Canada

Canada

The 25th annual Reunion of the Canadian Centre of the FP Club took place during the weekend of the 8th to 10th September 2017 in Victoria, British Columbia and was enjoyed by sixteen FPs along with spouses and guests from across Canada, the UK and the United States. This was the 25th consecutive annual reunion since the first gathering at Fort Edmonton in 1993. There was the traditional sequence of events – a Friday evening informal ‘meet and greet’ in the Bard & Banker’s Sam McGee Room; a Saturday night Dinner at the University Club, University of Victoria; and a Sunday brunch at the home of Peter and Judy Jeffrey in North Saanich. The weather added to the weekend’s mix, ranging from Friday’s smoke-filled sky fuelled by fires in Washington State, through much-needed rain on Saturday to sparkling sunshine on Sunday. The occasion was noteworthy in that in attendance were four FPs who had been present at the inaugural reunion in 1993 – Peter Edwards, Peter Jeffrey, Tom Paton and Bob Scace.

On the Saturday Tom Paton was installed as President and invested with his badge of office. Peter Jeffrey cited many of the Centre highlights over the years and then, having pored through issues of the Magazine, quoted interesting pieces about all of the FPs present. Special mention was made of Editor, Brian Crookshanks, who had proudly witnessed his daughter Gillian’s ‘homecoming’ to the Canada Centre as President of the FP Club.

Tom Paton proposed the toast to the School and the Club, reflecting on his days at the School and on a medical career which had taken him from Alberta to Botswana and back to Alberta. The President in reply outlined her vision for the Club liaising with both School and the Cub Executive as the Club seeks to realign its role and activities in a world of value adjustments and social media arrangements which affect FPs and School-leavers alike.

The ever industrious Bob Scace reported on his plans for a History of AGS FPs in Canada and sought support and input for this to supplement his ongoing research.

At brunch on Sunday a display of School memorabilia was laid out, bubbly was on hand for this anniversary and the ample conversation on the deck and in the house revealed that after two days of get-togethers those present still had much to say about matters of common interest.

The following FPs attended the Reunion (listed in order of entry into the School): Brian Crookshanks (1934-46), Aberdeen; John Michie (1944-58), Aberdeen; Peter Jeffrey (1944-59), Vancouver Island, BC; David Auld (194761), Victoria BC; Phil Barron (1948-56), Kanata, Ontario; Kenneth Pirie (194857) Sidney BC; Ian McLeod (1951-55), Aberdeen; Mike King (1951-60), Salt Lake City; Alan Thomson (1951-64), Victoria BC; Ian Thomson (1952-60), Nepean, Ontario; Tom Paton (1952-60), Edmonton, Alberta; Ian Annand (1953-

Canadian FP Reunion Dinner at University of Victoria

60), Naramata BC; Robert Scace (1954-60), Calgary, Alberta; Peter Edwards (1956-64), Okanagan Falls BC; Gillian Thomas (1975-80), Calgary, Alberta and Gordon Crookshanks (1979-85), Aberdeen

The 26th consecutive annual Canadian Reunion took place in Ottawa, Ontario during the weekend 18th-20th May 2018. Normally held in early September, this reunion was moved to the Victoria Day weekend in consideration of a Celebration of Life to remember and honour the late Peter Green, which took place on the Sunday in nearby Almonte.

Weekend activities began with an informal Friday evening get-together at the home of Ian and Norma Thomson on the western outskirts of Ottawa. Situated betwixt the wide expanse of the shining, blue Ottawa River and the “fifty shades of green” in the foliage of the surrounding neighbourhood, the Thomson’s home was a perfect setting for enjoyment of the colours of spring. Nature’s palate was a welcome antidote to a long winter which had proved particularly challenging across Canada.

