Winter 1999-2000 Red Wilson Named Scot of the Year 2000

THE SCOTS CANADIAN Issue V Newsletter of the Scottish Studies Society: ISSN No. 1491-2759 Winter 1999-2000 Red Wilson named Scot of the Year 2000

ynton (Red) Wilson has ignited a spark honour our Scot of the L that hopefully will burst forth into flame Year and other Canadians across Canada. Single-handedly, he turned a of Scottish heritage. And it dream into a multi-million-dollar foundation is an event that you will --- a national history foundation to encourage not want to miss. the teaching and learning of Canada’s past. Along with Red Wilson Red’s turning his dream into reality made and other celebrity guests, him the unanimous choice as “Scot of the there will be the bagpipers, Year 2000” by the Directors of the Scottish Scottish dancing, music Studies Society. He will be honored at the and a magnificent array of Scot of the Year and Tartan Day dinner, draw prizes. sponsored by the Scottish Studies Society, at The dinner is a black tie Toronto’s exclusive Granite Club on or formal Highland dress Tuesday, April 4, 2000. The Granite Club is affair. Tickets are $150 located at 2350 Bayview Ave., just north of each or $1,200 for a table Lawrence Avenue East. of eight. To purchase This is the eighth Annual Dinner, held to tickets or a full table, celebrate Tartan Day (officially April 6) and contact Alan McKenzie, 580 Rebecca Street, Oakville, Ontario L6K 3N9, or e-mail him at Scots Wha Hae alanmck@cgocable. For further information, a desire to nurture and preserve contact John Macdonald at their heritage in Canada (416) 756-0345 or Neil Lynton (Red) Wilson at his Oakville home Fraser at (416) 920-6851. Photo by Peter Sibbald (courtesy of Macleans magazine) are invited to join As Chairman of Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE), the billion-dollar holding company for Bell original idea was to put in a small Canada, Nortel and many other interests, contribution and then look at who else might Wilson is one of Canada’s most respected be interested,” Wilson told Maclean’s when business leaders. Wilson anted up $500,000 he was named to the magazine’s Honour Roll of his own money to launch Historica, a for 1999. “I had no idea how big it would foundation with a goal of raising $50 million become.” to establish an endowment that would As a business leader, Wilson is acutely generate income for future generations to aware of the challenges Canada faces to its THE SCOTTISH STUDIES teach and learn about Canadian history. economic sovereignty. As BCE chairman, he FOUNDATION He then enlisted the support of fellow recently was involved with the sale of 20 per Canadian business Titans --- such as Charles cent of Bell Canada to Chicago-based a charitable organization R. Bronfman, Royal Bank’s John Cleghorn Ameritech Corp. (Scot of the Year 1998), Charles Baillie of Wilson maintains that the partnership is dedicated to actively supporting the TD Bank, publisher Conrad Black, essential to secure Bell’s future in a fast- television mogul Izzy Asper, frozen food changing industry, but he’s also the first to the king Harrison McCain and others who read acknowledge that the pressure for such Scottish Studies Program like a Who’s Who in Canadian business. alliances highlights the need to preserve a Bronfman liked the idea so much that his unique Canadian identity. at CRB Foundation is matching any dollars “We’re in danger of losing our sense of raised privately, possibly to a maximum of how great this country is, and how it came to The University of Guelph $25 million. be great,” he says ... “If you don’t know Charitable registration All for bringing back to life Canada’s where you came from, how do you know No. 119253490 RR0001 often forgotten and/or ignored history. “My where you belong?” 

