in Vancouver in 1961. In 1967,annual membership of $2.25 was paid to theRSCDS.

Classes were held at Peace Arch and DistrictSchool in 1970, and the following year at PeaceArch Elementary School. John Allan ofVancouver taught two successive weeks, followedby two weeks taught by Mrs. Elsie Miller. JohnAllan was appointed full-time teacher in 1974, anda beginners’ class was started. In 1975, SheenaEllis took over as teacher, and a children’s classbegan. In 1980, Maureen Lyon became the teacherfor adults and Robin Leach for children.Membership remained at 25 to 30 dancers.

Elsie Miller and Sheila Carmichael, both foundingmembers of the Club and White Rock residents,were elected Honorary Members marking 25years’ faithful service to the Club.

Founding members Sheila Carmichael, ElsieMiller, and May Duncan at the White Rock 50th

Anniversary Ball

A demonstration group of ladies was formed in1982. They performed at community events andseniors’ residences. The Tam O’ Shanter Dancersevolved when men joined the group in 1987. TheTams dance frequently in the community andwork closely with the White Rock SCD Club topromote SCD and to recruit new members for theregular class.

The first annual Tea Dance was held in 1989 withQuern, a band from Linlithgow, Scotland. It isnow an established end-of-season event.

A banquet and ball marked the Club’s 40th

anniversary at the Gizeh Temple, Burnaby, inApril 1995. To commemorate this occasion adecorative quilt was fashioned by members of theClub and signed by all those present at the ball. Itis now proudly presented on special occasions.

The Club celebrated its Golden Jubilee with a verysuccessful 50th Anniversary Ball at the Star of theSea Hall, White Rock, on 16 October 2004, withmusic by the Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra. Acommemorative plaque was presented to the Clubby Judy Forster, the Mayor of the City of WhiteRock. Sadly by the end of the year we bade a finalgoodbye to Sheila Carmichael, the last activefounding member of the Club.

Maureen Lyon was honoured at the 2005 SpringTea Dance and presented with a Celtic pin for her

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25 years of dedication as the Club teacher. AlexJappy played for this very popular event. A firstpicnic was held at Redwood Park.

Highlights of the 2005–06 season were theAnnual May Tea Dance which attracted over 100dancers to the Star of the Sea Hall, and the WhiteRock Spirit of the Sea Torchlight Parade inAugust.

Mary Ross from Victoria played for a verysuccessful 2007 Spring Tea Dance. In 2008 JohnCarmichael, accordionist from Glasgow, wasinvited to play for the Spring Tea Dance. A livelyceilidh dance rounded out John’s visit.

At the annual RSCDS Love to Dance event inMarch 2009, teacher Maureen Lyon was presentedwith the RSCDS Vancouver Branch Award inrecognition of her contribution to SCD and Gaelicactivities over the last 30 years.

For the Club’s 55th anniversary in 2009, JohnCarmichael returned to provide his very specialmusic. A book of dances by Club members wascompiled for this event. After earning awards forthe past three years, a float was entered for the lasttime at the White Rock Torchlight Parade.

White Rock 55th Anniversary: April Phillips andHamish Jackson dancing in centre

The success of the 2010 Vancouver WinterOlympic Games was marked by a dance, OlympicCelebration, displaying the formation of five

interlocking circles representing the symbol of theOlympics.

Accordionist Gordon Shand from Scotland,joined by local drummer Bill O' Donnell, playedfor the 2011 May Tea Dance. They alsoentertained ceilidh dance enthusiasts at the ElksHall in White Rock. The Club hosted the annualRSCDS Lady Aberdeen Tea Dance at the ScottishCultural Centre on Remembrance Day 2011.

In 2012 the Annual Spring Tea Dance wasrenamed the Annual May Dance, and held on aSaturday evening. Renowned accordionist JimLindsay from Scotland joined by local drummerBill O'Donnell provided the music. Vancouver’sown Tartan Players played for the Club’s 2013Annual May Dance.

Marian Anderson Band play at White Rock 60th

Anniversary Ball, May 2014, with teacherMaureen Lyon on R

Photo courtesy of Kerry McDevitt

In March 2014, a group of members performed atthe Celtic Fest at the Cloverdale Museum. In thesame month the Club hosted a successful SpringWorkshop. To commemorate the Club’s 60th

anniversary in early May 2014, members, friendsand supporters enjoyed a Gala Ball at Star of theSea Hall in White Rock, to the very special musicof Marian Anderson. Max Ketchin, and JimNicol, all from Scotland.

The Club hosted spring and fall workshops forintermediate and experienced dancers in 2015.Music for the Annual May Dance was provided byLindsay Weir and Colin Garvin.

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Concluding Comment

The survey of dance history at the beginning ofthis account suggested that social dancing may beseen in two ways: as a discipline and as anexpression of community. Several of the peoplewe interviewed believed that Vancouver Scottishcountry dancers have become less concerned withmaintaining high standards of dancing than theyonce were. However, clubs are all aboutcommunity. Several interviewees stressed the vitalimportance of communal feeling, especiallyamong newer dancers learning together.

Kay Sutherland, for example, made this commentabout the early days of Deep Cove:

Branch members at the 2013 Canada DayParade

Photo courtesy of Mary Ann McDevitt

We were all beginners, but quickly we were doingthings like Clutha and Bratach Bana – we did getquite messed up, and we ended in gales of laughter. . . We were always a very sociable group partlybecause we were all located [in Deep Cove]. . . .It was very much a community activity, so lots ofus became really good friends.

Also, Ed and Jean Wagstaff and Brian Corbouldremember the days when dances on a programwere not briefed and they would get together witha group of Glenayre friends to practise: “Youreally got to know each other.”

The images below show on the one hand thecommunity of dancers and on the other the sheerjoy of the dance which is possible once thediscipline is mastered.

Sandy Marshall and Katherine Shearman of theDemonstration Team, November 2015

Photo courtesy of Dave Clendenan

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Appendix A … First Fifty Years of the Vancouver Branch: A Timeline

1964 (14 April) Vancouver dancers vote tobecome a branch of the RSCDS

1964 (7 July) First Branch AGM1964 (September) First Branch classes held at

Dunbar Community Centre1964 (November) First Branch Ball at Georgia

Hotel: Murray Black and the Teuchtersplay

1965 (January) Branch Demonstration Teamformed under direction of MaryShoolbraid

1965 (October) Harvey Barnes, Sheila Gairns,Nina Thurston, Beryl MacMillan, BarbaraMacPhail, Margaret Zadworny passPreliminary Certificate

1965 (November) Annual Ball, Coachhouse:Teuchters play

1966 (May) Annual weekend, Totem Park,UBC, sponsored by Camp Committee;Teuchters play

1967 Branch takes over the running of dancingin Stanley Park

1967 (May) Annual weekend, Totem Park:Paulina Barnes, Tom Flett, BerylMacmillan, Ena McNaught, MargaretZadworny teach

1967 (October) Bob Hutton, Simon Scott, GretaSmith pass Preliminary Test; MargaretZadworny passes Full Certificate

