Newsletter 2017-06_NEWS02.QXD 2017-05-03 9:08 PM Page 1 June, 2017 ISSN 1207-7232 In this issue: out 4,000 letters to Mackenzies in the west and that established core memberships in British Columbia, Our 30th Anniversary. .1 - 2 Alberta and Manitoba for the first time. New Members . 2 What an incredible effort of Roddy’s. He later Upcoming Events . .2 - 3 The Mackenzie Tower . 3 became President of the Clan MacKenzie Society in 1st Earl of Cromartie’s History (part 1) . 3 - 8 the Americas. Lord Aberdeen’s Joke . 8 As you may know, some years later, we separated Whisky for Dingwall . 8 - 9 from the United States Chapter to become a charitable Funeral of Alexander Mackenzie . 9/13 - 14 Canadian institution. Having charitable status enabled Clan Financial Statements . 10 - 11 Clan AGM Agenda - September . 12 our Society to apply for the benefits to charities of Centenary of Battle of Vimy Ridge . 14 - 16 sales of Nevada lottery tickets. Regimental Sgt Major John McKenzie . 16 - 18 In the very early days we had little money and the Who Are They - 6: Lynn Dale Mackenzie. 19 first newsletters were photocopied after doing some Photos . 20 “stick and paste”. Ah! the joys of having a computer with a program for designing magazines. 30 YEARS FOR THE CLAN MAC KENZIE SOCIETY IN CANADA es indeed. Our Society celebrates its 30th year, originally as a Chapter of the Clan MacKenzie SYociety in the Americas. We were established in 1987, but actually started proceedings in 1986. The first events we attended were at New Glasgow, Nova Scotia at the Festival of Tartans in July 1987, and then a month later at the Fergus Highland Games. It was not until Roddy MacKenzie joined us as Commissioner for Western Canada in 1988 that we Our first clan Highland Games at Fergus, August 1987. It is sad to expanded our membership outside Ontario. He sent think that from that early group four have since died. Send Newsletter contributions to Clan MacKenzie Society, 580 Rebecca Street, Oakville, ON L6K 3N9; or e-mail to [email protected] Clan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clanmackenzieca Clan Web Page: www.clanmackenziecanada.ca Newsletter 2017-06_NEWS02.QXD 2017-05-03 9:08 PM Page 2 Page 2 Looking back 30 years at Fergus August 1987. Leff to right - Margaret McKenzie Masters (our first Secretary - still a member); Colonel Norval MacKenzie (deceased); unidentified; Catherine McKenzie, Alan’s daughter, still a member - with three children of her own; Bob Mackenzie (deceased), our first piper; Jean McKenzie Busby (deceased), sister of Margaret. New Members June 18 Edmonton Scottish Society The following new members joined since the issue of July 8 Fort Edmonton Celtic Gathering the last newsletter: July 29 Okotoks / Foothills Sep 2 Calgary Chris Fraser MacKenzie, Sep 3 Canmore 4045 Lincoln Dr., British Columbia Coquitlam June 17 -The Canada Bloomfield Hills, MI, 48301, USA 150 Gathering of the Clans. Victoria – May 20 – 22 Donald Ross McKenzie, Penticton July 1; Kamloops July 8 Box 287, South River, ON P0A 1X0 Manitoba - The 2017 Manitoba Highland Gathering will be held at the Legacy Park in East Selkirk on June Roland Scott MacKenzie, 24 and 25 . Clan MacKenzie will have a tent set up. P.O. Box 972, Pictou, NS B0K 1H0 New Brunswick - Highland Games - July 28-30 . Steve McKenzie, Nova Scotia - The 154th Antigonish Highland 115 Flamborough Way, Games, July 7th, 8th, and 9th, - 9th being Clan Day. Kanata, ON K2K 3G2 The New Glasgow Festival Of The Tartans, Pictou July 14th, 15th and 16th . The 15th will feature Clan UPCOMING EVENTS - 2017 and Genealogy Tents. Alberta Games: Jun 29 - Jul 6 - Royal Nova Scotia International June 10 Grand Prairie Tattoo. June 17 Red Deer Newsletter 2017-06_NEWS02.QXD 2017-05-03 9:08 PM Page 3 Page 3 The 1st Colchester Highland Games and gathering him - with a secret escape route. Sept 9th featuring the Scottish tribal drumming group “He had a special spiral staircase installed that went from Glasgow, Clann an Drumma. all the way from the third floor to the ground level,” Oct 6 - Celtic Colours in Cape Breton. Bosch said. “And this was not really to escape his enemies. It Ontario - Quarterly Ontario Members Meeting at was more to escape his friends. At the time, if you Alan’s house - 580 Rebecca St., Oakville - everyone wanted a patronage appointment or you were a lobby - welcome - June 11, also September 17 ist, you would literally hang out in the lobby of the Georgetown Games - June 10 Prime Minister’s Office and hope to catch his eye as he Cobourg Highland Games, Victoria Park - June 17. was walking out. And so he had this backdoor escape Embro Highland Games and