Cànan agus Òran
Gaelic Language and Song Workshop
2018 Season
 
The Gaelic Society of Toronto and the University of Toronto Celtic Studies Program will be holding a day of Gaelic language and song for learners of Scottish Gaelic on 01 December 2018.
 
The guest teachers for this date are as follows:

• Chrissie Drake, a native speaker from Lewis and Harris, Scotland
• David Livingstone-Lowe, a staff member in the Celtic Studies Program.  David is also a passionate organic gardener and so will do the intermediate class – “ag obair anns a’ gharadh” – working in the garden!
• Cathy Ann MacPhee, the renowned Gaelic singer from Barra, Scotland

 
The Cànan agus Òran day will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Alumni Hall, 121 St. Joseph Street (Saint Michael’s College, University of Toronto), Toronto, Ontario.  The day will include of language classes and a song workshop.  Classes will be offered at the Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels.  Should there be enough interest, a Beginner II (between beginner and intermediate) session will also be offered. 

Early Bird Registration – Registrations (including cheque or money order) received two weeks in advance (November 17, 2018 ) pay $27, non-U of T students $15.

Registration Forms are available at:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfFPgWNBld2etf_IBmmlmRl5IpUysa29qD9vOtrqDSd8QOJqQ/viewform?embedded=true

Please plan to join us afterwards for a social/ceilidh at a location to be determined.

​​NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the 2018 Annual Meeting of the The Gaelic Society of Toronto will be held at the Estonian House,  958 Broadview Avenue, East York, Toronto, on Saturday, 27 October 2018 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon (Eastern Daylight Time) for the following purposes:
 
1. To receive and consider a review of the last year together with the Auditor’s report;
2. To appoint Auditor’s for the ensuing year;
3. To elect Directors to hold office until the 2019 Annual Meeting; and
4. To receive and consider any recommendations that may come from the floor or the Directors. 

There will be refreshments, entertainment and a kiddie’s corner.  Bring your children/grandchildren to all The Gaelic Society of Toronto events. They will go into their own cozy corner and learn some Gaelic while you relax and socialize. Children 10 and under are always free. Parking is available and it is 10 minutes from the Broadview Subway Station.
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We look forward to seeing at the Annual General Meeting!

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The Gaelic Society of Toronto is delighted to have this well-known Gaelic teacher/singer/actor offer workshops at the Estonian Centre, 958 Broadview Avenue, Toronto on the afternoon of Wednesday, 08 August 2018 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Not only is Gillebride MacMillan a native Gaelic speaker, born and brought up in the Island of South Uist, but he is also a Professor of Gaelic at Glasgow University. In the popular “OUTLANDER” television series, from the books of renowned author Diana Gabaldon, Gillebride portrays the character of Gwyllyn the Bard. He is a renowned Gaelic singer and composer and will perform in a one-man concert at the same venue on the evening of 08 August at 7:30 p.m. Reservations for either or both can be made on The Gaelic Society of Toronto website www.gaelicsocietytoronto.com and payment can be made by PayPal. Telephone inquiries to Moira Billard at 905-252-2755 or e-mail: moirabillard@gmail.com

Workshop Fee:    Adults  - $25
                                      Students - $15
                                                       
Concert Ticket:   Adults  - $30
                                      Students - $20

Tickets for Both:  Adults  - $45
                                       Students - $30
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Come and join us at our Spring Fling

 

Come for tea and goodies and a story or two, or even three.  Perchance some music to celebrate the end of winter, at long last !!! 

Wear your fanciest head gear. Bring you best friend, your sister, your aunt, your mum, your cousin.  Gentlemen welcome as well. 

 

On Saturday, May 26, 2018

 At the Estonian House,  958 Broadview Avenue, East York, Toronto

Parking available, ten minutes from the Broadview subway station 

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Admission  $15
Students and children under 12 are free

ATTENTION EVERYONE 

 The advance registration price for Canan agus Oran goes to April 21 2018.
After that it will be full price. 
Take advantage of the savings now !

The Gaelic Society of Toronto and the University of Toronto Celtic Studies Program will be holding a day of Gaelic language and song for learners of Scottish Gaelic on Saturday May 5th 2018.