1967 (October) Workshop; Mina Corson andStewart Smith teach

1968 (February) Annual Ball, Coachhouse:Teuchters play

1969 (February) Annual Ball, HotelVancouver: Teuchters play

1969 (May) Annual workshop, Totem Park:Paulina Barnes, Mary Brandon, JohnDuigeman, Stewart Smith, HughThurston teach

1969 (October) Mary Murray passesPreliminary Test; Barbara MacPhail,Simon Scott pass Full Certificate

1970 (February) Annual Ball, HotelVancouver: Teuchters play

1970 (May) Annual weekend, Totem Park:Paulina Barnes, John Duigeman, SheilaGairns, Stewart Smith, MargaretZadworny teach

1970 Carisbrooke SCD Club formed withteacher Mary Murray

1971 (February) Annual Ball, HotelVancouver: Teuchters play

1971 (September) John Allan, Sheila Brown,Frances Clairmont, Katie Dunn, GerryDunn, Marian Elliot, Michael Miller, JimMurray, Flora Thompson, Iris Woodruff,Stevens Woodruff pass Preliminary Test;Mary Murray, Josie Sleightholme passFull Certificate

1972 (February) Annual Ball, at HotelVancouver: Jack Rennie and the ThistleBand play

1972 Branch class formed in Burnaby withteacher Flora Thompson

1973 (February) Annual Ball, at HotelVancouver: Thistle Band play

1973 (October) Alan Brown, John Duke, MayLoudon, Marie Morgan, JessieMcCready, Hugh McCready, AlisonSteele, Stan Ward pass Preliminary Test;John Allan, Gerry Dunn, Katie Dunn,Mike Miller, Jim Murray, Iris Woodruff,Stevens Woodruff pass Full Certificate

1973 (May) First “Vancouver Weekend,” StFrancis de Sales, Burnaby: IainMacFarlane, Stewart Smith, HughThurston, Margaret Zadworny teach

1974 (January) First Branch Burns Supper1974 (March) Annual Ball, Hotel Vancouver:

Thistle Band play1974 Branch classes centralized at Scottish

Auditorium on Fir Street1974 (May) Annual weekend: Bob Blackie,

Mary Brandon, Elinor MacKenzie, HughThurston teach

1975 (March) Annual Ball, Hotel Vancouver:Thistle Band play

1975 (April) Miss Milligan visits

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1975 (May) Annual weekend, CapilanoCollege: Bob Blackie, Jeanetta McColl,Mary Nixon, Hugh Thurston teach

1975 Schiehallion Band formed1976 (April) Annual weekend, Langara

College: John Kelly, Jean Patrick,Marianne Taylor, Hugh Thurston teach;Schiehallion play

1976 (April) Annual Ball, Carson GrahamSchool: Stan Hamilton and the FlyingScots play

1977 (April) Combined workshop and ball,Jericho and Hotel Vancouver: BobBlackie, Ena McNaughton, June Shoreteach; Schiehallion play

1977 (April) Eileen Bennett, Janet Dickson,Maggie Misfeldt, Doris Tycho, GeorgeWill pass Preliminary Test; Sheila Brown,Judy Davis, Audrey Gordon, LizJohnston, May Loudon pass FullCertificate

1978 (April) Workshop & Ball, HotelVancouver: Sandy Bain, Mary Brandon,Bobby Watson teach (236 at workshop);Schiehallion play

1978 Delta Borderers SCD Club formed withteacher Ruth Jappy

1979 Kerrisdale Seniors group begins, withinstructor Ron Arrowsmith

1979 (March) Workshop & Ball, HotelVancouver: Bob Blackie, DuncanMcLeod, Paul Sarvis, Stewart Smithteach; Schiehallion play

1979 (May) Christine Abercrombie, DorothyRoss, Barbara Warman, Charlie Dobiepass Preliminary Test; Mary Anderson,Eileen Bennett, Ruth Jappy, MaggieMisfeldt, Doris Tycho pass FullCertificate

1980 Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church groupbegins, with teacher Hellen Stephen;continues to Jan. 2000

1980 (May) Workshop & Ball, HotelVancouver: Sandy Bain, GeorgeEmmerson, Stewart Smith, ElinorVandegrift teach; Don Bartlett and HisScotians play

1981 Dorothy Hargreaves, Jane Price passPreliminary Test; Charlie Dobie passesFull Certificate

1981 (April) Workshop & Ball, HotelVancouver: Wes Clindinning, GeorgeEmmerson, John Middleton teach;Schiehallion play

1982 (April) Workshop & Ball, Four Seasons:Bob Blackie, Mary Brandon, MaryMurray, Simon Scott teach; Schiehallionplay

1983 (April) Workshop & Ball, Four Seasons:Sandy Bain, Wes Clindinning, GeorginaFinlay, May Loudon, Mike Warren teach;Schiehallion play

1983 (May) Heather Mann passes PreliminaryTest; Joan Axford, Harvey Barnes, BobVroom pass Full Certificate

1985 (April) Workshop & Ball, Bayshore: BobBlackie, Johan MacLean, Mary Murray,Simon Scott teach; Schiehallion play

1986 (March) Ball, Bayshore: Schiehallionplay

1986 (August) Week-long Expo Workshop, StGeorge’s School: Bob Blackie, AlastairMacFadyen, Mary Murray, Simon Scott,teach

1986 Vancouver Collection of dances published1986 Branch classes held at new Scottish

Cultural Centre on Hudson Street1987 (April) Workshop & Ball: Bruce

Hamilton, Ruth Jappy, Nancy McLaren,George Will; Schiehallion play

1987 (April) Anne Bancroft, Charles McIntyre,Kay McIntyre, Rosemary Read passPreliminary Test; Janet Dickson, MonicaRoots pass Full Certificate

1987 (August) TAC AGM held at ScottishCultural Centre

1987 Deep Cove SCD Club formed withteacher Dorothy Hargreaves

1988 (May) 256-some Reel, Simon FraserUniversity: SFU Pipe Band play

1988 (May) Workshop, UBC: WesClindinning, Simon Scott, ElinorVandegrift, George Will teach

1988 TAC AGM weekend, Scottish CulturalCentre

1989 (May) Workshop, UBC: Bob Blackie,Mary Murray, Marianne Taylor teach

1989 (November) Chairmen’s Ball, GizehTemple, sponsored by past Chairmen;Schiehallion play

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1990 Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra formed1990 (May) Workshop & Ball, UBC: Dorothy

Leurs, Mary Murray, Simon Scott, DavidTague teach; Alasdair Fraser and BarbaraMacDonald Magone play

1991 (March) Cathrine Conings, ClayneConings, Gael Forster, Colette Hamner,Elizabeth Peerless pass Preliminary Test;Barbara Campbell, Maureen Hood,Rosemary Read, Jean Wagstaff pass FullCertificate

1991 (May) Workshop & Ball, UBC: RonArrowsmith, Marjorie Easton, LizJohnston, John Middleton teach; BarleyBree play

1992 Richmond Reelers formed1992 New class at downtown YMCA; evolves

into High Glen class which meets at StAndrews-Wesley Church to 1999

1992 (May) Workshop & Ball, UBC: RosemaryCoupe, Dorothy Hargreaves, RobertMcOwen teach; Barley Bree play

