victorskid
05-17-2004, 05:30 PM
What a weekend!
In Ottawa, this past weekend was the second of three weekends in our annual Tulip Festival. More importantly for some, it was also the weekend to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Minto Skating Club with our honoured guest, Barbara Ann Scott.
Here's a quick rundown on just some of the activities:
* on Friday morning Barbara Ann officially opened the weekend's events at the Tulip Festival and took a "walkabout" in Major's Hill Park to the delight of those enjoying the warm, sunny weather. She is still an icon!
* early Friday afternoon a proclamation was read at City Hall declaring 14 May 2004 as "Barbara Ann Scott Day" in Ottawa - this was followed by a small reception for Barbara Ann, her husband Tom King, and invited guests. [The wording of the official proclamation can be found at www.mintoskatingclub.com ]
* on Friday evening almost 800 people enjoyed a special edition of the Minto Follies performed at the Minto Skating Club. In the group numbers everyone got into the act from the tiny CanSkaters to the adult skaters. Guest performers (who all have Minto connections) were Ashton Tessier; Angela Derochie; Shawn Sawyer; Siobhan Karam & Joshua McGrath; Brian Orser; Don Jackson, Amanda (Mandy) Valentine; Fedor Andreev; and Chantal Lefebvre & Arseniy Markov. At the end of the show Barbara Ann invited Don Jackson & Brian Orser to join her at centre ice to help her cut the special anniversary cake. (There was enough for everyone to receive a wrapped piece as they left the building!) After the show VIP ticket holders (over 325 of them) enjoyed a reception and many "old time" Minto skaters were able to catch up with friends and former coaches. Lots of copies of the Minto history book (launched late last year) were being purchased, autographed, and commented upon.
* on Saturday morning Barbara Ann did another "walkabout" among the tulips, this time at Commissioner's Park near Dows Lake.
* on Saturday evening almost 300 people attended the "Skaters' Gala" at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel, the scene of banquets in Barbara Ann's honour in 1947 & 1948 following her Worlds & Olympic wins. Before dinner Barbara Ann & her husband announced their contribution of $100,000 to the "Barbara Ann Scott Minto Alumni" foundation which has been set up to help skaters get a higher education. A live luxury auction during dinner contributed more funds to the foundation. Music during dinner and for dancing was provided by the Stevens and Kennedy band - known to "Minto-ites" for providing live music for Minto Follies of the past.
* on Sunday morning Barbara Ann & Tom attended Christ Church (Anglican) Cathedral where they read the lessons. After the service they spent time chatting with parishioners before heading off to the airport for their return to their home in Florida.
I'm happy to report that the weather cooperated throughout the weekend and a good time was had by all!
Like children looking forward to Christmas for so long, those of us on the organizing committee are both happy and sad - happy it all came together so well but sad that it's over. Now it's time to catch up with our lives!
In Ottawa, this past weekend was the second of three weekends in our annual Tulip Festival. More importantly for some, it was also the weekend to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Minto Skating Club with our honoured guest, Barbara Ann Scott.
Here's a quick rundown on just some of the activities:
* on Friday morning Barbara Ann officially opened the weekend's events at the Tulip Festival and took a "walkabout" in Major's Hill Park to the delight of those enjoying the warm, sunny weather. She is still an icon!
* early Friday afternoon a proclamation was read at City Hall declaring 14 May 2004 as "Barbara Ann Scott Day" in Ottawa - this was followed by a small reception for Barbara Ann, her husband Tom King, and invited guests. [The wording of the official proclamation can be found at www.mintoskatingclub.com ]
* on Friday evening almost 800 people enjoyed a special edition of the Minto Follies performed at the Minto Skating Club. In the group numbers everyone got into the act from the tiny CanSkaters to the adult skaters. Guest performers (who all have Minto connections) were Ashton Tessier; Angela Derochie; Shawn Sawyer; Siobhan Karam & Joshua McGrath; Brian Orser; Don Jackson, Amanda (Mandy) Valentine; Fedor Andreev; and Chantal Lefebvre & Arseniy Markov. At the end of the show Barbara Ann invited Don Jackson & Brian Orser to join her at centre ice to help her cut the special anniversary cake. (There was enough for everyone to receive a wrapped piece as they left the building!) After the show VIP ticket holders (over 325 of them) enjoyed a reception and many "old time" Minto skaters were able to catch up with friends and former coaches. Lots of copies of the Minto history book (launched late last year) were being purchased, autographed, and commented upon.
* on Saturday morning Barbara Ann did another "walkabout" among the tulips, this time at Commissioner's Park near Dows Lake.
* on Saturday evening almost 300 people attended the "Skaters' Gala" at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel, the scene of banquets in Barbara Ann's honour in 1947 & 1948 following her Worlds & Olympic wins. Before dinner Barbara Ann & her husband announced their contribution of $100,000 to the "Barbara Ann Scott Minto Alumni" foundation which has been set up to help skaters get a higher education. A live luxury auction during dinner contributed more funds to the foundation. Music during dinner and for dancing was provided by the Stevens and Kennedy band - known to "Minto-ites" for providing live music for Minto Follies of the past.
* on Sunday morning Barbara Ann & Tom attended Christ Church (Anglican) Cathedral where they read the lessons. After the service they spent time chatting with parishioners before heading off to the airport for their return to their home in Florida.
I'm happy to report that the weather cooperated throughout the weekend and a good time was had by all!
Like children looking forward to Christmas for so long, those of us on the organizing committee are both happy and sad - happy it all came together so well but sad that it's over. Now it's time to catch up with our lives!