speak to the club in early October. A further example of the cooperation with the University of Guelph brings me to the Letter from the Chair third theme of these notes. Our treasury, like our membership, also stands at an all time high, over $400,000 and all of those who -- the combination of these efforts has have contributed time, effort and money over resulted in the largest membership roster we the 15 years of the Foundation’s existence have ever enjoyed with over 155 new are to be commended in raising this large members since my last report. amount from a standing start. But after enjoying a brief moment of But our major goal remains the satisfaction about such results, we still must establishment of an endowed chair of face the reality that our membership is very Scottish Studies and it is now estimated that small compared with the number of people of it will take at least two million dollars to Scottish ancestry who populate Canada and attain that goal. Fortunately, the University the USA. As a result, our efforts to expand wants us to succeed in this objective as much must continue and at the next meeting of our as we do and we are currently in discussions Board there will be an extensive discussion with the development office at Guelph to as to what other approaches we might take in determine how our financial goals can be our efforts to increase our membership. integrated with the fundraising drive Without dwelling on the matter at great currently being planned by the University. length, let me say that, my opinion, our While such discussions are at an early stage, current working relationship with officials of if we are successful we may well see the the University of Guelph is excellent. As an Chair established much earlier than any of us example, the general arrangements, and the had hoped or planned. various presentations, at the Spring Now we look forward to a New Year, a new century, and a new millennium. The Colloquium on the theme The Immigrant Experience: The Scottish Diaspora were the past contains an abundance of Dr. Edward Stewart best in recent years in this series. It accomplishments by Scots and Scots Chairman, Scottish Studies Foundation certainly drew the largest number of Canadians. No doubt the future will give rise attendees that we have experienced. Scott to similar results. The Scottish Studies Moir, who runs the Scottish Studies office at Foundation, while giving emphasis to Dear Fellow Members, the University, and who organized the Scottish achievements, is still a young gathering, is to be congratulated. organization and the results obtained to date, The matters of which I speak in this letter Further, on three or four occasions over we acknowledge, have been modest. But we may strike a familiar note since all of them the last six months the University has are making discernable progress and the year have formed the basis of previous responded to a request for a speaker for a to come, hopefully, will see our organization correspondence with the membership. While “Our Club” luncheons that are held for the move further ahead. some might suggest that this shows a certain benefit of the Foundation. Thanks to each and every one of you for lack of imagination on my part, I would like Of particular note, in this regard, were the the support that you have given the Scottish to believe that it really reflects the decision arrangements made to have Professor T. Studies Foundation and best wishes for the of the Foundation, and its Board, to Christopher Smout, Historiographer Royal in year 2000. concentrate on particular initiatives in an Scotland and author of the major work “A Sincerely, attempt to demonstrate real progress by our History of the Scottish People 1560-1830” Ed Stewart organization. Thus, once again, I will focus on our efforts to build membership, our working relationship with the University of Guelph, and our fundraising efforts towards the goal of establishing a Chair of Scottish Studies at the University. We have now more or less completed our initial and modest advertising campaign aimed at the recruitment of new members. We have run two series of ads in the "National Personals" in the Globe & Mail, our ad in Scottish Life has appeared over the past few months, and, most recently, our pamphlet was included as an insert in The Beaver, Canada's history magazine. In addition, as you are aware, I have asked each of you help us in finding new members. While our membership chairman, Dr. Paul Thomson, reports that it is often difficult to ascertain which approach motivated new members to join our ranks, one thing is clear Ed Stewart, Prof. Smout, and SSF Governors Alan McKenzie and Neil Fraser at the "Our Club"