1993 (January) Jean Hudson’s Book of theMonth class begins

1993 (April) Liz Gray, Julie King, DuncanMacKenzie, Jack Vlug, Dorie Smith passPreliminary Test; Cathrine Conings,Clayne Conings, Maureen Lyon pass FullCertificate

1993 (May) Workshop & Ball, Royal Towers:Mary Murray, Simon Scott teach

1993 (June) “Golden Girls” Liz Johnston,Elspeth Rennie, Dorie Smith, JeanWagstaff host birthday dance at SquamishNation hall; Schiehallion play

1993 (September) Inverary step dance classwith teacher Barbara Campbell starts

1994 (March) First West Coast appearance offull Bobby Brown and the Scottish AccentBand at Delta Spring Fling

1994 (May) Workshop & Ball, UBC &Delbrook CC: Dorothy Hargreaves,Maureen Lyon, Tony Moretti teach; VFOplay

1995 (April) Joan House, Duncan MacKenzie,Elizabeth Peerless, Dorie Smith, JackVlug pass Full Certificate

1995 (May) First Whistler workshop: BobBlackie, Mary Murray, Elinor Vandegrift,Ron Wallace teach; Scottish Accent play

1995 West End SCD Club formed with teacherDuncan MacKenzie

1996 John Drewry visits Vancouver1996 (February) Mini-Workshop, USCC: Liz

Gray, Ruth Jappy, Simon Scott teach;Murray Shoolbraid and Friends play

1996 (March) Branch newsletter renamed TheWhite Cockade

1996 Bob Armour, Elizabeth Breuer, CathrineConings, Wendy Hutcheon give birthdaydance

1996 Vancouver Branch incorporated under BCSocieties Act

1997 (March) Fran Caruth, Dianne Evans,Marie Disiewicz, Marion Heath, ShelaghHodgins pass Preliminary Test; ColetteHamner passes Full Certificate

1997 (May) Whistler Workshop: JohanMacLean, Robert McOwen, David Tagueteach; Scottish Accent play

1997 Angela Gauld launches Branch website1998 (January) Pearl Holmberg bequest

announced1998 (February) Mini-Workshop, SCC:

Dorothy Hargreaves, Mary Murray,Elinor Vandegrift teach; Alex Jappy andMaureen O’Brien play

1998 (August) TAC Summer School held atUBC: Cathrine Conings leads localcommittee

1999 (April) Rebecca Blackhall-Peters,Penelope Bornhold, Raymond Perkins,Ed Pitkin, Judi Hallenbeck passPreliminary Test; Fran Caruth, DianneEvans, Linda McDonald pass FullCertificate.

1999 (May) Whistler Workshop: MarjorieMcLaughlin, Simon Scott, GeoffreySelling teach; Scottish Accent play

1999 Fort Langley Voyageurs formed withteacher Rebecca Blackhall-Peters

1999 (December 31) Millennium Hogmanay:John Ellis and His Highland CountryBand play (sponsored by Mary Wattum)

2000 Hellen Stephen’s class at KerrisdalePresbyterian Church ends after 20 years

2000 (February) Back to Basics Workshop,SCC: Ruth Jappy, Mary Murray, SimonScott teach; Mary Ross and SiobhanMonaghan play

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2000 Mary Murray awarded RSCDS Scroll ofHonour

2000 (May) First Pearl Holmberg Workshopfor Teachers and Musicians, SCC: JohanMacLean teaches dance; Iain Fraser andMuriel Johnstone teach music

2000 (December 31) Shoestring Hogmanayorganized by Howard Meredith andWendy Swaine

2001 (February) Back to Basics Workshop,SCC: Rosemary Coupe, Bruce Hamilton,May Loudon teach; Scuttlebutt play

2001 Denise Cunningham, Phyllis Gaskell,Yvonne Worobec pass Preliminary Test;Rebecca Blackhall-Peters, JudiHallenbeck pass Full Certificate

2001 (May) Pearl Holmberg Workshop forTeachers and Musicians, SCC: ElmaMcCausland teaches dance; BobbyBrown and band members teach music

2001 Duncan MacKenzie holds his first CeilidhDance

2002 (February) Back to Basics Workshop,USCC: Mary Murray, Rebecca BlackhallPeters, Wes Clindinning teach;Scuttlebutt play at Beginners’ Ball

2002 (April) Pearl Holmberg Workshop forTeachers and Musicians, SCC: BruceFrazer teaches dance; Ralph Gordon,Andy Imbrie, Calum MacKinnon teachmusic

2002 (May) Pacific Spirit Ball, SquamishNation Centre: David Cunningham Bandplay (sponsored by Mary Wattum)

2003 (February) Back to Basics Workshop,SCC: Bob Anderson, May Loudon,Margaret McMurtry teach; Mary Rossplays for Beginners’ Ball

2003 (May) First Youth Weekend West, WestPoint Grey

2003 (April) Pearl Holmberg Workshop forTeachers and Musicians, SCC: Ian Hallteaches dance; Ralph Gordon, AndyImbrie, Calum MacKinnon teach music

2003 Pat Blair, Sandra Crosby, KathrynKnowles, Hazel MacDonald, ScottMacDonald pass Preliminary Test; DeniseCunningham, Phyllis Gaskell pass FullCertificate

2003 (October) “Vancouver Dances,” SCC(program of dances devised by Vancouver

Branch members) organized by RosemaryCoupe and Elizabeth Peerless

2004 (February) Love to Dance workshop,SCC: Fran Caruth, Liz Gray, PeterMcClure teach; Scuttlebutt play forBeginners’ Ball

2004 (May) Pearl Holmberg Workshop forTeachers and Musicians, SCC: HelenFrame teaches dance; Barbara McOwen,Jennifer Wilson teach music

2005 (February) Love to Dance Workshop,SCC: Ruth Jappy, Fiona Miller, IrenePaterson teach; Mary Ross plays forBeginners’ Ball

2005 Michelle Campbell, Davina Crowe, JonRoney, Raymond Thomson passPreliminary Test; Pat Blair, HazelMacDonald, Kathryn Knowles pass Part 2

2005 (May) First Thistle Ball, SquamishNation Centre: Marian Anderson Bandplay (sponsored by Mary Wattum)

2005 Ruby Anniversary Collection of dances byBranch members published

2005 (October) Vancouver Assembly, SCC (re-creation of an 18th-century Assembly)organized by Rosemary Coupe andElizabeth Peerless

2006 Branch Awards given to Ron Arrowsmith,Rosemary Coupe, Ruth Jappy, MayLoudon, Duncan MacKenzie, MaryMurray, Elspeth Rennie, Hellen Stephen,Mary Wattum

2006 (February) Love to Dance Workshop,SCC: John and Jennifer Kelly, MaryMurray teach; Ron Krug and Ken Nattrassplay

2006 (May) Pearl Holmberg Workshop forTeachers and Musicians, SCC: Ann Dixteaches dance; Elke Baker and LizDonaldson teach music

