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The 13th Annual General Meeting of the Clan Ross Association of Canada (since incorporation by Letters Patent on May 10, 1991) was held in Winnipeg's Norwood Hotel from July 23 to 25, 2004. On December 1 of this year, our association will celebrate the 44th anniversary of the founders' meeting which established CRA-Canada as the oldest existing Clan Ross Society in the world.
FRIDAY RECEPTION and SCOTTISH ENTERTAINMENT (7:00 - 10:30 PM): Thirty members of Clan Ross attended the Winnipeg AGM, and it was a pleasure to meet several who had attended the Victoria AGM in 2002. We never fail to be impressed by the effort to provide an interesting schedule of events.
SATURDAY MORNING VAN TOUR AFTER BREAKFAST (9:30 AM - 12:00): Several points of interest on the tour north of Winnipeg included St. Boniface Cathedral with the grave of Louis Riel, the Scots Thistle Monument at the site of Fort Douglas, the Ross House Museum, the old Kildonan Church cemetery with headstones of pioneer Ross settlers, the St. John's Anglican Cathedral and Captain Kennedy House (for lunch).
SATURDAY AFTERNOON VAN TOUR (1:30 PM - 4:30 PM): Although it was ordered to be constructed in 1830, most of Lower Fort Garry's buildings and walls were not completed until the 1840's. The Governor of the Northern and Southern Departments of the Hudson's Bay Company, George Simpson, left with his wife in 1833. The fort was used as a shipping depot for fur trade goods, a penitentiary, a training centre for the North West Mounted Police and a country club before becoming a National Historic Site in the early 1960's.
Please CLICK on Lower Fort Garry for a choice of two excellent virtual tours. [Forgive their misspelling of "wheelwright" in both cases, eh?]
Please CLICK on Lower Fort Garry for a choice of two excellent virtual tours. [Forgive their misspelling of "wheelwright" in both cases, eh?]
SATURDAY DINNER AT "HU'S ON FIRST" (6:45 - 9:30 PM): A table for Clan Ross was reserved at the rear of the outdoor balcony at the "Hu's on First" Asian restaurant located at the ballpark. Thus, it was difficult to see who was on first during the Winnipeg Goldeyes pro baseball game.
SUNDAY BUSINESS MEETING IN THE TACHE ROOM (1:00 - 3:00 PM): After brunch, the Annual General Meeting of Clan Ross Canada continued in the main meeting room of the Norwood Hotel. There were plenty of opportunities either before or after the meeting to take a general walkabout or trek to "The Forks" where the Red River and the Assiniboine River meet.
SUNDAY EVENING DINNER AT THE TOAD ON MAIN PUB (6:00 - ? PM): A hearty Irish pub dinner, with Scottish entertainment, was enjoyed by the participants.
Note:
Ontario Commissioner, Wendy Ross, is expecting a large turnout in 2006, when the AGM will be held in Western Ontario (in or near London). She is also looking for members to help with odd jobs that will need to be done (registration, planning events, dinner possibilities, etc.). If you attend the Scottish Highland Games in Fergus during either 2004 or 2005, you are encouraged to introduce yourself to either Andrew Thibideau or Wendy Ross at the Ross tent on the Avenue of the Clans.