2 The Scots Canadian Fall Colloquium at Guelph examines Scots in exile

he University of Guelph Fall Colloquium T was held on the 16th October 1999 at the Lifetime Learning Centre at the University. About 85 attendees were treated to "The Emigrant Experience - The Scottish Diaspora" through papers by illustrious historians from across Canada, the US, and as far afield as Scotland and England. The first topic Imagined Communities reviewed themes in literature, music and culture of Scots communities abroad. Emigrant Stories traced the history of individual families and groups as they settled Attendees at the Fall Colloquium browse books on sale in foreign lands. Scots of the Diaspora reviewed the activities of Scots dispersed Dr. Brown is currently finishing a book on The Death of Christian Britain: Understanding Secularisation 1800-2000 for Routledge (expected to be published in late 2000 or early 2001). He lives in a country cottage outside of Doune in Perthshire with Lynn Abrams, another historian from University of Glasgow, and two kittens. Lynn is the author of The Orphan Country. Children of Scotland's Broken Homes from 1845 to the Present Day, which includes material on Scottish orphans who came to Canada. The Frank Watson Prize in Scottish History was established in 1993 by Cicely Watson, as an 80th birthday present for her Professor Elizabeth Ewan presenting the husband Frank Watson, who after retirement Stanford Reid Bursary to Guelph Doctoral Mrs. Cicely Watson presenting the Frank pursued his life-long interest in Scottish Student Shannon Creps Watson Prize to Dr. Callum Brown history by doing a BA in History. The couple have been strong supporters of Scottish previous two years. The winner is brought to throughout the world. The final talk was Studies at Guelph and of the Scottish Studies Guelph to receive the award and to present a given by David Forsyth (National Museums Foundation. talk at the university at the Fall Colloquium. of Scotland) and was entitled Collecting the The prize is awarded every second year to In addition, Professor Elizabeth Ewan Scottish Diaspora -- Scotland and the World. the best new book in Scottish history in the presented the 1999 Stanford Reid Bursary At lunch, Prof. Ned C. Landman (State award to Doctoral Student Shannon Creps. University of New York) gave a talk on The bursary was established by the Mobility and Stability in Scottish Society and Foundation three years ago to honour Dr Culture. Stanford Reid, noted Scottish historian and During the Colloquium, a presentation of founder of the Scottish Studies Program at the Frank Watson Prize in Scottish History Guelph in 1966. was made to Dr. Callum Brown, of It recognizes academic achievement and Strathclyde University in Scotland, for "Up- the contribution of a Scottish Studies student helly-aa". Custom, culture and community in to the wider work of the Scottish Studies Shetland" (Manchester University Press, program in giving lectures, organizing 1998). conferences and exhibitions, etc. This year's Dr. Brown was born in Edinburgh in 1953, winner, Shannon Creps, is in the second year studied Mediaeval and Modern History at St. of her doctoral studies. Andrews (1975), completing his Ph.D. at Her thesis is on the effects of the Glasgow 1982. He has been a lecturer in Reformation on Scottish women. She has History at Strathclyde University since 1985. given talks at several Scottish events, helped His main work has been the social history of organize Scottish Studies displays at religion, popular culture (from sport to Publisher Barry Penhale with his Highland Games and contributed to the work calendar customs) and oral history, mostly display of heritage books on sale at the of the John MacCrae Museum in Guelph, as dealing with Scotland, and is now moving Colloquium well as acting as book review editor for into gender identities and popular culture. Scottish Tradition. 

The Scots Canadian 3 not been lost as, after a long search for Donnie's replacement, Runrig finally Canadian singer selected Cape Breton singer, Bruce Our Club Luncheons Guthro has to fill Donnie's shoes. joins Runrig Bruce's career as lead singer for Runrig remain popular