2006 Ruth Jappy awarded RSCDS Scroll ofHonour

2006 (September) Cathrine Conings, WendyHutcheon, Elizabeth Smith, YvonneWorobec give birthday dance

2007 (February) Love to Dance Workshop,SCC: Rebecca Blackhall Peters, BarbaraCampbell, Heather Flint, Bill Zobel teach;Muriel Johnstone and Keith Smith play

2007 (April) Barbara Bell, Richard Bennett,Karen Marshall, Gail Sibley, Kay

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Sutherland pass Teaching Certificate Part1; Sandra Crosby, June McFadden,Gordon Robinson pass Part 2

2008 (February) Love to Dance Workshop,SCC: Barbara Johnston, HazelMacDonald, Simon Scott teach; DebyBenton-Grosjean, Liz Donaldson, CalumMacKinnon play

2008 (May) Pearl Holmberg Workshop forTeachers and Musicians, SCC: LesleyMartin teaches dance; Neil Copland,Maureen Rutherford teach music

2008 (May) Thistle Ball, Squamish NationCentre: Neil Copland Band play

2008 (November) Marie Disiewicz sponsorsHeartland social and ball, SCC; ColinDewar Band play

2009 Branch Awards given to Maureen Hood,Al and Helen Hughes, Maureen Lyon

2009 (February) Love to Dance Workshop,SCC

2009 (May) Fran Hillier, Laurie Lang, HeatherMain, Rebecca Mintz, Louise Murphy,Katherine Shearman pass TeachingCertificate Part 1; Richard Bennett, KarenMarshall, Gail Sibley pass Part 2

2009 (September) Marie Disiewicz starts herThursday morning class at SCC. Thisevolves into the “Thursday Thistles”taught by Laurie Lang

2009 (October) First Fifty Favourites (danceprogram covering five decades of dancingin Vancouver), SCC, organized byRosemary Coupe and Elizabeth Peerless;Tartan Players play

2010 (March) First Heather Ball, GizehTemple: Bobby Brown and the ScottishAccent play

2010 Branch Award given to DorothyHargreaves

2011 (February) Love to Dance Workshop:Mary Murray, Simon Scott teach; TartanPlayers play

2011 (March) Heather Ball, SCC: The ScottishAccent play

2011 (May) Bernadette Edmond passesTeaching Certificate Part 1; Fran Hillier,Laurie Lang, Louise Murphy, KatherineShearman, Kay Sutherland pass Part 2

2012 (February) Love to Dance Workshop,SCC: Mary Murray, Simon Scott teach;Tartan Players play

2012 (March) Heather Ball, Gizeh: TheScottish Accent play

2012 (June) Duncan and Margaret MacKenziegive dance to celebrate their 25th

anniversary of dancing, SCC: TartanPlayers and VFO play

2013 (February) Love to Dance Workshop:Mary Murray, Simon Scott teach; TartanPlayers play

2013 (February) Branch Award given to FranCaruth

2013 (March) Heather Ball, Gizeh: GordonShand Band play

2013 (March) Branch award given to KirstenEarl of Terrace

2013 (April) Glenayre Club 50th anniversarydance

2013 Lindsay Carter, Gael Forster, Sarah Kell,Mary Ann McDevitt, Alison Moen,Louise Steinway pass TeachingCertificate Part 1

2013 (December) 50th annual Gleneagles Ball2014 (February) Love to Dance Workshop,

SCC: Mary Murray, Simon Scott teach;Tartan Players play

2014 (March) Heather Ball, Gizeh: Scotch MistBand play

2014 (May) White Rock 60th anniversaryball: Marian Anderson Band play

2015 (February) Love to Dance Workshop,SCC: Rebecca Blackhall Peters, MaureenLyon, Gordon Robinson teach; TartanPlayers play

2015 (March) Golden Jubilee Ball. HellenicCC: Torridon Scottish Dance Band play

2015 (March) Branch Award given to JeanWagstaff

2015 (March) Golden Anniversary Collectionof dances by Branch members published

2015 (May) Daniel Been, Karin Wagstaff passTeaching Certificate Part 1; CrystalGoodwin, Alison Moen, Rachel Pusey,Louise Steinway pass Part 2

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Appendix B … Branch Boards

1964–65:Chair Bob Simpson, Treasurer Alistair Ross,Secretary Beryl MacMillan, Members at LargeSheena Ellis, Mary Shoolbraid, Tommy Craig,Denys Lloyd, Jack Miller; Honorary President Dr.J.B. MacDonald (President of UBC), HonoraryVice-Presidents Mrs. Ella Bingham, Mrs. MaryIsdale MacNab.

1965–66:Chair Bob Simpson, Treasurer Alistair Ross,Secretary Nina Thurston, Members at LargeSheena Ellis, Mary Shoolbraid (replaced byLaurie Shearer), Harvey Barnes, Denys Lloyd,Jack Miller.Appointments: Senior Instructor MaryShoolbraid, Archivist Pam Jeacocke.

1966–67:Chair Bob Simpson, Treasurer Alistair Ross,Secretary Moira Black, Members at Large JennyCraig, Judy Davis, Pam Jeacocke, Harvey Barnes(replaced by Bob Hutton January 1967), JohnHicks.Appointments: Senior Instructor Mary Shoolbraid(replaced by Pauline Barnes), Archivist PamJeacocke, Editors John and Jessie Hicks.

1967–68:Chair Bob Simpson, Treasurer Alistair Ross,Secretary Moira Black, Members at Large JudyDavis, Pam Jeacocke, Bob Hutton, Alec Marshall,John Williamson.Appointments: Senior Instructor Pauline Barnes,Archivist Pam Jeacocke.

1968–69:Chair Alistair Ross, Treasurer Denys Lloyd,Secretary Mary Harwood, Members at Large JudyDavis (replaced by Dorothy Burke), PamJeacocke, Glen Allan, Bob Hutton, Alec Marshall.Appointments: Senior Instructor Pauline Barnes,Archivist Pam Jeacocke, Editor Pauline Barnes.

1969–70:Chair Alistair Ross, Treasurer Denys Lloyd,Secretary Mary Harwood, Members at Large JudyDavis, Pam Jeacocke, Glen Allan, Bob Hutton,Alec Marshall.Appointments: Senior Instructor Pauline Barnes,Archivist Pam Jeacocke, Editor Pauline Barnes.

1970–71:Chair Alistair Ross, Treasurer Gilbert Anderson,Secretary Mary Harwood, Members at LargeMarilyn Angus, Judith Davis, Bob Hutton, AlecMarshall, Flora Thompson.Appointments: Senior Instructor: Paulina Barnes,Archivist Pam Jeacocke, Editor Judy Davis.

1971–72:Chair Jim Murray, Treasurer Gilbert Anderson,Corresponding Secretary Jessie McCready,Recording Secretary, Flora Thompson,Membership Secretary Marilyn Angus, Membersat Large Helen Anderson, Judith Davis, BobHutton, Alec Marshall, Alan Walsh.Appointments: Senior Instructor: Paulina Barnes,Archivist Bob Hutton, Editor Judy Davis.