On Saturday, the Annual Dinner was held at La Roma restaurant in Ottawa’s “Little Italy” district. Those present were welcomed by Bob Scace on behalf of the Canada Centre. Among the small but august body attending from near and afar (the latter being from British Columbia and Alberta), there were six past presidents of the Canada Centre as well as the incumbent President of the parent club, Gillian Thomas. A special welcome was extended to Linda McCartney (1977-83) who was attending her first Canada Centre reunion with husband Colin. First on the evening’s program was the installation of William (Bill) Guthrie as the 2018-19 President of the Centre. The installation was performed by Gillian Thomas in her capacity as President of the parent FP Club. Bill observed that a “good blether” seemed appropriate to the occasion and proceeded to entertain with anecdotes from life that pointed to the merits of pronouncing oneself as a “Grammar FP” during sticky moments as the odds were in favour of another FP being present to help defuse an awkward situation. Bill then proposed the Toast to the School and the Club.

Grace before dinner was led by Norma Thomson. The Toast to Absent Friends followed the meal. Peter Jeffrey conveyed several messages of regret and best wishes from absent FPs. Peter spoke to the passing of Peter Green, a very strong supporter and contributor to the success of the Canada Centre. Rescheduling the annual reunion to coincide with the next day’s Celebration of Life for Peter was particularly appropriate because not only had he attended the inaugural reunion of Canadian FPs in 1993, but thereafter for two decades when reunions took place in Ottawa Peter and Anne had hosted seven Sunday brunches at their homes in Kemptville and Prescott. On these occasions not only had Peter reminded FPs of their Scottish “foodie” heritage with his stupendous array of home-made goods, but he had also intrigued everyone with his ambition to bake

the perfect buttery or rowie. Fain would we suggest he may well have achieved perfection on more than one occasion!

The Secretary’s Report from Gillian Thomas touched on matters pertinent to both the Canada Centre and the parent Club. In regard to the former, progress was reported in resolving the outstanding issue of repairs to the Rubislaw Clock, the School’s gratitude for the Centre’s gift of funds for the new S6 study area adjacent to the library, and a possible venue for the 2019 reunion (Calgary was mooted as a strong contender). On matters pertaining to the Club, Gillian reported that since the last reunion in September 2017 she had made five crossings of the Atlantic to attend to her responsibilities. These included attendance at a meeting of the Executive Committee when the decision was taken to place the Club Centre on Queen’s Road on the market, attendance at annual reunions in York, Glasgow and Aberdeen, plans to make the Club more appealing and useful to young FPs, and her acceptance of the Club Executive’s request that she undertake a second term of office for 2018-19.

Under Any Other Business a lively discussion ensued on means to maintain interest and participation in the Canada Centre as, like the parent club, there is limited inflow of younger FPs. The suggestion from Colin McCartney that a Twitter account be opened met with a positive response, the account duly being opened following the evening’s formalities! The evening closed with a Vote of Thanks to Mike Hardie and Linda McCartney for their endeavours in securing a venue for the dinner.

On Sunday, reunion FPs were joined by William Balfour (1949-58) of Montreal as they journeyed to The Olive Garden in Almonte to join other celebrants. FPs were a readily visible group in the old log barn where many among family and friends were to speak to Peter Green’s humanity, his kindness, his love of family and life and his remarkably versatile career with Hudson’s Bay Company (becoming conversant in Inuktituk) and government agencies (latterly the federal Treasury Board), and as Boy Scout leader, rugby player, library supporter and avid book reader and author, photographer, thespian, traveller and purveyor of witty emails. Likening his life story to chapters in a book, Peter Jeffrey observed that two of those chapters would speak to his school days at Aberdeen Grammar School and his support from the outset for FP activities in Canada. Indeed, Peter’s deep affiliation with all things Scottish permeated the afternoon’s proceedings – many elements responding to his wishes; a piper was on hand to play a pibroch, FPs gave voice to his choice of bothy ballads and six expressions of his favourite malt Scotches were on hand to be imbibed. We are deeply grateful to Peter’s family – his widow Anne Gregory, son and daughter Michael and Andrea, his grandchildren and extended family – for their invitation to FPs to join in celebration. In no small tribute to a man who spent many years living in and loving Canada’s North and his acute sense of humour, his family joined in presenting Robert W. Service’s The Cremation of Sam McGee. Peter