got off to a roaring start last August at the famous Tonder Festival in Denmark, The “Our Club” luncheons held at Toronto’s where their inaugural shows were wildly Bow and Arrow Pub continue to attract received by fans and press alike. "Long members of the Scottish Studies Foundation live the new King," read the National and others interested in the things that Scots Danish newspaper. in Canada and overseas are getting up to. Subsequent Runrig tours through The idea came from Scottish folk singer and Germany, England and Scotland through artist Enoch Kent now resident in the Toronto the fall of 1998 reaped equally area. enthusiastic press and fan response. In the The original Hour Club was one where fall, Bruce was on a European tour people met in two old tenement houses next promoting Runrig's new album, In Search door to one another in Duke Street in of Angels. Glasgow back in the 1700s. The wall "A songwriter's heaven" is singer- between the two tenements was knocked songwriter Bruce Guthro's description of down with one house forming the speakers' his native Cape Breton. "A place filled room and the other the bar. Notable speakers with beautiful rolling mountains, magical were invited to speak on a topic on which Bruce Guthro music. A place held together by the they had expertise, with a set time limit of no laughter and stories of its people. more than one hour. Legend has it that that ack in August of 1992, thanks to the Like many of his generation, Bruce was Robert Burns paid a visit to the original club. B initiative of Scots-Canadian folk singer born into a large family, including seven Enoch makes the point that people don't Bobby Watt, the Scottish Studies Foundation brothers and one sister. He grew up in the have to join the Our Club. "There are no organized a historic visit of the popular small coal-mining town of Sydney Mines, membership fees and no committees. It just Scottish band Runrig to the Ontario Place Nova Scotia. kind of runs on its own steam thanks to the Forum in Toronto. The event was In his late teens he followed in the efforts of those interested in its objectives. It memorable for all who attended, with the footsteps of his older brothers and headed is there for the cultural benefit of those who stirring sound of Runrig's distinctive blend of "down the road" landing in the hard-rock attend." Celtic and modern music filling the air on a mines of Northern Saskatchewan. "I grew "Various topics are discussed with the type warm summer's night. up more in those six months than I did in of information and ideas you can't get from Among one of the numbers performed was the previous seventeen years. While most books, radio or television. Most of the The Cutter, the story about Runrig's boyhood kids were starting college, I was packing a information comes from the members. It's pal Johnny Morrison who used to give the tin can and working a mile underground." not the type of arrangement where we say we boys a ride on the truck that he drove out on From there, Bruce moved around the formed a club and you can't come! In fact it's the Isle of Lewis. Johnny emigrated to country for a couple of years working just the exact opposite. The whole basis is Canada over 30 years ago but still faithfully various jobs and staying with people from that everyone is welcome!" went back to Scotland's Outer Hebrides every home. One of them happened to have an And while professional speakers like year to cut the peat that his mother needed old guitar lying around. "It was the first university professors always get a big for winter fuel. The fact that Johnny was in tool I held in my hands that I felt belonged turnout, Enoch feels that like good Scottish the audience that night made the rendition there. When I picked it up, I could go folk music, it is the idiom of the common even more poignant. anywhere, or be anyone, all through the person -- not the elite in society that makes Runrig's lead vocalist at that time was lyrics of a song --my own little passport to the difference. "In fact, just the other day we Donnie Munro who has since left the band to the world!" had a session on poetry. Not Burns, not pursue a career in politics and who is now a Upon returning home Bruce won a Robert Louis Stevenson but just various solo artist in his own right. singer-songwriter contest which led to the writers." Enoch even recited one of his own Fortunately the Canadian connection has single release "Livin' in the 90's" via MCA poems -- and (perhaps to his astonishment) Records Canada. The single got applause into the bargain! gained strong support from radio So as you can gather, the luncheons are a stations across the country. As a lot of fun. And as a portion of the luncheon result, BMG Publishing came on tab goes to the Foundation, it's all in a good board to co-fund his first album, cause. Sails to the Wind. The luncheons are held at Toronto’s Bow The album was received well by and Arrow Pub, 1954 Yonge St., a few the critics and again, supported buildings north of Davisville on the West strongly on radio, however, it was Side of Yonge on Fridays, once every two just one more step up a very long weeks. For further information and to get the ladder. Bruce jokes "We opened dates of upcoming luncheons, contact Gina at our sails to the wind unfortunately (416) 928-0760. it wasn't very windy that day, but David Hunter, former Runrig vocalist Donnie Munro, hey, isn't that what music is all Now that he is with Runrig, Bruce's lean David Hunter Jr. and ex- Guelph Professor Ted Cowan in about - growing, changing, learning years are behind him!  1992. The SSF sponsored Runrig concert was held on and going broke!" August 21 of that year.

4 The Scots Canadian festival because of the dire economic situation in the town. At the same time, the Up-Helly-Aa festival celebrates Up-Helly-Aa committee became a self- confident organisation which poked fun at the pompus in the by then long-established Shetland's ancient Viking past Up-Helly-Aa "bill" - sometimes driving their victims to fury.