1972–73:Chair Jim Murray, Treasurer Alan Walsh,Corresponding Secretary Alison Steele,Recording Secretary Marie Morgan, MembershipSecretary Eric Fairclough, Members at LargeHelen Anderson, Ian Brady, Bob Currie, JudyDavis, Bob Hutton.Appointments: Senior Instructor Mary Murray,Archivist Bob Hutton, Editor Judy Davis.

1973–74:Chair Jim Murray, Treasurer Andrew MacArthur,Corresponding Secretary Alison Steele,Recording Secretary Marie Morgan, MembershipSecretary Eric Fairclough, Members at LargeHelen Anderson, Ian Brady, Bob Currie, JudyDavis, Bob Hutton.

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Appointments: Senior Instructor Mary Murray,Archivist Bob Hutton, Editor Judy Davis.

1974–75:Chair Denys Lloyd, Treasurer Andrew McArthur,Corresponding Secretary Liz Johnston, RecordingSecretary Pearl Brakenridge, MembershipSecretary Mary Anderson, Members at LargeHelen Anderson, Bob Currie, Judy Davis, BobHutton, Ken Morgan.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator MaryMurray, Archivist Bob Hutton.

1975–76:Chair Bob Currie, Treasurer Andrew McArthur,Corresponding Secretary Liz Johnston, RecordingSecretary Fran Ruegg, Membership SecretaryLouise MacLeod, Members at Large HelenAnderson, Eileen Bennett, Ian Brady, KenMorgan, Wilson Youngson.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator MaryMurray, Archivist Bob Hutton, Editor FranRuegg.

1976–77:Chair Ken Morgan, Treasurer AndrewMacArthur, Corresponding Secretary JessieMcCready (May Loudon from August 1976),Recording Secretary Eileen Bennett, MembershipSecretary Leslie Wilson, Members at Large HelenAnderson, Jim Dobie, Derek Hill, Liz Johnston,Fran Ruegg.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator MaryMurray, Archivist Bob Hutton, Editor LizJohnston.

1977–78Chair Ken Morgan, Treasurer AndrewMacArthur, Corresponding Secretary MayLoudon, Recording Secretary Eileen Bennett,Membership Secretary Denys Lloyd, Members atLarge Helen Anderson, Bob Currie, Liz Johnston,John McLellan, Les Wilson.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator MaryMurray, Archivist Bob Hutton, Editor LizJohnston.

1978–79:Chair Ken Morgan, Treasurer Les Wilson,Corresponding Secretary May Loudon, Recording

Secretary Mary Raphael, Membership SecretaryDenys Lloyd. Members at Large Helen Anderson,Bob Currie, Andrew MacArthur, Cathie Miller,Wilson Youngson.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator MaryMurray, Archivist Bob Hutton, Editor LizJohnston.

1979–80:Chair Andrew MacArthur, Treasurer NormanTycho, Corresponding Secretary May Loudon,Recording Secretary Margaret Zadworny,Membership Secretary Denys Lloyd, Members atLarge Cathie Miller, Helen Anderson, ElmaYoungson, Malcolm Mayhew, George Will.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator MaryMurray, Archivist Bob Hutton, Editor LizJohnston.

1980–81Chair Andrew MacArthur, Treasurer NormanTycho, Corresponding Secretary May Loudon,Recording Secretary Anna Brown, MembershipSecretary Elma Youngson, Members at LargeCathie Miller, Helen Anderson, Jim Duncan, RuthJappy, Jim Murray.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator George Will,Archivist Bob Hutton, Editor Liz Johnston.

1981–82:Chair Andrew MacArthur, Treasurer NormanTycho, Corresponding Secretary May Loudon,Recording Secretary Anna Brown, MembershipSecretary Elma Youngson, Members at LargeHelen Anderson, Audrey Gordon, Ruth Jappy, JimMurray, Pam Jeacocke.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator Sheena Ellis,Archivist Bob Hutton, Editor Liz Johnston.

1982–83:Chair Jim Gordon, Treasurer Jim Duncan,Corresponding Secretary Elspeth Rennie,Recording Secretary Mary Anderson,Membership Secretary Patsy Jamieson, Membersat Large Pam Jeacocke, Liz Johnston, HarveyBarnes, Jim Murray, Bill Watson.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator Sheena Ellis,Archivist Bob Hutton, Editor Liz Johnston.

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1983–84:Chair Jim Gordon, Vice-Chair Bill Jamieson,Treasurer Jim Duncan, Corresponding SecretaryElspeth Rennie, Recording Secretary AnnaBrown, Membership Secretary Bill Watson,Members at Large Ann Baker (editor), NancyCurrie, Pam Jeacocke, Harvey Barnes, JimMurray.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator Sheena Ellis,Archivist Bob Hutton, Editor Ann Baker.

1984–85:Chair Jim Gordon, Vice-Chair Bill Jamieson,Treasurer Jim Duncan, Corresponding SecretaryElspeth Rennie, Recording Secretary AnnaBrown, Membership Secretary Bill Watson,Members at Large Nancy Currie, Jim Murray,Joan MacArthur, Dennis Sallaway, HellenStephen.Appointments: Senior Instructor Liz Johnston,Archivist Hellen Stephen, Editor Liz Johnston.

1985–86:Chair Bill Jamieson (Dennis Sallaway fromAugust 1985), Vice-Chair Dennis Sallaway(Hellen Stephen from August 1985), TreasurerJim Duncan, Corresponding Secretary AnnWatson, Recording Secretary Anna Brown,Membership Secretary Bill Watson, Members atLarge Joan MacArthur, Derek Hill, BarbaraCampbell, Jim Murray, Hellen Stephen.Additional members August 1985: Ken Bennett,Nancy Currie.Appointments: Senior Instructor Liz Johnston,Archivist Hellen Stephen, Editor Liz Johnston.

1986–87:Chair Dennis Sallaway, Vice-Chair HellenStephen, Treasurer Jim Duncan, CorrespondingSecretary Anna Brown, Recording Secretary AnnWatson, Membership Secretary Ken Bennett,Members at Large Joan MacArthur, Derek Hill,Stan Bremner, Cathie Miller, Irene Money.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator Liz Johnston,Archivist Hellen Stephen, Editor Liz Johnston.

1987–88:Chair Dennis Sallaway, Vice-Chair HellenStephen, Treasurer Ian Loudon, CorrespondingSecretary Anna Brown, Recording Secretary AnnWatson, Membership Secretary Ken Bennett,

Members at Large Joan MacArthur, Derek Hill,Stan Bremner, Cathie Miller, Irene Money. EditorLiz Johnston.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator AudreyGordon, Archivist Hellen Stephen, Editor LizJohnston.

1988–89:Chair Hellen Stephen, Vice-Chair Neil Wilkie,Treasurer Ian Loudon, Corresponding SecretaryElspeth Rennie, Recording Secretary AnnaBrown, Membership Secretary Ken Bennett,Members at Large Beth Armour, Mike Connelly,Sheila Hodgins, Joan MacArthur, Cathie Miller.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator AudreyGordon, Editor Ian Price / Jackie Wilkie.

