Andrew Welch - Town of Caledon

Report from the
Official Town Crier
for the
Town of Caledon
2011-12
Submitted to Karen Landry,
Clerk of the Town of Caledon

Report from the Official Town Crier for the Town of Caledon
for the 2011-12 Year
Dear Mayor Morrison, Councillors, and Town Staff:
It has been one year since this Council formally appointed a Town Crier, and I feel dutybound
to submit a report on this year’s events, achievements, and other highlights.
First and foremost, let me take this opportunity to thank you once again for entrusting me with
this office. A formal Town Crier is a new position for Caledon, and we are all still discovering
the potential benefits. I take this position quite seriously, and regularly communicate with
other criers throughout the province and around the world for advice and support. There is
much room in this role for the Town and myself to grow into, and I hope that together we can
find even more ways to enhance local community events with Town Crier involvement and
support over the next year.
For example, I could be making far more appearances of behalf of local Caledon charities,
having done so only seven times since I became a crier in January, 2011. I have contacted
various organizations to let them know that Caledon now has a town crier, but specific
suggestions from participating Town officials to organizers for appropriate events might help
spread the word.
I have also drawn crowds and brought pageantry to local retailer events, such as business
openings, and would like to be a more widely used Caledon resource in this regard. This is
best achieved by word-of-mouth recommendations and suggestions from the local business
associations. Since Councillors are often invited to participate in these events, they are in an
excellent position to let new businesses know about this special service available in Caledon.

More significantly, there are still many opportunities for Caledon’s Town Crier to be included
in civic events such as Remembrance Day ceremonies, the Mayor’s Breakfasts, etc. These
can be offered at no charge, and would not affect the budget that the Council set aside for
Official Town Crier appearances.
Since many Town Crier engagements took place before my official appointment by Town
Council, this report includes a list of appearances going back to my start in January, 2011.
They have been divided into four categories: Charity (no charge), Representative (out-oftown),
Community, and Civic (booked by the Town of Caledon). In most of the out-of-town
engagements, the Town Crier was publicly identified as representing the Town of Caledon,
and I was sometimes called upon to make specific proclamations promoting my home town.
It has been an exciting and busy first year. I have had the great good fortune to spend a lot
of time in gatherings learning from other much more experienced town criers. I have also
impressed them by holding my own in town crier competitions, on occasion placing above the
current two-time world champion and colleagues with nearly 30 years of crier history.
Early in 2011, an extensive Town Crier web site was created, with a full description of what
Caledon’s Official Town Crier does, a list of upcoming and past appearances, photos,
testimonials, sample proclamations, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to the
Town of Caledon web site, etc. Council members and Town staff are encouraged to view the
latest updates at: http://AndrewWelch.ca/towncrier . It would be very helpful if the
Town of Caledon might consider adding a reciprocal link to this site from the Town of
Caledon web site.
My wife, Elswyth Fryer, also undertook the construction of two period dresses, to be worn
when appearing with the Town Crier as an escort. This is common practice for town crier
gatherings such as in parades and at competitions:

In March, 2012, I was appointed Official Town Crier for the Town of Erin by the Erin Town
Council. It is not unusual for criers to hold more than one post, especially for smaller
municipalities, and my proximity to Erin, as well as it being in a separate county, opens up a
number of other opportunities for engagements. The appointment was very well-received by
local retailers, and it has been a fine learning ground for the craft. I now typically represent
both the Town of Caledon and the Town of Erin when making public appearances throughout
the remainder of Ontario.
I have also contributed to the administration of the Ontario Guild of Town Criers (OGTC)
itself, which represents over fifty criers all over the province, and was just recently elected to
serve a two-year term on their Board of Directors. This guild is widely respected around the
world, and OGTC policies and procedures are often adopted by other associations in North
America and Europe.
It has been a great pleasure to represent Caledon and the Mayor’s office, both within the
community and throughout the province, and I look forward to even more appearances in
2012-13 to laud the praises and promote the prosperity of our great community.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Welch
Official Town Crier of Caledon, Ontario
Official Town Crier of Erin, Ontario
Board Member of the Ontario Guild of Town Criers
57 Mary Street
ALTON, Ontario L7K 0E3
Residence: (519) 940-3439
Home Office (416) 907-2076
Website: http://www.AndrewWelch.ca/towncrier
Email: TownCrier@AndrewWelch.ca