Festival - July 1 route.” Kincardine Scottish Festival & Games - July 8 The office sits right under the building’s tallest Orillia Scottish Festival - July 15 tower, which is known as the Mackenzie Tower. Cambridge Highland Games - Jul 14-15 Mackenzie wasn’t the only person to use the stair - Glengarry Highland Games, Maxville - August 4-5 case: Pierre Trudeau used it to evade reporters the day Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games - in con - he went to the Governor General to request the 1968 junction with the Scottish North American Leadership election, Bosch said. Conference (President Sharie will be present for these Correction from the previous issue : events) - August 10 - 12 Alexander Mackenzie the 2nd Prime Minister of Canada lived 1822-1892. The dates previously shown Quebec - Montreal Games Sunday, August 6 . were those of Sir Alexander Mackenzie - a common confusion with two famous Mackenzies with the same Saskatchewan - June 1, 2 & 3 for the Scottish Pavilion name. at Mosaic - A Festival of Cultures, in Regina. August 17, 18 & 19 at the Scottish Pavilion at HISTORY OF THE FAMILY OF MACKENZIE Saskatoon Folkfest. BY SIR GEORGE MACKENZIE , F IRST EARL OF CROMARTIE 1630-1714 Scotland - Edinburgh Festival Tattoo with the Chief of the Mackenzie Clan at Edinburgh Castle - August 15 One of the earliest histories of the for people who have signed up for this big event the Mackenzies was written in the 17th century by Clan Society in Scotland have also arranged accom - the first Earl of Cromartie. He was a grandson modation for a few days and certain tours. Total tour of the famous Tutor of Kintail. The history is a including Strathpeffer August 11 to 16. lengthy one but because of the authorship it is one which we believe members should have the THE MACKENZIE TOWER , O TTAWA opportunity of reading. Spelling over 300 years THIS IS A FOLLOW -UP FROM THE MARCH NEWSLETTER - BY SHARIE ARGUE ago was much different from today. So we have here is a secret stairwell in the West Block of the corrected the English to make it more easily Mackenzie Tower. readable. I have also made changes to make TAlexander Mackenzie, Canada’s second prime min - the narrative more explainable to a modern ister and the first Liberal prime minister, was leery of reader. All words in italics are mine and are lobbyists during his five years in office, according to not included in the original manuscript. In a Liberal Party researcher Kevin Bosch. Mackenzie came from working-class origins and few cases where the words do not make sense had been a stonemason. to a modern reader I have deleted them, pro - An addition was built on the West Block of vided they have no bearing on the matter. Parliament Hill while Mackenzie was prime minister, (Alan McKenzie) from 1873 to 1878. The building included an office for Newsletter 2017-06_NEWS02.QXD 2017-05-03 9:08 PM Page 4 Page 4 PART ONE or Fitzursils, and were of the ancient inhabitants of had not delayed so long to have sent a short account Ireland. He had an only daughter, who was married to of the genealogy of our family if I had not been this Colin. As the commander of this fort, it brought to sIolicitous of exact truth. We cannot compete with some Colin and his successors that heritage of Kintail which other families in fabled antiquity and romantic actions. had once belonged to the McMahon. This our tradition But we might appear yet without false varnishes, and has never been doubted nor controverted, but forever so burden neither our own consciences nor other men’s was held as a true account, from generation to genera - beliefs with untruths and lies. tion . Most of our ancient families place their origins All the difference I find in this from what I should beyond record, that we must take them on report, as it conclude as truth, is, that this Colin Gerald was not a cannot be impugned, neither does it prove whether it son of the Earl of Kildar (for there was no Earl of were so or not. Should any of Caesar’s or Alexander’s Kildar till the year of 1290. John Fitz Thomas, alias successors be now searched for, it’s probable enough Gerald, baron of Offaly, on the discord between him they might be found drudges to the successors of their and the Chief Justice William [blank] , was received meanest slaves. I do not write this to bring any tash on Earl by the King Edward I of England: but that he was noble progenies, but to evince that it is not to be over - of the chief family of the Geralds is not to be doubted. valued nor to take the place of noble quality, which As for his coming to Scotland this was noticed, for I makes men more truly glorious.