1989–90:Chair Hellen Stephen, Vice-Chair Neil Wilkie,Treasurer Ian Loudon, Corresponding SecretaryElspeth Rennie, Recording Secretary AnnaBrown, Membership Secretary Steve Brown,Members at Large Beth Armour, Mike Connelly,Shelagh Hodgins, Mollie Faulkner, MaureenHood.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator MaryAnderson, Archivist Hellen Stephen, Editor JackieWilkie.

1990–91:Chair Hellen Stephen, Vice-Chair DuncanMacKenzie, Treasurer Ian Loudon,Corresponding Secretary Elspeth Rennie,Recording Secretary Anna Brown, MembershipSecretary Ken Bennett, Members at Large SophiaAlexandrova, Beth Armour, Shelagh Hodgins,Tony Scott, Rolf Gundersen.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator MaryAnderson, Editor Jackie Wilkie.

1991–92:Chair Duncan MacKenzie, Vice-Chair SophiaAlexandrova, Treasurer Denys Lloyd,Corresponding Secretary Barbara Campbell,Recording Secretary Angela Gauld, MembershipSecretary Ken Bennett, Members at Large RolfGundersen, Wendy Hutcheon, Hazel Robb, TonyScott, Anne Thomas.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator MaryAnderson, Branch Shop Hazel Robb, ArchivistHellen Stephen, Editor Jackie Wilkie.

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1992–93:Chair Duncan MacKenzie, Vice-Chair MaryAnderson, Treasurer Ken Hudson, CorrespondingSecretary Barbara Campbell, Recording SecretaryAngela Gauld, Membership Secretary WendyHutcheon, Members at Large Hazel Robb, DianaBodnar, Dorie Smith, Anne Scott, Jean Wagstaff.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator RonArrowsmith, Branch Shop Hazel Robb, ArchivistHellen Stephen, Editor Jackie Wilkie.

1993–94:Chair Duncan MacKenzie, Vice-Chair MaryAnderson, Treasurer Ken Hudson, CorrespondingSecretary Anne Scott, Recording Secretary PhyllisGaskell, Membership Secretary Jean Wagstaff,Members at Large Hazel Robb, Sid Dyke, LouiseGray, Ed Mornin, Marion Carruthers.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator RonArrowsmith, Children’s Committee MaureenHood, Branch Shop Hazel Robb, ArchivistRosemary Coupe, Editor Jackie Wilkie.

1994–95:Chair Hazel Robb, Vice-Chair Mary Anderson,Treasurer Ian Loudon, Corresponding SecretaryAnne Scott, Recording Secretary Julie King,Membership Secretary Louise Gray, Members atLarge Ed Mornin, Marion Carruthers, Ian Allan,Ann Boyd, Janette Steel.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator May Loudon,Children’s Committee Maureen Hood, BranchShop Jeanette Stark, Archivist Rosemary Coupe,Editor Jackie Wilkie.

1995–96:Chair Hazel Robb, Vice-Chair Art Van Wart,Treasurer Ian Loudon, Corresponding SecretaryYvonne Calderwood, Recording Secretary JanetteSteel, Membership Secretary Angela Gauld,Members at Large Ian Allan, Marilyn Buchanan,Jim Fairley, Moyra Heyerdahl, Henry Vaughan.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator MaryAnderson, Children’s Committee Maureen Hood,Funds Dennis Sallaway, Archivist RosemaryCoupe, Editor Jackie Wilkie / Rosemary Coupe.

1996–97:Chair Hazel Robb, Vice-Chair Art Van Wart,Treasurer Ian Loudon, Corresponding SecretaryYvonne Calderwood, Recording Secretary Mary

Raphael, Membership Secretary Angela Gauld,Members at Large Gerda Barwieck, MargaretBerard, Jim Fairley, Moyra Heyerdahl, LizPeerless.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator MaryAnderson, Children’s Committee Maureen Hood,Funds Dennis Sallaway, Archivist RosemaryCoupe, Editor Rosemary Coupe.

1997–98:Chair Angela Gauld, Vice-Chair Bob Armour,Treasurer Marie O’Hagan, CorrespondingSecretary Yvonne Calderwood, RecordingSecretary Gerda Barwieck, Membership SecretaryJim Fairley, Members at Large Wendy Swaine,Bonnie Volker, Stewart Cunningham, MargaretBerard, Liz Peerless.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator MaryAnderson, Children’s Committee Maureen Hood,Funds Dennis Sallaway, Branch Shop MarieDisiewicz, Archivist Rosemary Coupe, EditorRosemary Coupe, Webmaster Angela Gauld.

1998–99:Chair Angela Gauld, Vice-Chair Bob Armour,Treasurer Stewart Cunningham, CorrespondingSecretary Elspeth Rennie, Recording SecretaryWendy Swaine, Membership Secretary JimFairley, Members at Large Margaret Berard,David Foreman, John Menzies, Yvonne Doig,Bonnie Volker.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator MaryAnderson, Children’s Committee Maureen Hood,Funds Dennis Sallaway, Branch Shop MarieDisiewicz, Archivist Rosemary Coupe, EditorRosemary Coupe, Webmaster Angela Gauld.

1999–2000:Chair Angela Gauld, Vice-Chair Bob Armour,Treasurer Stewart Cunningham, CorrespondingSecretary Elspeth Rennie, Recording SecretaryWendy Swaine, Membership Secretary RebeccaBlackhall Peters, Members at Large DavidForeman, Janet Hanson, Yvonne Doig, BonnieVolker, Isabel Van Wart.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator MaryAnderson, Children’s Committee Maureen Hood,Branch Shop Marie Disiewicz, ArchivistRosemary Coupe, Editor Rosemary Coupe,Webmaster Angela Gauld.

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2000–01:Chair Bob Armour, Vice-Chair Brian Corbould,Treasurer Stewart Cunningham, CorrespondingSecretary Elspeth Rennie, Recording SecretaryWendy Swaine, Membership Secretary RebeccaBlackhall Peters, Members at Large CaroleBerger, Yvonne Doig, Yvonne Martin, JamesSmith, Isabel Van Wart.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator MaryAnderson, Children’s Committee Maureen Hood,Funds Simon Scott and Bob Armour, Branch ShopMarie Disiewicz, Archivist Rosemary Coupe,Editor Rosemary Coupe, Webmaster AngelaGauld.

2001–02:Chair Bob Armour, Vice-Chair Brian Corbould,Treasurer Barbara Wagner, CorrespondingSecretary Stewart Cunningham, RecordingSecretary Elspeth Rennie, Membership SecretaryRebecca Blackhall Peters, Members at LargeYvonne Doig, Cathy Gibson, Anne MacLeod,Isabel Van Wart, Bonnie Volker.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator WendySwaine, Children’s Committee Maureen Hood,Funds Simon Scott and Bob Armour, Branch ShopMarie Disiewicz, Archivist Susan Richardson,Editor Rosemary Coupe, Webmaster AngelaGauld.