The guest teachers for this date are as follows:

• Nathaniel Harrington, a graduate of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic College on the Isle of Skye
• Mairi Britton, a faculty member of the Celtic Studies Department at Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia

The Canan agus Òran day will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Alumni Hall, 121 St. Joseph Street (Saint Michael’s College, University of Toronto), Toronto Ontario. The day will comprise of language classes and a song workshop.

Classes will be offered at the Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. Should there be enough interest, a Beginner II (between beginner and intermediate) session will also be offered.

Please plan to join us afterwards for a social/ceilidh, location TBD.

FEES
General: $40 – earlybird fee of $27 by April 21 2018
Non-U of T students: $20 – earlybird fee of $15 by April 21 2018
U of T students and native Gaelic speakers: FREE
If you're a U of T student attending for free, please fill out the registration form so we can accommodate you properly!


How to register:

 1. Print off form here and mail completed form with cheque
 2. Fill out online registration form here and pay via credit card or PayPal

For more information: Contact Lorrie at (905) 844-4908 or email gaelictoronto@gmail.com
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* Please note:  Small processing fee has been added for online payments

We held our winter gathering of food, fun and friends on Saturday, 03 February 2018.

More than 40 people and children showed up for the festivities. We had a new venue this year, Estonia House, on Broadview Avenue, in Toronto. It has onsite parking, which is a real blessing when you are bringing in supplies and walking through snowy weather. The building is narrow on the street side, so it took a few tries for some people to find it, as they drove right by. Once in though, everyone found it to be a spacious and welcoming place and the staff were helpful and enthusiastic about having a new group using their facility.

The afternoon began with piper Kayleigh Johnstone, followed by Gaelic songs from Filina MacLean, Zachary Wallace, Matthew Chisholm and Nathaniel Harrington.

A buffet lunch was enjoyed by all and people were able to socialize with friends while they shared the food and the lovely desserts.
A raffle was going on throughout the afternoon, where people purchased tickets and put them in the paper bag accompanying the article they wanted.

Then, the big entertainment of the afternoon began with highland dancers, including three little boys kitted out in kilts and bonnets. They were from the Sheryl Joyner School of Highland Dance and, from what I could see, everyone loved them. The 14 dancers worked hard to please us, and having a stage for them to perform on in the room made all the difference, as everyone had a good view.

Then came the moment of truth for the raffle winners, who walked away from the display tables with their winnings in their arms, obviously happy with the results.

The afternoon was winding down. Donnie MacLean played several accordion numbers. A group of us played games which the games committee had organized. A favourite was the caber toss, with pool noodles. As the ceiling in the auditorium is high, folks were able to give their caber a good go.

Thank you so much to all the helping hands. It was a team event, and your contributions are much appreciated.
​
I know that a number of people had to cancel their attendance due to illness, especially this nasty flu. We missed you, and hope you are on the mend.

It was a successful event, and I look forward to next year.


Moira Billard
Events Coordinator.

​            
 
Everyone arrived on time for this year’s thoroughly enjoyable Young Piper’s Championship, despite the snowy weather.  All of the pipers were excited to get started and proceeded to impress us with the high quality of their playing. 

Ian K. MacDonald, our esteemed judge for the event, told all six entrants that they had done a good job. 

The audience certainly enjoyed them and an added bonus was that we had a couple come to hear the event who were not part of the family or friends’ group, but who had read about the event on the website and thought it sounded interesting.

Appreciation is extended to Calvin Gordon who stepped up and assisted us as Steward for the day.

This was a nice reminder that everyone is welcome to attend all events and if you don’t know many people when you arrive, you will by the time you leave!

The results of the competition are as follows: ​

The winner of The Gaelic Society of Toronto Grade 3/4
Scott MacAulay Memorial Trophy and first place in his division: 
Caleb Macpherson, Oshawa 
 
The winner of The Gaelic Society of Toronto Grade 1/2
Captain Iain Macdonald Memorial Trophy 
1st place   -   Colin Johnstone, Aurora 
2nd place  -  Kayleigh Johnstone, Aurora
3rd place   -  Liam MacDonald, Wellesley 
4th place   -  Michael Malish, Oshawa
5th place   -  Rachel Gordon, Toronto 
 
On behalf of the Toronto Gaelic Society, Congratulations everyone on a job well done. We look forward to seeing you all again next year.
 
Moira Billard 
Events Coordinator