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List
of Names,
Top
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Bill Kane
Corps VP,
Baritone
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Bill marched with Toronto
Optimists from 1965-1969. In
addition he's instructed, Toronto
Optimists, St. Johns, Brantford,
and the Optimists Alumni. Bill's
been in the Alumni Corps since
its inception. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Bob Carell
Mellophone
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Bob marched with Toronto
Optimists from 1963 through
1967. He was in the guard in
1963, usually carrying the Optimist
Club flag. He played soprano
from 1964-67. In 1976-77 he
drove the equipment truck for
Seneca, cooked, etc. Bob joined
the Alumni Corps in 2004
where he played Alto. In
2008 he moved to Mellophone. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Bob Keenan
Soprano
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Bob marched with the Optimists
from early to mid 60's. He started
on snare, then guard, baritone,
soprano. He played euphonium
in Commanders. |
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of Names,
Top
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Brian
Adam
Baritone
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Brian marched with
Seneca Optimists in 1977.
Most recently he's been
playing with the Empire
Statesmen. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Brian Byrne
Corps Treasurer
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Brian began his drum corps
career on French Horn with Grantham
Drum & Bugle Corps, 1960 to
1965; played French Horn with
Toronto Optimists in 1966 &
1967 and Mellophone in 1968
and 1969. He was in the Alumni
Corps at its inception and was
Drum Major in 2005. Today, he's
corps treasurer. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Brian Hogan
Drum Major
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Only drum corps ever belong
to - the Optimists. Marched
1969 to '73. Instructed
drill for two years. Charter
member of Optimists Alumni.
Played baritone and selected
to be Drum Major for 2007. |
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of Names,
Top
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Carol Munro
Executive,
Bass
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I marched in Optimist Lancers
for 5 years as a Snare drummer
and in Oakland Crusaders for
5 years on Keyboards. I also
instructed Oakland Crusaders
& Emerald Knights on & off over
the years. In addition to playing
bass in the Alumni Corps, I've
been a drummer for Sunnybrook
Court Jesters for 20 years.
We did the Sunnybrook Court
Christmas Parade as well as
Birthdays, parades, and are
the Toronto Children's Aid Christmas
Party House band. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Clare Reid
Support Staff,
Associate Member
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Clare began in 1949 at Western
Tech and was lead soprano player,
instructor and then Director,
Brass & drill instructor as
well as Drum Major for Parkdale
Lions All Girl Drum Corps. He
was also the Director of Optimists
Lancers, President of the Ontario
and Canadian Drum Corps Associations
and Timing Judge with the Canadian
Judges Assoc. Clare assisted
Don Daber with the Optimists
Junior Corps and he’s been with
the Optimists Alumni from inception,
serving on its first Board of
Directors for 4 years and assisting
the Founders with its formation
and growth. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Dave Johns
Guard
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David was
in the Toronto Region Trumpet
Band from 1956 to 1958 when
he joined The Don Mills Sky
Raiders. He played snare from
1958 to 1960. He really wanted
to join The Optimists and did
so in the spring of 1961. David
was a member of the colour guard
that first year and from 1962-1964
he played base drum. He was
Drum major for a short time
in 1965. David helped Don Daber
with publicity as a photographer
until 1967.
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of Names,
Top
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Dave Kirton
Associate
Member
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In his younger days, Dave
played soprano with York Lions.
He started off playing soprano
in the Alumni Corps, then moved
to Mellophone. Now he's enjoying
himself in Thailand. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Don Daber
Member Emiritus
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An integral part of the
Optimists organization for over
40 years, serving as publicity
director and photographer for
both Toronto Optimists and Seneca
Optimists. He's also served
as Corps Director of Toronto
Optimists. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Ed Wilson
Baritone
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Marched with Belleville
Yardmen, 1973-1974; Kingston
Grenadiers, 1975-1976; Rochester
Crusaders, 1978; Kingston Grenadiers
1984-87; Empire Statesman 1987;
Kingston Grenadiers from 1994
to 1996. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Frans Rood
Colour Guard
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Frans started in 1957 on
Tenor Drum/Bass in Columbus
Drum Corps; he played Bass Drum
in Optimists from 1960-1963.
In 1967 he was the Corps photographer
and CDCA Photographer. Frans
joined the Alumni Corps in Nov.
2005. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Gaelen
Swartz
Quints
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I joined the Optimist Alumni
in 2005 as a cymbal player and
I've been a Quint player since
2006. I love drumming and never
stop. And I always seem to get
into trouble with the old people.
At the moment I'm trying to
start a drumline with my school. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Jack Roberts
Drill Instructor,
Soprano
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Jack was with the Grantham
Police Boys Band form 1957 to
'62, then Optimists in '63.
After that he became the drill
designer & instructor for Optimists. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Jason Filipchuk
Contra
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I marched with the Cadets
of Dutch Boy (87-90) & Dutch
Boy (91) (we were 13 in the
world that year, missing the
top 12 by four tenths of a points).
I joined the Alumni corps in
2004. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Joe Gianna
Soprano
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Danforth Crusaders 1956-58;
Toronto Optimists 1958-63 playing
lead soprano. I also spent some
years teaching together with
Barry and some years with The
Optimist Club of York Toronto
(the Sponsoring body of the
corps after the downtown Optimist
Club, declared that they could
no longer afford to sponsor
the corps), a couple of years
as president of the club, and
was around when Seneca Optimists
came into being and for a few
years after. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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John Giblin
Bass
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John marched with Mighty
Grantham from 1962-65; with
St. Catharines Chessman, 1966-68
and Burlington Commanders, 1971-72.
