Christmas Meeting

MR. PHIMISTER: The Board of Directors and the Members of the Empire Club of Canada and their friends wish to extend a special welcome to His Honour the Lieutenant Governor and Mrs. McKay, the representatives of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in the Province of Ontario, who are our guests of honour today. We know that the Queen has just concluded a long and perhaps hazardous journey in Africa and we read of the high respect in which the Queen is held everywhere in that troubled continent. While journeys in Ontario may not be quite so hazardous, the demands of the office of Lieutenant Governor are many and arduous and we would like Your Honour and Mrs. McKay to know that we are appreciative of your presence here today in the midst of so many demands on your time and energy. This is the spirit of service for which the Crown stands and no one could better exemplify these high standards of family life and service to others than those who hold the high office of representing the Queen in this province. We are very happy to have you with us today and we extend to you a very warm welcome.

After a reply by the Lieutenant Governor, the Chairman introduces the Head Table and continued-Some of you will have observed that the one head table guest not introduced was the Past President of this club. Mr. Alexander Stark who served as President last year with such notable distinction, is known among his colleagues on the Board of Directors for his good judgment and for the outstanding service which he has rendered to this club over a number of years. Not only did he grace the Preident's role with wit and humour but he brought his great abilities to bear on the affairs of the club with great distinction to himself and with honour to the club. Therefore without further words I should like to ask Mr. Alexander Stark to accept this scroll which records his period of service as President as a token of appreciation from the Board of Directors and the Members of the club.

Mr. Stark may I present you with this scroll as a token of appreciation of your work for the club.

The Chairman proceeds to introduce our special guests. The Toronto Men Teachers' Choir is made up of Public and High School teachers, principals, supervisors and inspectors from the Toronto area under the outstanding leadership of the Director of Music for Toronto Schools, Mr. Harvey Perrin.

The choir was organized in 1942 and since that time over 450 men whose names have appeared on its rolls have experienced the fellowship and enjoyment which comes from singing together.

Over the years the choirs' artistry has become well known throughout a large part of Canada and the United States. Appearances in Cleveland, Atlantic City (where the men sang to one audience of more than 15,000), Pittsburg, Detroit, Flint, Ann Arbor, Erie, Rochester, Syracuse, and other American cities have brought them international recognition. While most of their 400 concerts have been given in the Toronto area, over 30 Canadian cities and towns have been visited by the choir including the City of Montreal.

Recently the London Free Press carried the following statement:

"It is a choir of which any city might be proud and Metropolitan Toronto should be gratified that among the teaching profession there can be formed such a good singing ambassador."

"Ambassadors of song" they have been because with each audience they have striven to leave the sense of joy and good fellowship, which comes from making music together.

This choir then presented a programme of Christmas music under the direction of Mr. Harvey Perrin. On behalf of the members present, Mr. Phimister thanked the choir.