TORONTO BRANCH - for United Empire Loyalists

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President cuts the ribbon. The ceremony was followed by a friendly social hour; many browsing through
the numerous branch books.
On Sept. 28th, Toronto Branch started the season with a splendid luncheon, held at the historic Old Mill.
In addition to our own members and others from nearby branches, guests arrived from Burlington. Owen
Sound and Orillia. Among these were Dorothy Atkinson and Mrs. Moore. Accolades are due to Bliss
Payne and Marjorie Flint for their attention to detail and their excellent choice of location and cuisine.
Bliss and Marjorie can be depended upon to live up to their reputation as social conveners par excellence.
Our busy President, Dorrine Macnab, was the chairperson for the afternoon, during which she announced
the forthcoming official opening of our new office on Oct. 16th.
The official opening of Toronto Branch's new office was held on Oct. 16th at 234 Eglinton Ave. E. suite
601. Dominion President, Gwen Smith, cut the ribbon after she had congratulated the Branch on their new
location. Carl Benn of the Toronto Historical Board gave an interesting address on British uniforms and
accoutrements of the War of 1812, which was received with great enthusiasm by our members and guests.
Among notables from the Governor Simcoe Branch were President, Doug Grant, Past President, Bob
Mutrie and Mr. and Mrs. John Michele. Past Dominion President, E. J. Chard was also in attendance. Our
President, Dorrine Macnab and her committee did a great job on the decor of the office and in the setting
up of the library. Special mention should be made of the effort of House Committee chairman, Hilton
Fulton for his hard work.
1989 February
O
ver the past year or two Toronto Branch has been changing the decor of the Branch office to better
reflect our Loyalist heritage. Pictures featuring several Loyalist uniforms, as well as the illustrations
from Loyalist Lineages now adorn the walls. Our latest acquisition is the Murray Killman print, "Scouting
the Rebel's Lair." Butler's Rangers are well represented on our walls.
Our spring meetings ended with a successful New Members' Night. People who had responded to the
tear-off brochure campaign were encouraged to attend and hear Branch Genealogist Dorothy Martin run
through the harrowing experiences of filling out an application. Toronto Branch received brochure returns
from all over North America. When it appeared that the applicant for genealogical or geographical
reasons could best be served by Branches other than Toronto, that name was forwarded on to the
appropriate Branch. It's only fair.
The new season began with an October meeting featuring Gavin Watt, Lieut-Col of the re-created King's
Royal Yorkers, accompanied by several troops and camp followers. Gavin is no stranger to the Toronto
Branch, and a good crowd heard the spirited talk for which he is so well known. He commented on the
"missionary" role of the Yorkers. He deplored the Canadian Public's lack of awareness of the military
aspect of the early settlement of this Province. He explained that the public has trouble grasping the
identity of a green-coated soldier. Red is easy, as that is the stereotypical British soldier, but Loyalists
dressed in green throw them. He also wonder why so many Loyalist descendants claim Colonels as their
ancestors, when in fact in the Northern Dept. at the close of the war, genuine Colonels such as Butler
were very rare. What 's wrong with the humble musketman for an ancestor?
Toronto Branch helped to sponsor the Yorkers' 1981 trip to England. Gavin touched upon touched upon
the highlights of that expedition, and his presentation was enhanced by a video of the same prepared by
musketman Ken Paterson. Who has done more for the Loyalist cause in this province than Gavin? Yet,
Gavin will be the first to tell you that his background is not Loyalist.