In the Alumni Corps since 2005. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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John Petti
Baritone
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John marched with Columbus
Boys, 1961-1963; Golden Monarchs,
1964; De La Salle, 1965-1968;
Ambassadors, 1969; Toronto Signals,
2003-2004; Kawartha Kavaliers,
2005-2006 and joined Optimists
Alumni, 2006 |
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List
of Names,
Top
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John Shearer
Alto
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Soprano with the "Toronto
Region Scout Band", 1957-58;
soprano with the Optimist Bantam
Corps from 1958-60; soprano
with Toronto Optimists from
1961-1965; equipment manager
for Toronto Optimists from 1966-67
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List
of Names,
Top
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John Swartz
Drum Instructor,
Snare
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Marched with: Marching Diplomats,
1971; Bluewater Buccaneers 1973-75
and Oakland Crusaders 1977-80.
Taught: Bluewater Buccaneers,
Port Huron Northern High School,
Port Huron, Michigan Bad Axe
high school, Bad Axe, Michigan
Glassmen, Oakland Crusaders,
Canadian Knights |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Karen Bosworth
Bass
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Karen marched with
Seneca Princemen in 1975 in
the Color Guard (flag) and
with the Seneca Optimists in 1976,
1977 and 1978 in the Color
Guard (flag). She joined the
Alumni corps on cymbals and
is now playing Bass Drum.
Karen also plays tenor drum
with Simcoe United Alumni. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Len Perrin
President,
Mellophone
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I was always with Optimists,
1957 Jr. B National Champs;
1958 Jr. A Champs. French Horn
for 4 years, and spent 2 years
in Guard. Highlight was Nationals
in 1958. We were so new and
everyone loved us; then 1962
when we beat the first top U.S.
Corps, Blessed Sacrament. A
great way to begin and end my
time in the Green. Been with
the Alumni Corps since it began. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Mel Dey
Contra
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Marched in an air cadet
band around '57; Leaside Lions
Jungle Kings '58-'59; Optimists
1960-62; Jesters (Sr.) '63;
Commanders (Sr) '64 to '69 and
Optimist Alumni '02 to present |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Mike Lang
Baritone
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Mike was with Michael Power
Knights from 1966-1969 and the
Etobicoke Crusaders, 1969-1971.
Over the years Mike has been
a member of the Colour Guard
as well as playing Euphonium,
Contra Bass and Baritone. He's
been a member of the Alumni
Corps since 2002 and plays baritone. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Paul Blanchard
Baritone
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Paul played French Horn
and marched with Hamilton Conqueror
from 1960 through 1964. He joined
the Optimists Alumni Corps in
January, 2006 and plays Baritone. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Paul Thompson
Corps Secretary
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St Michael's College High
School Band; Toronto Optimists
from 1963-1973; Weston Silver
Band; 411 Squadron Air Force
Concert Band; the Metropolitan
United Church Band and Alumni
from 2003 till present. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Phil Hennings
Mellophone
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Member of the Scout Band,
Opti-Corps and Toronto Optimists
from 1955-1960, played soprano
from 1955-1957 and was Drum
Major from 1958-1960. Today
Phil plays Mellophone in the
Alumni Corps |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Ric Brown
Bass
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Ric marched with the Toronto
Optimists from 1969 to 1975
including guard, rifle, cymbals
and bass drum. He had a management
role with the Seneca Optimists
in 1976 and was Assistant Director
in 1977/1978.
He's an original member of Optimists
Alumni Association and one of
four founders of The Optimists
Alumni Drum Corps |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Rick Lang
Soprano
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Rick's history includes
the Michael Power Knights 1966-1969;
Etobicoke Crusaders 1970-1972
and Uncle John's Dirty Secret
1971-1974. He's been a member
of the Alumni Corps since January,
2006. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Rick Robida
Contra
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Rick has been a member of
the Optimists Alumni since its
inception. He was a member
of the Toronto Optimists and
last marched in Junior Competition
in 1963. Rick started
with the Grantham Township Police
Boys Band when they were formed
in the mid 1950s. He also
marched with the Merritton Grenadiers,
the Merritton Buccaneers and
the Guelph Royalaires.
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List
of Names,
Top
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Rod Patterson
Snare
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Rod played snare with the
Scarborough Firefighters and
the Seneca Princemen. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Ron Smith
Guard
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Ron Smith was discovered by
Warren Berger in the wilds of
Omemee. While Ron has no previous
experience with either Drum
Corps or bands, Warren's tales
filled him with enthusiasm.
Ron is now carrying a flag in
the guard. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Toby Frechette
Baritone
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Toby played Soprano/Baritone
with Optimist Lancers from 1969-1971,
Baritone with Toronto Optimists
from 1971-1975 and baritone
with Seneca Optimists from1976-1977.
He joined the Optimists Alumni
in 2005 and played Soprano in
2005 & 2006. In 2007 he played
Baritone then joined the Colour
Guard. This year he's back playing
baritone. |
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List
of Names,
Top
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Warren
Berger
Soprano
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Verral L.O.L. Trumpet Band
1950 - 1952; Western Tech 1954
- 56; Optimist 1958-61; Jesters
1962; Commanders 1963-69. Alumni
corps since its inception. Always
played lead soprano. |
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List of Names,
Top
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William
Porquet
Soprano
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William began
his drum corps career in Junior
High School as the youngest
(and still shortest) horn player
with the Sydney Firefighters
Marching Band in Nova Scotia.
In the summers between university
semesters he marched with the
Fortress of Louisbourg Drum
& Fife Corps from 1993-1997,
playing and teaching fife, and
occasionally filling in as duty
drummer. While working at Fortress
Louisbourg, he trained with
John C. Moon (Drummer to the
Royal Household, former Drum
Major of the Scots Guards, Drum
Major at Colonial Williamsburg,
and incidentally uncle and rudiments
teacher to Keith Moon, drummer
for The Who). |
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