These Ladies of our Belleville and District Shrine Club attended the Rameses Shriners Spring Ceremonial in Orillia on Friday 09 June 2018 at the Hawk Ridge Golf and Country Club
Back Row: Gayle Stevenson; Celine Hellberg; Velda Gillis; Bonnie Wigmore; Barb Geen; Sandy Allan; Peggy Neil; and Debbie Black
Front Row: Audrey Carter; Sharon Osborne; Gwen Bedford; and Marjorie Bedford.
After the parade in Orillia on Saturday, 09 June 2018 everyone prepared themselves for the evening feast held at the Silver Nightingale Ballroom at Casino Rama for cocktails at 5:00 p.m. followed by a meal that left everyone in awe. Anyone who attended the 2012 Spring Ceremonial in Orillia were not dissapointed by the quality of service, ambiance, and excellent meal this year that began with Candied Butternut Squash & Tart Apple Soup, En Croûte Fresh Thyme and Nutmeg Creme Fraiche, followed by a Baby Organic Garden Green Salad with Marinated Tomatoes, Cucumbers and Artichokes, Sundried Tomato and Ranch Dressing, with a main course of a 4 oz. Filet Mignon and 6 oz Chicken Supreme, Dauphinoise Potaotes, Seasonal Vegetables and Natural Jus Reduction. Ending with the dessert of a Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlee with Maple Crackling , Marinated Blueberries and Almond Tuile. Naturally there were buns, coffee and herbal teas provided. Everyone listened to Orillia’s Shriner child and his mother talk about his treatments in Erie, PA from age 4 to age 14 when they were initially told by a local Doctor that he would never be able to walk. Our Shriners Hospitals for Children proved them wrong. A total of around $132,000 in Club donations were made to the Rameses Transportation Fund and/or Shriners Hospital for Children – Canada at this feast which attested to the hard work of Rameses Shriners and their Ladies. The Belleville and District Shrine Club donated a total of $4,000 while the Camel Herder Unit donated a further $4,000, both to be split between the Hospital and Transportation Fund. Our Special Ladies also had a cheque of $120 presented at the feast by our Ambassador. Well done to all!
Early Saturday morning on 9 June 2018 Nobles and their Ladies had an opportunity to enjoy an early breakfast at the Orillia Masonic Temple and to visit the upper Shrine Club Oasis for the Flea Market. The parade formed up at the top of Brant Street starting at 11:00 a.m. with the parade leaving around 1:00 p.m. Prior to this the Candidates underwent their intitiation ceremony at the new High School on Park Street. The parade route was very different this year in Orillia when we proceeded south on West Street two blocks to go east on Coldwater Street one block, turn right onto Peter Street that we followed two blocks where we again turned right onto Colborne Street. We followed this two blocks where we then turned left onto Andrew Street one long block to Barrie Road, turning left one block back onto West Street. As soon as we headed south we passed the reviewing stand on our way back to James Street’s Masonic Temple. Lucky there was a beer tent and hamburgers wating.
On Friday 8 June 2018 everyone settled in for a weekend of fun at the Rameses Spring Ceremonial in Orillia, Ontario starting at the Orillia Fairgrounds. We had 12 members in our Club stay at the Comfort Inn while those that were with the Divan stayed at the Casino Rama Hotel. Friday night started with a great roast beef dinner followed by a western country dance to the group Fresh Horses, a Garth Brooks tribute group of entertainers. At the dance Coleen Cassidy from Owen Sound Ramoca Shrine Club won the Kid Rock guitar while Verna Settle from the Orillia Shrine Club won the 50-50 draw of $550. The evening ended at the Comfort Inn hospitality room hosted jointly by the Oshawa Shrine Club with the Belleville and District Shrine Club sharing costs. Attending bar wre Nobles Scott Peel, Brian Marcano followed by Watson Petersen and Karen Jerry.
Our Nobles and their Ladies enjoyed a presentation from Jennifer May Anderson at our Wednesday Dinner Meeting on 25 April when she talked about Hospice Quinte. We now have a better understanding of the great work the many volunteers at Hospice Quinte do to help the elderly, those with disabilities, and the sick in our area. If anyone knows of someone in need of assistance then please contact Hospice Quinte.