by Brian Smith

Britain's biggest fire festival and torchlight as one observer wrote, "there were two tubs procession takes place in Lerwick on the last fastened to a great raft-like frame knocked Tuesday of January. Over 900 colourfully dressed together at the Docks, whence the "guizers" follow the head guizer (the Jarl) and his combustibles were generally obtained. Two squad of Vikings and their longship through the darkened streets of the town to the burning site. chains were fastened to the bogie supporting Here the official ceremony ends in a spectacular the capacious tub or tar-barrel . . . eked to blaze as 800 flaming torches are thrown into the these were two strong ropes on which a longship. A night of revelry follows as each of the motley mob, wearing masks for the most 40 plus squads visit the local halls and put on wild part, fastened. A party of about a dozen were and amusing sketches to entertain their hosts. told off to stir up the molten contents." The main street of Lerwick in the mid- 19th century was extremely narrow, and rival UP-HELLY-AA is a relatively modern groups of tar-barrelers frequently clashed in festival. While there is some evidence that the middle. The proceedings were thus people in rural Shetland celebrated the 24th dangerous and dirty, and Lerwick's middle day after Christmas as "Antonsmas" or "Up classes often complained about them. The Helly Night" hundreds or years ago, there is Town Council began to appoint special no evidence that their cousins in the town of constables every Christmas to control the Lerwick did the same. revellers, with only limited success. When The emergence of Yuletide and New Year the end came for tar-barreling, in the early festivities in the town seems to post-date the 1870s, it seems to have been because the Napoleonic Wars, when soldiers and sailors young Lerwegians themselves had decided it came home with rowdy habits and a taste for was time for a change. firearms. Around 1870 a group of young men in the On Christmas eve in 1824, a visiting town with intellectual interests injected a Methodist missionary wrote in his diary series of new ideas into the proceedings. Since 1949, when the festival resumed that... "the whole town was in an uproar: First, they improvised the name Up-Helly- after the war, much has changed and much from twelve o clock last night until late this Aa, and gradually postponed the celebrations has remained the same. That year the BBC night blowing of horns, beating of drums, until the end of January. Secondly, they recorded a major radio programme on Up- tinkling of old tin kettles, firing of guns, introduced a far more elaborate element of Helly-Aa, and from that moment Up-Helly- shouting, bawling, fiddling, fifeing, drinking, disguise - "guizing" - into the new festival. Aa - not noted for its split-second timing fighting. This was the state of the town all Thirdly, they inaugurated a torchlight before the war - became a model of efficient the night - the street was as thronged with procession. organisation. The numbers participating in people as any fair I ever saw in England." At the same time they were toying with the the festival have become much greater, and As Lerwick grew in size the celebrations idea of introducing Viking themes to their the resources required correspondingly became more elaborate. Sometime about new festival. The first signs of this new larger. Whereas in the 19th century 1840 the participants introduced burning tar development appeared in 1877, but it was not individuals kept open house to welcome the barrels into the proceedings. "Sometimes", until the late 1880s that a Viking longship - guizers on Up-Helly-Aa night, men and the "galley" - appeared, and as women now co-operate to open large halls late as 1906 that a "Guizer Jarl", throughout the town to entertain them. the chief guizer, arrived on the However, despite the changes, there are scene. It was not until after the numerous threads connecting the Up-Helly- First World War that there was a Aa of today with its predecessors 150 years squad of Vikings, the "Guizer ago.  Jarl's Squad", in the procession every year. Up to the Second World War The Shetland Islands north of the Scottish Up-Helly-Aa was over- mainland remained under Norse rule until whelmingly a festival of young 1469. Today, the remote, windswept and working class men - women have treeless islands are almost as much a part of never taken part in the procession Scandinavia as of Britain, and the nearest - and during the depression years mainland town is Bergen in Norway. Lerwick,

the operation was run on a the only sizable place in Shetland, has a fort, museum, Viking exhibition and a fortified shoestring. In the winter of The burning of the Viking longship or galley tower dating from the 7th century BC. 1931-32 there was an unsuccessful move to cancel the

