By Waldo Redekop – Ontario District Historian
On page 2 of the 1966 District Directory is an In Memoriam of our past president, Harry Holle (1931-1965), who passed away in June of 1965. The Ontario District established a Barbershopper of the Year award. It was named the Harry B. Holle Memorial Trophy. The first winner of the Harry B. Holle Memorial Trophy, given to the Barbershopper of the Year for the year 1965, was George Shields. A very good picture of George was on page 18 of the 1966 directory and outlined some of the reasons that George was chosen. George was a past Ontario District President, a past International Board Member, the chorus director of the East York Barbershoppers and the Lead in the Canadian Chordsmen.
The Ontario District president was John (Johnny) Cairns and the immediate past president was S. B. (Sid) Pyper who had four sons. Two were District Quartet Champions in 1949, John (lead) and Norm (bari), with the Deltones. In 1966, Don Pyper, now deceased (2011), was the Ontario Director of Musical Activities, and the Director of the Mount Hamilton Chorus, and later became President of Ontario District, the only father and son legacy to serve as President. Youngest brother Bob Pyper, deceased in 2013, was a music teacher and Director of Choruses in North Bay and Grimsby, and a member of Toronto Northern Lights.
The district secretary was Dave Cairns. The district treasurer still was Jack Haughie for the fourth year. Sam S. Gray was the executive vice president and Elmer Down was the second vice president in charge of membership.
The Divisional Vice Presidents were as follows.
Western Division – Wm (Bill) Adams.
Central Division – David Litwiller.
Metro Division – John Parkinson.
Northern Division – Murray Jelley.
Eastern Division – G. R. (Dick) Keirstead.
There were a few pages listing many different committees that the district had. I found it interesting to see that there was a History & Archives Committee that had five members. Their addresses and telephone numbers were listed to allow people to contact them. Unfortunately, as far as I can determine as the current district historian, nothing seems to have been saved by the district.
With edits and additions by John Minns