Selected items from the St. Andrew's Society of Ottawa Newsbulletin - Winter 2001 - ISSN 1492-4439 (Online)

- updated 21 Apr 2001  Go to Hugh Reekie's Home Page    other newsbulletins

A presentation on the History of Curling, primarily in Scotland and Canada, will be given by Denny Charlebois, a member of Lord Elgin's Broomhall Curling Club, Fife, Scotland and Don Bond of the Glengarry Curling Club, Maxville, Ontario. The event will be in the Courtside A Room at the RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive at 7 pm on Wednesday 21st March. Light refreshments will be served.

This event has come about as follows: Lord Elgin, our Patron, came to our rescue in November this year: on being advised of the passing of Ken Murchison, he suggested that Denny Charlebois of Manotick be contacted for advice on curling events. Denny is a friend of Lord Elgin's, and has been on many curling tour teams to Scotland over the years; he is trying to have a Scots team play on Dow's Lake this February. While discussing plans for our September 2001 all-Scottish curling social event, it was thought that an evening lecture on curling also sponsored by the society would be an appropriate additional event.

There have been many changes to curling over the years. Starting as purely an outside sport, curling arenas with refrigeration systems were introduced - mostly in the 1950s. Many curlers in Canada originally used iron pieces for throwing; eventually the availability of Scottish granite permitted its use for Canadian curling stones. Very recently, the rules of curling were changed to make "take outs" less frequent, and the game more interesting. Denny and Don will share the speaking for this interesting presentation, which should appeal to both historians and modern-day curlers alike. Light refreshments will be served.

Admission $4 in advance or $6 at the door - reserve by calling 728-5343, or email h.reekie@ieee.org.

David Brearley, a tenor in the St. Andrew's Church choir, Kent St., has always had a strong interest in Presbyterianism in Eastern Ontario. After retiring, he decided to delve further and has produced a book on the subject. He will be giving a lecture at 2.30 pm on Sunday, March 4th, at the Old Town Hall, Hawthorne at Main. Light refreshments. Admission $5, reservations appreciated - 728-5343.h.reekie@ieee.org

To summarize the talk, David Brearley writes: The history of the development of our country - its cities, towns and villages - is usually written with the politicians, businessmen, and pioneers in the forefront; churches get short shrift. But it is these same politicians, professionals, and businessmen that formed our congregations and built our churches, and worked towards spreading the gospel.

The history of Ottawa and area Presbyterian Churches is very closely linked to these people - like Thomas MacKay who built the Rideau Locks and other parts of the Rideau Canal system; Sir Stanford Fleming who introduced the world to its current time zone structure; Francis Chrysler who developed the Glebe Lot (owned by St. Andrew's) for sale; William Stewart who was the first president of the St. Andrew's Society of Ottawa and a founding member of St. Andrew's Church. Many of our communities and streets are named after these men.

Presbyterians sprang up all over the Ottawa-Carleton region, establishing congregations in such places as Richmond, Stittsville, Marvelville, Bells Corners, Billings Bridge, Edwards, Westboro, Long Island, Merivale, Hull and Aylmer. With the establishment of these congregations came the development of industries and businesses. The St. Andrew's Society of Ottawa was synonymous with St. Andrew's Church and Knox Church.

The presentation takes Presbyterianism from the founding of the first church in 1823 in Richmond through to the 1990s, and includes the development of the Glebe in Ottawa in the 1890s, the great Ottawa-Hull fire of 1900, the problems associated with the establishment of the United Church in 1925, and church extension and growth of the 1950s.

With similar arrangements to the succesful visit to Williamstown last May, there are plans for a Scottish tour in the Almonte area, probably on a Saturday in April/May. The tour should include a visit to the Naismith Baseketball Museum in Almonte, and a tour of the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, where there are looms made by Scots craftsmen. A visit to the Mill of Kintail will show the work of sculptor Robert Tait Mckenzie, whose creations include the Scottish American War Memorial in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, unveiled in 1927.

The tour will be based on travel by private car, and will include lunch and tea; details will appear in the Society's Spring Newsletter.

Quite a lot has happened since the plan for a September 2000 Curling event, run by the Society, was postponed. A very informal, Scots-oriented Curling event is now planned for 1 - 6 pm on Saturday 22nd September at the Royal Canadian Navy Curling Club, Dow's Lake. Whether an experienced curler or a novice, come along for an afternoon of curling and "fun and games" wi' your ain folk.

     Interest is invited from all types of groups with Scots connections - Soccer and Rugby Clubs, Scots Societies; even High School Alumni! The day would start after lunch, depending on the number of teams. The facilities are good at the RCN Curling Club - easy parking, an excellent bar/viewing room, and a side "ingleneuk" to watch videos or play board games. There will be a catered dinner. Perhaps we could have a "whisky nosing" on the side! Bob Thomson of the RCN Club has kindly agreed to assist with the planning. Circle the date - 22nd September. Anyone wishing further information should contact Hugh Reekie 728-5343. email h.reekie@ieee.org.

The fall lecture Scottish Heraldry was given by Doug McKerchar on Friday 29th September. After explaining some details of the use of heraldry in battle, Doug expanded the topic to describe the development of tartan, from the early pre-1745 versions to the "modern" styles,starting with the Sobieski-Stewart brothers in the 1820s.

The evening was filled with anecdotes; Doug had the audience of members and friends enthralled with his low-key explanations. come!