2002–03:Chair Brian Corbould, Vice-Chair Ed Mornin,Treasurer Barbara Wagner, CorrespondingSecretary Yvonne Doig, Recording SecretaryAnne Scott, Membership Secretary Sandy Caruth,Members at Large Cathy Gibson, Ray Eagle,Isobel James, Hazel Mackie, Wendy Swaine,Webmaster Angela Gauld.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator WendySwaine, Children’s Committee Maureen Hood,Funds Simon Scott and Bob Armour, Branch ShopMarie Disiewicz, Archivist Susan Richardson,Editor Rosemary Coupe, Webmaster AngelaGauld.

2003–04:Chair Brian Corbould, Vice-Chair Ed Mornin,Treasurer Barbara Bell (previously Wagner),Corresponding Secretary Stewart Cunningham,Recording Secretary Bonnie Volker, MembershipSecretary Sandy Caruth, Members at Large Hazel

Mackie, Ray Eagle, Gwyneth Walker, IsobelJames, Wendy Swaine.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator WendySwaine, Children’s Committee Maureen Hood,Funds Simon Scott and Bob Armour, UnitedScottish Society Representative Brian Corbould,Archivist Rosemary Coupe, Editor RosemaryCoupe, Webmaster Angela Gauld.

2004–05:Chair Brian Corbould, Vice-Chair ElizabethPeerless, Treasurer Stuart Honeyman,Corresponding Secretary Stewart Cunningham,Recording Secretary Dorothy Easton,Membership Secretary Sandy Caruth, Members atLarge Hazel Mackie, Wendy Swaine, MargaretMacKenzie, Fran Caruth, Barbara Moritz.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator Fran Caruth,Children’s Committee Maureen Hood, FundsSimon Scott and John Toomer, United ScottishSociety Representative Brian Corbould, ArchivistRosemary Coupe, Editor Rosemary Coupe,Webmaster Angela Gauld.

2005–06:Chair Elizabeth Peerless, Vice-Chair Ed Wagstaff,Treasurer Stuart Honeyman, CorrespondingSecretary Stewart Cunningham, RecordingSecretary Derek Bisset, Membership SecretarySandy Caruth, Members at Large RebeccaBlackhall-Peters, Fran Caruth, Heather Graham,Margaret MacKenzie, Barbara Moritz.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator Fran Caruth,Children’s Committee Maureen Hood, FundsSimon Scott and John Toomer, United ScottishSociety Representative Brian Corbould, ArchivistRosemary Coupe, Editor Rosemary Coupe,Webmaster Angela Gauld.

2006–07:Chair Elizabeth Peerless, Vice-Chair Ed Wagstaff,Treasurer Stuart Honeyman, CorrespondingSecretary Stuart Somerville, Recording SecretaryDerek Bisset, Membership Secretary SandyCaruth, Members at Large Rebecca Blackhall-Peters, Fran Caruth, Heather Graham, MargaretMacKenzie, Barbara Moritz.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator Fran Caruth,Children’s Committee Maureen Hood, FundsSimon Scott and John Toomer, United ScottishSociety Representative Duncan MacKenzie,

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Archivist Rosemary Coupe, Editor RosemaryCoupe, Webmaster Angela Gauld.

2007–08:Chair Elizabeth Peerless, Vice-Chair Ed Wagstaff,Treasurer Richard Beattie, CorrespondingSecretary Stuart Somerville, Recording SecretaryDerek Bisset, Membership Secretary JeanMullard, Members at Large Fran Caruth, DianeCoulombe, Rebecca Blackhall-Peters, FranHillier, Pat Hollingdale.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator Fran Caruth,Children’s Committee Maureen Hood, FundsSimon Scott and John Toomer, United ScottishSociety Representative Duncan MacKenzie,Archivist Rosemary Coupe, Editor RosemaryCoupe, Webmaster Stuart Somerville.

2008–09:Chair Ed Wagstaff, Vice-Chair Paul Lowe,Treasurer Richard Beattie, CorrespondingSecretary Stuart Somerville, Recording SecretaryLouise Murphy, Membership Secretary JeanMullard, Members at Large Fran Caruth, DianeCoulombe, Annabel Herdman, Pat Hollingdale,Libby Alexander.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator Fran Caruth,Children’s Committee Maureen Hood, FundsSimon Scott, John Toomer, and Richard Beattie,United Scottish Society Representative DuncanMacKenzie, Archivist Rosemary Coupe, EditorRosemary Coupe, Webmaster Stuart Somerville.

2009–10:Chair Ed Wagstaff, Vice-Chair Paul Lowe,Treasurer Richard Beattie, CorrespondingSecretary Fran Hillier, Recording Secretary PatHollingdale, Membership Secretary PatsyJamieson-Smith, Members at Large Fran Caruth,Annabel Herdman, Maureen Onotera, JenniferShearman, Stewart Cunningham.Appointments: Teacher Coordinator Fran Caruth,Children’s Committee Maureen Hood, FundsSimon Scott and Gill Beattie, United ScottishSociety Representative Stewart Cunningham,Archivist Rosemary Coupe, Editor PascalineDenblyden / Karen Marshall, Webmaster StuartSomerville.

2010–11:Chair Paul Lowe, Vice-Chair Jennifer Shearman,Treasurer Stewart Cunningham, CorrespondingSecretary Fran Hillier, Recording Secretary DrumCavers, Membership Secretary Patsy Jamieson,Past Chair Ed Wagstaff, Members at LargeFrances Caruth, Maureen Onotera, Pat Cavers,Phil Holton, Simon Scott.Appointments: Dancing Coordinator Fran Caruth,North Shore Children Maureen Hood, UnitedScottish Society Representative StewartCunningham, Archivist Rosemary Coupe, EditorKaren Marshall, Webmaster Stuart Somerville,Safety Coordinator Jennifer Shearman, TACRepresentative Jean Wagstaff, DemonstrationTeam Director Rebecca Blackhall-Peters, CeilidhDirector Duncan MacKenzie, Heather Ball ChairRosemary Coupe.

2011–12:Chair Paul Lowe, Vice-Chair Jennifer Shearman,Treasurer Stewart Cunningham, CorrespondingSecretary Vicki Downey, Recording SecretaryDrum Cavers, Membership Secretary PatsyJamieson, Members at Large Frances Caruth,Isabel Bauder, Pat Cavers, Cathrine Conings,Simon Scott.Appointments: Dancing Coordinator FrancesCaruth, Demonstration Team Director RebeccaBlackhall-Peters, Archivist Rosemary Coupe,Editor Eleanor Pedersen, Webmaster StuartSomerville, Ceilidh Director Duncan MacKenzie,North Shore Children Maureen Hood, TACRepresentative Jean Wagstaff, Heather Ball ChairMary Ann McDevitt.

