2006 Annual General Meeting Dinner

The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada's Toronto Branch held their Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 29 April, 2006. The meeting preceded a delightful dinner in the main dining room of the Royal Canadian Military Institute, the highlight of which was an informative keynote speech by special guest Dr Christopher McCreery, author of The Order of Canada: Its History, Origins and Development, and The Canadian Honours System.

The dinner was held in the presence of the branch patron, Sir Conrad Swan, KCVO, PhD, FSA, FRHSC, and former Garter King of Arms.

2006-2007 Toronto Branch Executive Directors
L-R: Mr John Wilkes, FRHSC(Hon) (Treasurer), Mr David Birtwistle (Director), Mr David M. Cvet (President), Mr Raymond Morrell (Secretary), Mr Thomas Doran (Director)
Absent: Ms Ilona Jurkewicz and Mr George McNeillie (Directors)Robbie Sprules (Strategy Consultant)

Following elections of the branch executive, at which three new members were welcomed as directors, Mr George McNeillie, Mr David Birtwistle, and Mr Thomas Doran, a light reception was underway in the Main Lounge.

At precisely 6:45 o'clock, the piper sounded the 15 minutes' warning, Highland Laddie. The call to be seated for dinner came at 7 o'clock, and the Head Table procession was marched in to Scotland the Brave.

Seated at the Head Table were Sir Conrad Swan, Mr David Cvet, branch president, Mr John Wilkes, FRHSC(Hon), branch treasurer and life member, Mr Kevin Greaves, RHSC president, and his lovely wife Christina, special guest Dr Christopher McCreery, Mr and Mrs Gordon Macpherson, and Mr Bruce Patterson, Saguenay Herald.

The toast to the piper, Joe Thompson, of the York Regional Police Pipes & Drums, was given by Mr Cvet, branch president.

After the introduction of the head table, life member and branch treasurer John Wilkes said a very brief grace.

Dr. Christopher McCreery speaks to the guests about the history of the Order of Canada and Canadian honours

A superb dinner was then served by the excellent and efficient staff of the Royal Canadian Military Institute. The menu included sherry infused beef consommé, a salad of baby greens with feta and Greek olives dressed with raspberry balsamic, a main dish of oven roasted turkey tenderloin stuffed with wild and basmati rice, and a dessert of Mandarin orange cheese flan with raspberry sorbet.

Following dinner came the Loyal Toast of "The Queen, La Reine!" said by the branch president. Mr Okill Stuart, UE, gave the toast to the society.

The guest speaker, Dr McCreery, then spoke for about 30 minutes, giving an very interesting and informative history of the Order of Canada, and of honours in Canada generally. Following this well-received highlight of the evening, the branch patron, Sir Conrad Swan, stood to speak briefly to the room about the importance of the symbology of arms and the need to keep heraldry active in Canada, a country with a very rich heraldic history.

The dinner was then brought to its conclusion and guests shortly departed for carriages.