The Scots Canadian 5 included the Union Jack, the Fleur de Lys Gaelic is still alive in the more remote From our Readers and his famous 3-stemmed maple leaf. regions of the Western Highlands and An artist in his own right, Col. Duguid was Islands, but not all that common in most partly responsible for choosing the 30 war other parts of Scotland, and only as a second artists to do paintings of the Canadian forces language. English remains the working Famous War Historian in the field during WWII. His paintings and language of Scotland, but the current Celtic Your readers may be interested in this brief books are a precious part of the Willoughby Revival has generated more interest in the outline of the contribution, now largely household and a priceless heritage for his ancient language of the Highlanders, and unrecognized, by my father, Col. A grandchildren. Gaelic continues to be popular in Canada in Fortesque Duguid -- a Scot and a committed Margaret H. Willoughby, parts of the Atlantic Provinces and Eastern Canadian. From 1921- 1947 he was the Milton, ON Ontario where a rural culture and close-knit director of the historical section of the community keep the ancient traditions alive. Department of National Defense. The Demise of Gaelic in Scotland W. Neil Fraser, Col. Duguid was the author of the official My great grandparents emigrated from Toronto, ON history of the Canadian forces in the Great Scotland with their seven children in 1832. War of 1914-1918. He served for four years When they lived in Rathven, Banffshire, they fighting in every major battle. He was spoke the Scots dialect of the North East, but wounded and mentioned in dispatches, were also fluent in Gaelic. Settling in culminated by being awarded the DSO on the Western Quebec, they soon learned French, field of battle. and my father grew up speaking all three Born in Aberdeenshire in 1887, Col. languages. As a native of Vancouver, I Duguid came to Canada as a child. He learned only English. graduated as a civil engineer from McGill I have heard many romantic stories about the demise of Scots Gaelic, most blaming the English for putting down the Highland culture following Culloden (1746). Recently, I was surprised to read in A Century of the Scottish People 1830-1950 by T. C. Smout, that the demise of Gaelic in the McPherson House, Fort Simpson th late 19 century may have been a natural In Fort Simpson I am closely associated with occurrence when the Scottish Education the Fort Simpson Historical Society (a Department established formal schooling in registered charitable organization). In 1998 the Western Highlands and Islands. the Society purchased two small residential According to Professor Smout, when the lots on Fort Simpson Island which had been Royal Commission on the Crofters (also occupied by the Hudson's Bay Company known as the Napier Commission) made its (HBC) since 1822. Our land is possible report in 1884, one of the recommendations close to, or on, the site of the North West Col. Duguid and his grandchildren was that in Highland schools, instruction in Company's Fort of the Forks, 1803-1811. Hilary and Gillian in 1973 the native language ‘ought not merely to be We honestly don't know. University in 1912 and became historical permitted but enjoined.’ The log house in the photograph was built director following the war. However, as Dr. Smout explains: “In fact, in 1936 by George McPherson on land rented th Col. Duguid is credited with suggesting throughout the 19 century, as Dr. Durkacz from the HBC. George and Lucy raised 11 the idea for a book of remembrance which has observed, ‘the Highlander himself was children and lived there until 1963, when the was ultimately installed in the altar of strongly and consistently against the use of lease was broken and the land sold. We remembrance in the memorial chamber in the Gaelic as a school language’, on the grounds believe that George McPherson is the great Houses of Parliament Peace Tower. He that what was needed to get on in the world grandson of Murdock McPherson (1796- designed the clever mechanism, which kept was English - as an HMI said in 1899: ‘The 1863) who joined the North West Company the book level at all times. Princess Alice language is beautiful….but the people do not in 1815, transferred to the HBC in 1822 and and Lord Athlone dedicated the book and want it.’ retired as chief factor in Fort Simpson in were impressed by the way the book was The contrary view was expressed by the 1848. He died in Picton, Nova Scotia in designed to always remain open on activists of An Comunn Gaidhealach, but 1863. whichever page it fell. I can remember my their attempt to introduce an amendment into I shall be at the National Conference of father practicing with my knitting needles to the Education Act of 1908 to make Gaelic Provincial Historical Societies in Toronto, perfect the theoretical design! compulsory resulted only in a crofters February 18-20 and plan to visit the Centre He wrote the historical wording for the backlash in the school board elections, when for Scottish Studies at the University of panels in the altar chamber but these panels the vote went, in the contemporary phrase, Guelph either before of after the Conference. were later removed in the interest of overwhelmingly ‘anti-faddist’ and against I shall be looking for more information about bilingualism and are now stored in the war them.” Murdock McPherson and his son, also named museum. It is too bad that this wonderful From my own experience in visiting Murdock (1838-1912). In addition, I shall be example of accuracy coupled with brevity is Scotland, Gaelic is seldom heard now except looking for any documents or maps that not available to a generation burdened with in the Western Highlands and Islands. I might help pinpoint the location of Fort of wordiness. recall hearing a group of youths conversing the Forks. Other plans include Ottawa and As early as 1926 he designed a version of in Gaelic in the town square in Beauly, Picton for the same reasons. Inverness-shire, but they proved to be the Canadian Flag which was taken overseas Stephen Rowan, backpackers from the Isle of Lewis, not from by General McNaughton as the flag of the Fort Simpson, NT Canadian expeditionary force. The design the local area around Beauly.