2012–13:Chair Jennifer Shearman, Vice-Chair GerryStensgaard, Treasurer Stewart Cunningham,Corresponding Secretary Vicki Downey,Recording Secretary Drum Cavers, MembershipSecretary Patsy Jamieson, Past Chair Paul Lowe.Members at Large Cathrine Conings, Simon Scott,Sue Sochasky.Appointments: Events Coordinator PatHollingdale, Dancing Coordinator FrancesCaruth, Burns Supper Chair Peter Richards,Demonstration Team Director Rebecca Blackhall-Peters, Archivist Rosemary Coupe, Editor EleanorPedersen, Webmaster Stuart Somerville, Ceilidh

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Director Duncan MacKenzie, North ShoreChildren Maureen Hood, TAC RepresentativeJean Wagstaff, Heather Ball Chair Simon Scott.

2013–14:Chair Jennifer Shearman, Vice-Chair GerryStensgaard, Treasurer Stewart Cunningham,Corresponding Secretary Vicki Downey,Recording Secretary Drum Cavers, MembershipSecretary Patsy Jamieson, Members at LargeCathrine Conings, Heather Hankin, Mary AnnMcDevitt, Francis O’Farrell, Simon Scott, SueSochasky.Appointments: Dancing Coordinator FrancesCaruth, Burns Supper Chair Gill Beattie,Demonstration Team Director Rebecca Blackhall-Peters, Editor Eleanor Pedersen, Ceilidh DirectorDuncan MacKenzie, North Shore ChildrenMaureen Hood, TAC Representative JeanWagstaff, 50th Anniversary Chair Jean Wagstaff.

2014–15:Chair Gerry Stensgaard, Vice-Chair PeterRichards, Treasurer Laurie Johnston,Corresponding Secretary Vicki Downey,Recording Secretary Sally Marshall, MembershipSecretary Patsy Jamieson, Past Chair JenniferShearman, Members at Large Cathrine Conings,Heather Hankin, Mary Ann McDevitt, FrancisO’Farrell, Simon Scott, Sue Sochasky.Appointments: Dancing Coordinator FrancesCaruth, Burns Supper Chair Gill Beattie,Demonstration Team Director Rebecca Blackhall-Peters, Editor Eleanor Pedersen, Ceilidh DirectorDuncan MacKenzie, North Shore ChildrenMaureen Hood, TAC Representative JeanWagstaff, 50th Anniversary Chair Jean Wagstaff.

2015–16:Chair Gerry Stensgaard, Vice-Chair PeterRichards, Treasurer Laurie Johnston,Corresponding Secretary Gill Beattie, RecordingSecretary Sally Marshall, Membership SecretaryPatsy Jamieson, Members at Large CathrineConings, Heather Hankin, Janet Mason, FrancisO’Farrell, Simon Scott, Sue Sochasky.Appointments: Dancing Coordinator FrancesCaruth, Demonstration Team Director RebeccaBlackhall-Peters, Editor Karen Sommer, CeilidhDirector Duncan MacKenzie, North ShoreChildren Maureen Hood, United Scottish Society

Representative Stewart Cunningham, TACRepresentative Jean Wagstaff, Betwixt andBetween Coordinator Katherine Shearman,Dancing in the Park Alison Moen, Heather BallChair Denise Cunningham, Website ManagerMary Ann McDevitt, Archivist Mary AnnMcDevitt.

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Introduction … A Short History of ScottishCountry Dancing

Atkinson, J. Grahamsley. Scottish NationalDances: A Practical Handbook withIllustrative Diagrams. Edinburgh, 1900.

Burns, Robert. “Appendix to BiographicalSketch.” The Complete Works of RobertBurns, 1867.

Coupe, Rosemary. “The Evolution of theEightsome Reel.” Folk Music Journal 9.5(2010): 693–720.

Emmerson, George. A Social History of ScottishDance. Montreal: McGill-Queens UP,1972.

Flett, J.F. and T.M. “The Scottish Country Dance:Its Origin and Development I.” ScottishStudies 11 (1967): 1–11.

Flett, J.F. and T.M. “The Scottish Country Dance:Its Origin and Development II.” ScottishStudies 11 (1967): 125–47.

Flett, J.F. and T.M. Traditional Dancing inScotland. London: Routledge and KeganPaul, 1964.

Hill, Frederick. “Book of Quadrilles & CountryDances &c. &c. March 22nd 1841” [MS].

Jaffray, Alexander. Recollections of Kingswells,1755–1800. Aberdeen, n.d.

“List of Country Dances According to Mr WilliamSeymour, Which He Teached at BlantyreFarm, 19th August 1805” [MS]. AthollCollection, A.K. Bell Library, Perth.

Lowe, Joseph. A New Most Excellent DancingMaster: The Journal of Joseph Lowe’sVisits to Balmoral and Windsor (1852–1860) to Teach Dance to the Family ofQueen Victoria. New York: Pendragon,1992.

MacFadyen, Alastair. An Album for Mrs. YsobelStewart of Fasnacloich. Edinburgh:RSCDS, n.d.

Mackenzie, Donald R. Illustrated Guide to theNational Dances of Scotland. Glasgow,1910.

McGill, John. “The Dancing Steps of a Hornpipeand Gige Likewise Twelve of the best andnewest Cuntry Dances with their propernames and figures as they are performedat the Assemblies Balls and DancingSchool in Dunse all set by John McGillMaster” [MS]. RSCDS Archive.

Newton, Michael. “Keeping It Reel: The Originsof the Reel in a Scottish Gaelic Context.”2015.http://www.academia.edu/12364911/

Nichols, John. The Progresses and PublicProcessions of Queen Elizabeth. 1823.

Peacock, Francis. Sketches Relative to the Historyand Theory, But More Especially to thePractice of Dancing. Aberdeen, 1805.

Playford, John. The English Dancing Master.London, 1651.

Sharp, Cecil. The Country Dance Book. London:Novello, 1909.

Topham, Edward. Letters from Edinburgh:Written in the Years 1774 and 1775.London, 1776.

Wake, Lady Charlotte. Reminiscences. Ed. LucyWake. Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1909.

Wilson, Thomas. A Companion to the Ball-Room.London, 1816.

Young, David. “A Collection of Countrey DancesWritten for the use of his Grace the Dukeof Perth” [MS]. 1737. National Library ofScotland. Original MS at DrummondCastle.

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One … Scottish Country Dancing inVancouver, 1930–1964

Davis, Chuck. The Chuck Davis History ofMetropolitan Vancouver. Vancouver:Harbour Publishing, 2011.

Heath, Eric. “You Don’t Have to Be a Scotsman”:Sport and the Evolution of the VancouverCaledonian Games, 1893–1926. ThesisSubmitted in Partial Fulfilment of theDegree of Master of Arts in theDepartment of History, Simon FraserUniversity, 2005.

Mellish, Doris. Vancouver’s Women 1894 to1986: Based on a Brief History of theVancouver Council of Women.Vancouver: Council of Women, 1986.

Powell, Mary Patricia. “Response to theDepression: The Local Council ofWomen.” In Her Own Right: SelectedEssays on Women’s History in BC, ed.Barbara Latham and Cathy Kess.Victoria: Camosun College, 1980. 255–76.

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Roy, Patricia. Vancouver: An Illustrated History.Vancouver: Lorimer, 1980.

Roy, Reginald H. The Seaforth Highlanders ofCanada, 1919–1963. Vancouver:Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 1969.

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