Charity appearances (pro bono)
PUBLIC APPEARANCES in 2011-12
22 Jan. 2011 2 nd Annual Fire and Ice Festival (Historic Alton Mill) – Morning and afternoon
proclamations, including greetings from the Mayor.
29-30 Jan. 2 nd Annual Alton Millpond Hockey Tournament (Historic Alton Mill) – Opening and
closing cries, including greetings from (and introducing) the Mayor.
17 November Operation Red Nose Launch (Bolton Legion)
3 December Kinsmen Santa Claus Parade (Bolton)
7 December Christmas Tree Lighting (Alton)
28 Jan. 2012 3 rd Annual Alton Millpond Hockey Tournament (Historic Alton Mill)
13 October 100 th Anniversary of Headwaters Health Care Centre
Representative appearances (out-of-town)
10 July Muskoka Escapades Town Crier Competition (Muskoka Pioneer Power Show and
Santa’s Village, Bracebridge) – Represented the Town of Caledon. Placed fourth
overall in my first competition ever.
13 August Ontario Guild of Town Criers Provincial Championships (Brantford) – Caledon
crier ineligible to formally compete (not yet a member of the Guild), but asked to
deliver two benchmark cries by which all other criers are judged.
20 August Promotion for Youth Theatre (Orangeville Farmer’s Market) – Caledon crier asked
to deliver two proclamations to promote youth theatre.

10 October Oktoberfest Parade (Kitchener-Waterloo) – Represented Caledon in Canada’s
second largest parade (televised).
18 November Moonlight Magic (Orangeville) – Caledon crier filled in for Orangeville town crier.
3 December Holiday Gala (Niagara Falls) – Caledon crier asked to appear as only town crier at
very large holiday function at Fallsview Casino.
27 Jan. 2012 Sweetheart Hockey Tournament (Orangeville) – Caledon crier asked to open 34 th
year of this women’s hockey tournament.
4 February 50 th Anniversary (Waterloo) – Caledon crier asked to officiate at major milestone
celebration for a large theatre company.
2 June Celebrate Barrie Festival (Barrie) – Represented the Town of Caledon in town crier
competition. Placed second overall.
14 July Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Town Crier Competition (Gravenhurst) – Represented
the Town of Caledon in prestigious town crier competition. Placed second overall.

15 July Muskoka Escapades Town Crier Competition (Muskoka Pioneer Power Show and
Santa’s Village, Bracebridge) – Represented the Town of Caledon.
5 August Canal Days Festival (Port Colborne) – Represented Caledon in town crier
demonstration. Also asked to give proclamation to honour the 50 th anniversary of the
Canadian Coast Guard.
25 August Ingersoll Harvest Festival (Ingersoll) – Represented the Town of Caledon in town
crier competition. Placed third overall.
29 September Wine Festival Grande Parade (St. Catharines)
6-7 October Ontario Guild of Town Criers Provincial Championships (Kitchener) –
Represented the Town of Caledon. Only crier in competition to receive no penalties
for script or vocal errors.
8 October Oktoberfest Parade (Kitchener-Waterloo) – Represented the Town of Caledon in
Canada’s second largest parade (televised).
Community appearances
24 March Caledon Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards
2 April CHICàBOOM Grand Opening – Local business in Caledon Village.
15 April Caledon Home Show Opening
11 June Caledon Fair Opening – Led parade and delivered opening proclamation.
16 June Inglewood Farmer’s Market Opening
12 August Bolton Midnight Madness – Two proclamations: Opening the event and dedicating
the new Town Clock.
1 October Salamander Festival (Belfountain) – Opening proclamation in the hamlet and
second cry in the Belfountain Conservation Area.
1 July 2012 Canada Day Celebration (Caledon Fairgrounds)

17 August Bolton Midnight Madness
22 September Alton Village Square Launch
Civic appearances (booked by Town of Caledon)
8 Jan 2012 WinterFest (Mayfield Community Centre) – Opening proclamation and later
introduction of Mayor Morrison. (standard rate)
2 June Caledon Farmer’s Market Opening (discount rate – short stay)
16 June Caledon Walk of Fame (standard rate)
16 June Caledon Day Opening (discount rate – same day)