6 The Scots Canadian Quarriers’ children and their William Quarrier The man behind the charity descendants flourish in Canada William Quarrier was born at Greenock "Our great want has been a home to which orphan and destitute children might be sent and in 1829 into a working class family and his to which an emigration scheme might be attached, so as to draft off to another land, all who early life was far from easy. His widowed are fitted for it.”...William Quarrier 1829-1903 mother moved with the family to Glasgow when William was three. He took his first job at the age of six in a hatpin factory uarriers is a Scottish charity with a orphaned due to the deaths of their parents earning a shilling per week. At the age of Q long tradition of caring, especially for from consumption (tuberculosis) and over twelve, he became apprenticed as a children. The institution was the years, Quarriers Village became the boot/shoemaker, becoming a qualified originally established by Scottish home of more than 30,000 children. journeyman. businessman and philanthropist, William In the late 19th and early 20th century, These early years had a profound effect Quarrier, as “The Orphan Homes of when countries throughout the British on young Quarrier and helped to determine his later work with destitute children. He Scotland” and back in 1996 it celebrated its Empire were pursuing active immigration later described an early experience...“I 125th anniversary. At that time, Quarriers policies, Quarrier realized that his children stood in the High Street of Glasgow, made a special effort to establish contact with might benefit from a new life in a new bareheaded, barefooted, cold and hungry, as many as possible of the surviving former country. He believed that the opportunities having tasted no food for a day and a half, Quarriers children and their descendants this offered the children would be far better and as I gazed at each passer-by, living in Canada. Representatives from than those available in the “dark satanic wondering why they did not help such as I, Quarriers traveled from Scotland to Canada mills” of Glasgow and other Scottish towns a thought passed through my mind that I with the hope of making contact with as and Canada was chosen as the main would not do as they when I would get the means to help others.” many former residents and other interested destination. Through the influence of his employer, a parties as possible. Between 1872 and 1938 over 6,600 Mrs. Hunter, William became a devout The primary aim was to provide an children crossed the Atlantic, accompanied Christian, and his faith underpinned all that opportunity for people to make connections by William Quarrier himself on several he subsequently achieved, and established with their past, to listen to the experiences of occasions. the caring ethos which still guides former Homes children and respond in a Most of the children went initially to Quarriers today. William married Isabella, sensitive manner. At the same time, receiving homes and were then fostered to Mrs. Hunter's daughter, his business prospered, and soon he owned three shops Quarriers as an organization, was anxious to families spread across Canada. Ontario in Glasgow. However, he never forgot the form a complete understanding of its own became the focus with receiving homes at hardships of his early life and vowed to history. Belleville and Brockville. help boys and girls who had not had his William Quarrier is best remembered for Estimates made by projecting forward the good fortune. establishing the children’s village which number of children sent to Canada suggest In 1864 Quarrier set up the first of the bears his name near Bridge of Weir, some 15 that perhaps 200,000 or more present day “Industrial Brigades” in Glasgow -- The miles west of Glasgow. This village offered Canadians have roots in Quarriers Village. Shoe Blacks. Destitute young people were given a simple uniform, a red badge, a new life to the many children in the cities Some of these could be the great great great brushes and polish and allocated a pitch. and towns of Scotland who were orphaned or grandchildren of the original child migrants Out of every shilling earned they kept living in extreme poverty, frequently in in the 1870s! eightpence to themselves and fourpence appalling slum conditions. Many were Quarriers still has records of all the went to replace brushes and polish. children it cared for, including those who William, however, realized that this was went to Canada. It is known that many of not enough. In September 1871 he wrote a these families still live in Ontario, around seminal letter to The Glasgow Herald and Belleville, Brockville, Ottawa, Kingston and Northern British Daily Mail pleading the cause of the destitute children of Glasgow. Toronto. A smaller number are scattered A resulting gift of £2,000 (a small fortune across Canada from the Maritime Provinces in those days) enabled William Quarrier to to British Columbia. open the first of several homes for The Institution is frequently approached orphaned children in central Glasgow. by former boys and girls or their descendants to provide information about their past and in the lives of former Quarriers boys and such information is made available if it is girls.  considered helpful. The records date back to For more information contact Dr. Tony 1871 and hold a wealth of information that Williams, Quarriers Village, Bridge of Weir, could help solve many unanswered questions Renfrewshire, PA11 3SX, Scotland. William Quarrier