At our Shrine Club meeting on Wednesday 23 May 2018 our members enjoyed a presentation from our Guest Speaker Whorshipful Brother Ben Parkin about the masonic Widow’s Son fundraiser which involved their members who ride motorocycles.
Also during the evening we voted in our new 1st Vice President Noble Ken Campbell and Director of Public Relations Noble Joe Johnson. Both will be working diligently to set up this years Bantam Hockey Tournament. Congratulations to both Nobles who will be an excllent addition to our Executive.
Eleven of our Nobles are now trained and certified to handle propane at our events for the next three years. Chris Blackburn from the Safety Guys Training ran a course for us at the Club on Monday, 30 April 2018. Present receiving this training were Nobles Clarence Stevenson, Bill Black, Gary Smithrim, John Neil, Ron Carter, Bill Bedford, Leonard Bedford, Jack Hellberg, Stephen Shirk, Harold Newton and Clive Allan. Last year Nobles Gary Crane, Otto Nungeser, Jim Hemlin, Rob Ridley and Terry Burke were trained by Paul Van Belle from the same company.
Nobles, their Ladies, and some of their family (50 total) came together for our bus trip to Montreal where we spent the night at the Nouvel Hotel. Ron Rushnell was our bus driver who ensured that we arrived safely. After one stopover at the Cornwal Enroute and a quick bus tour of the city we booked into our rooms in Montreal and then enjoyed an evening in the Hotel bar/restaurant. It was then time to rest up before our tour of the Shriner Hospital for Children on Sunday. A big thank you to Nobles John Neil and John Bonnin for organizing this trip. And another thank you to Lady Peggy who was our “hostess with the mostess”, and not just jelly beans.
On Sunday our group toured the Shriner Hospital for Children. Our guides were Gail and Gil Chartier, Jean Pascal Gosselin, Mark Diaz, and Emmanuelle Rondeau with Justin Puma assisting and finally our Secretary of the Board of Governors Noble John H. Neil. There was so much to see and hopefully these photos capture our excitement and humbleness for OUR Children’s Hospital. We raised $165 on the bus that was donated to the hospital and at the end of the day everyone spent lots of money on souvenirs. The meal in the cafeteria was great not to mention the excellent service by the cafeteria staff. Again a big thanks to our team for making this happen, even the ones at the back of the bus who were the lively group, right Nobles Cook and Allan?
Tour attendees: Driver Ron Rushnell, John & Peggy Neil, Don & Vada Gillis, Rob & Bonnie Wigmore, Clive & Sandra Allan, Brian & Annette Cook, Bill & Debbie Black, John Bonnin, Vada Lake, Jim & Barb Rennie, Marilyn Hackett, Debbie Coulbeck, Bruce & Kevin Ferguson, Harold & Bea Newton, Bill & Gwyn Bedford, Ralph & Shirley Swan, Bill & Sharon Osborne, Barb Geen, Carrie Davis, Don & Sandra Shaw, Doug & Louise Overy, Roy & Linda Todd, Harry & Eilene Ayerst, Frank Wilson, Stephen Shirk, Elaine Smithrim, Janice Stilletto, Rick & Janet Loveless, Larry & Loraine Donaldson, Jack & Shirley Hogarth and Bob & Bettie Weir.
The Masonic Brethren from Lake Lodge No. 215 were in all their glory on Saturday and Sunday at Hubbs Sugarbush selling their pancakes and sausages to many who attended. Some of these Brethren are also Nobles in the Belleville and District Shrine Club who also assisted as needed with the selling of our annual fundraiser chocolate sales. It was a great way to spend this Sunday morning and afternoon. The temperatures were not too low with lots of sun overhead. Maple was flowing and vats cooking while parents and children enjoyed the hot chocolate and coffee watching the various events including a tree climb by a local Arborist.
Our 3rd Vice President Noble Bill Black and his team of Nobles and some of their Ladies wrapped up chocolate sales after starting on Friday and ending on Saturday and Sunday. It was great seeing the Nobility supporting this very worthwhile fundraising event at the Belleville Sportsman Boat and RV Show. It was too bad that this photographer didn’t capture pictures of all of the volunteers throughout this three day event. We lost track of the number of excited children who received balloon figures from our Clowns. A special thanks to Cox RV for making sure that our table was set up in the best location on the main level.
