TORONTO BRANCH - for United Empire Loyalists

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Mr. Carl Benn who is employed by the Borough of Etobicoke as Senior Historical Interpreter at
Montgomery's Inn as our speaker. With the aid of slides, Mr. Benn showed the relationship between
weapons, uniforms and battle tactics used during the war of 1812 and provided his audience with an
interesting picture on this period of our history.
Following the business matters at the May 18 meeting those present were most enjoyably entertained by
John Whittaker, tenor. After the musical portion of the evening's program Mr. J.D.M. Phillips, consultant,
told members and guests what Harbourfront, Toronto has to offer in the way of services and facilities to
community groups in and even beyond the Metropolitan Toronto area. Mr. Phillips’ talk was very well
received by members and guests and, without doubt, all present learned a great deal about this service
provided by our City.
Our sixth meeting was something different. On June 4 at 11:30 a.m. members and guests met at the
entrance to the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo on Meadowvale Road. We. were given a very warm welcome
by Mr. William J. Hedges, a senior member of the Zoo staff, who led a guided tour. The tour started with
a ride on the train which passes through areas provided for natural habitation by deer and other native
animals. We were taken through the main pavilions, saw the elephants and polar bears in their own
compounds. After lunch we were each on our own and further areas were visited. It is impossible, in such
a short time, to see more than a small portion of our Zoo and no doubt many of our members will make
many return visits to such an interesting place.
At the October meeting members and guests were entertained by a Mini-Concert, the artists being Mary
Rimmer and Grace Wilson, mezzo sopranos, and David Smith and Gordon Ford playing recorders. As
usual, those present were delighted with the performance. Our speaker for the evening was Mrs. Mary
Beacock Fryer, M.A., a member of Toronto branch and author of "Loyalist Spy" and "Escape". Mrs.
Fryer's subject was "Gentleman Johnny and His Loyal Americans". A Bicentennial talk on General
Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga October 17, 1777. Mrs. Fryer almost brought to life those happenings of
just over two hundred years ago and her audience enjoyed her presentation.
The eighth general meeting held on November 16, and entertainment was provided by Peggy Parsons,
Isabel Smaller and Gordon Ford and the combination of viola da gamba and recorders was most pleasing.
The speaker for this evening was Miss Edith G. Firth, Head of the Canadian History Department,
Metropolitan Toronto Library Board and well known for the two volumes in the Ontario Series of the
Champlain Society "The Town of York 1793-1815" and "The Town of York 1818-1834". In view of the
recent move to the new Metropolitan Library building, Toronto branch was more than fortunate in having
Miss Firth consent to addressing our members and guests. The title of Miss Firth's talk, which was
accompanied by slides, was "Early Days in Toronto" and as no other person is known to be better
qualified than Miss Firth on this subject, as was to be expected, our members and guests were treated to a
most interesting story.
"Our last meeting of the 1977 year was the Christmas Dinner Party which was held on Friday, December
16, at the Park Plaza Hotel. the reception was at 6:30 p.m. and the tasty dinner was served at 7:00 p.m.
The "Queen of Song", Rita Hall entertained those present with the piano and a great variety of her songs. .
The evening was very much enjoyed by everybody.
Congratulations are due our president, Mrs. Donna Knight and the officers and committee chairmen of
Toronto Branch, for a most successful 1977.
If one may make special mention of services which added so much to the enjoyment of our general
meetings one must congratulate Mrs. Audrey L. Kirk, 1st Vice-President and chairman of the speakers'
committee for her outstanding choice of speakers and Mr. Gordon J. Ford, chairman of the music