The Scots Canadian 7

Board of Governors: Benefactors David Campbell Chairman Bill Somerville John & Pattie Cleghorn Dr. Edward E. Stewart, O.C. Director, Broadcast & Recording Service The Hon. Edwin A. Goodman O.C. 8 Sunnylea Avenue West Queens Park Nona Macdonald Heaslip Toronto, ON M8Y 2J7 Toronto, ON M7A 1A2 Douglas Stephen Res: (416) 231-3706 Bus: (416) 325-7365 The Hon. Bertha Wilson Fax: (416) 325-7916 Treasurer Res: (905) 737-0505 Alan McKenzie, FSA(Scot) [email protected] Patrons 580 Rebecca Street Olwyn Anderson Oakville, ON L6K 3N9 Professor Elizabeth Ewan Mary G. Barnett Res: (905) 842-2106 41 Richardson Crescent John W. & Ruth Borthwick [email protected] Guelph, ON N1E 3C9 Dr. John H. Cooper Bus: (519) 824-4120 Antony A. Cunningham Secretary & Res: (519) 837-0175 In Memoriam Sydney Dawson Newsletter Editor eewan@uoguelph,ca James Douglas David Hunter c/o SSF Professor Elizabeth Ewan P.O. Box 45069 Dr & Mrs. G.T. Ewan 2482 Yonge Street, Membership Chairman Angus H. Ferguson Toronto, ON M4P 3E3 & Webmaster: Gavin J. Fleming Dr. Paul Thomson Bus: (416) 332-7353 The Late Lt.Col. C.E. Fraser CD 1515 Skyline Drive Fax: (416) 332-6189 James Fraser Mississauga, ON L5E 2W6 [email protected] Neil & Marie Fraser Res: (905) 278-5022 Dr. W. & Ms. M. Fraser Fax: (905) 274-1817 The Hon. Alastair W. Gillespie Bus: (416) 467-3321 Governors at large Clan Grant Society of Canada [email protected] David Hunter [email protected] W. Neil Fraser Douglas Lackie

71 Charles St.E., #1101 In Memoriam: Jack T. Lang

Toronto, ON M4Y 2T3 Marion F. Livingston Honorary Patrons Res: (416) 920-6851 John P. MacBeth John Cleghorn Fax: (416) 920-1275 John H. Macdonald FSA(Scot) Professor E. J. Cowan [email protected] Col. Iain M. Mackay M.D. The Hon. Henry N.R. Jackman Dr. Myles MacLennan The Hon Donald S. MacDonald The Hon. Alastair W. Gillespie, PC, OC Dr. Hugh MacMillan MGen Lewis MacKenzie 175 Heath Street West J.H. Iain & Mary MacMillan Michael MacMillan Toronto, ON M4V 1V1 Jim MacNeil, Scottish Imports Bill McNeil Bus: (416) 968-9220 William L. McAuley Lloyd Robertson Fax: (416) 968-1624 Dr. K.J. McBey The Hon. Bertha Wilson Alan McKenzie, FSA(Scot)

John H. Macdonald, FSA (Scot) W. Montgomery Honorary Members 2 Sandbourne Crescent Dr. Robert K Ritchie Georgina Erichsen North York, ON M2J 3A6 Helen B. Smith Georgina Finlay Res: (416) 756-0345 Bill & April Somerville, The Scottish Grant MacMillan Fax: (416) 756-0549 Company Philip Reid Bus: (416) 363-5562 Helen Stevens Fax: (416) 363-7394 The following organizations and individuals Dr. Roselynn M. W. Stevenson [email protected] made charitable contributions to the Scottish David R. Stewart Studies Foundation in excess of the basic Dr. Edward E. Stewart, O.C. J. H. Iain MacMillan membership fees during the period Jan. 1, Ian G. Stewart 36 Barbara Crescent 1999 and Dec. 31,1999 Professor Ronald M. Sunter Donald Campbell Sutherland Toronto, ON M4C 3B2 Corporate Sponsors Dr. Paul C.P. Thomson & Michelle Perrone Bus: 416 423-1313 The British Council Professor David B. Waterhouse Fax: 416 423-0881 GE Canada The Late Frank Watson Res: 416 421-6279 Mitchell Watt [email protected]

8 The Scots Canadian