100th Anniversary Celebration

Canadian Club, Morrisburg and District

Wednesday, Oct. 15th, @ 5:30pm - Dinner & Guest Speaker 

Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 48, Morrisburg

Information: Please reply to canadianclubmorrisburg@gmail.com

Ron Beaupre 613-543-3362

On Monday, Sept. 21st, 1925 a number of men, Morrisburg residents and business owners, gathered at the Department of Agriculture office, located on the south-west corner of Union and Main Streets, to discuss the "advisability of forming a Morrisburg Canadian Club".

         The Canadian Clubs web page offers the purpose of the organization is “To foster throughout Canada an interest in all matters of public concern in order to strengthen Canadian unity; to encourage the preservation and promotion of Canadian heritage and history; to increase the knowledge and understanding of Canadians for the peoples of other nations.”

        In a few short weeks, the Canadian Club of Morrisburg and District that was formed on that day so many years ago will see their current membership meeting a few blocks to the north and west as the crow flies. They will be celebrating the Canadian Club of Morrisburg and District's 100th Anniversary.   

         Gathering several times through every year of past 100 years, the group, unwittingly over that time, recorded an astounding history of who's who anecdotes in their meeting "Minutes" book. Through the Great Depression, war, the development, destruction and construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the destruction, moving and replacing their own community, the Canadian Club of Morrisburg and District has survived, and currently is seeking to expand their membership. 

        Three years after the original group of Directors had accepted the task of forming a Canadian Club the membership topped 350 persons who had a paid accreditation. And more than 95 years later the club could boast that every Canadian Prime Minister, save the Trudeau's, had attended a dinner and been the guest speaker of the Morrisburg and District Club.

        Those September 1925 initial gathering minutes recorded the appointment of a Secretary, "moved by Archdeacon Carson and seconded by Mr. J. H. Meikle, that Mr. George H. Challies be Secretary. Carried . . ."

        It was further decided in this meeting "to proceed with the organization of a Canadian Club; plan to hold five meetings for the season; and charge a membership fee of 50 cents and 50 cents for each meeting, a total of $3.00 per year payable in advance. Carried."

        Officers were nominated and named as Officers, including, President: Mr. W. Gormally; Vice-President: Dr. Davy; Secretary: Geo. H. Challies; Treasurer: A. E. Springstead; Directors: C. F. Fetterly, J. Gormley, C. Marsh, J.H. Meikle; Auditors, J. H. Meikle and M.J. Whitteker. 

        At the upcoming meeting of the current edition of the Morrisburg Canadian Club the list of Officers includes President: Anne Caza; 1st Vice: Leo Tessier; 2nd Vice: Miriam Wylie;  3rd Vice: Bob Weagant; Past Pres: Steve Caza; Treas: Doug Grenkie; Sec: Muriel Carruthers; Memberships: Ron Beaupre, 613-543-3362; Speakers: Jim Algire; and Directors: Cynthia Batchelor, Colleen Brock, Carol Goddard, Judy Tessier.

        Morrisburg's Canadian Club will present "an exceptional series of speakers through the coming Fall and Spring of 2026", according to a recent information pamphlet prepared by the group. The organization is intent on expanding their membership numbers.

September 17th @ 7:00pm: Diana Beresford-Kroeger - the author and presenter of a feature documentary, Call of the Forest.

October 15th @ 5:30pm, 100th Anniversary Celebration: Adam Shoalts - a professional adventurer and the author of five national bestselling books.

November 19th @ 7:00pm: Kristina McDermott & Cathy Ashby from the House of Lazarus - presenting "Building Community, Sharing Hope."

March 18th @ 7:00pm: Ryan Hreljac - a Canadian activist, who established the Ryan's Well Foundation to bring clean water to 1.5 million people in developing countries.

April 15th @ 7:00pm: Jeff Ridal - Executive Director of the River Institute, Cornwall will speak on the topic 'Communities for Rivers, Rivers for Communities'.

May 20th @ 7:00pm: Eliza Batchelor -  "One Child - The Hidden World of

Human Trafficking and how a better understanding can help prevent it".

        All six meetings through the season are scheduled for the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 48, at 10 Legion Steet in Morrisburg. And all six meetings are open to new members, visitors and guests at fees as recorded below.

        Seasonal Membership, which include six full course dinners and a speaking engagement (this year includes special 100th celebration) are offered at $225. per person. Visitors and guests are offered individual attendance at $50/per, with the exception of the October 2025 celebration event which has been set at $60/per.

        Corporate Memberships are available and include six meetings, 2 tickets for each, plus recognition in Canadian Club annual brochure, program and sponsor board, for a fee of $500.

Remittance: by e-transfer to: ccmd1925@gmail.com. Cheques to Canadian Club of Morrisburg can be mailed to P.O. BOX 3190, Morrisburg, KOC IX0.

Contact Information: Please reply to canadianclubmorrisburg@gmail.com or call Ron Beaupre 613-543-3362. 

Please feel free to visit: www.canadianclubmorrisburg.com

Note: As the meeting minute book explains, reasonably early in the existence of the newly formed Canadian Club, the need for larger quarters to hold meetings developed as the membership grew rapidly. The group was prepared to present 'dinner meetings' should such a venue be available.

        The Morrisburg Music Hall in the Merkley Block of Main Street, Morrisburg was almost immediately next door and was large enough to seat as many as 1200 individuals for a performance. Meetings were arranged and eventually a deal was struck with the owners of the Music Hall. Future meetings, 1928-29, were be held there, as shown in the accompanying photographs displaying the exterior of the building in the inset and the interior, 3rd-floor, Morrisburg Music Hall with the Canadian Club in attendance. The photos are the work of George Smith and are dated as captured between 1955 and 1957 (see vehicles in inset foreground).

        Through the 3rd-year of Canadian Club meetings the membership topped some 270-individual memberships with an average attendance of 190-persons. An additional 27-guests (non-members) attended the five meetings and 171 visitors paid admission to the balcony to hear the speaker of the day (no meal service). It is noted Wm. G. Hall was paid $5.00 (five meetings) to serve as the doorkeeper.

        A listing in the record of expenses offers the Lutheran, United, Anglican, Presbyterian and Catholic Churches were paid a total of $529.50 for catering the five meetings and serving some 1,085-meals! Three of the speakers presenting that year were paid a total of $30. It is noted in the record the visiting speakers did not pay for their meals.

        Sitting at the table, second table from right, counting the gentleman in the lower right corner of the photograph, the 5th individual to his left is longtime Williamsburg Township Mayor Johnny Whittaker and township clerk Casey Schell to his left.        

        Sitting at the head table, counting from the left including the half-face, is Morrisburg industrialist George Beavers. And the list of familiar faces is long. And that Weber piano on the stage, that instrument has found a home at Stone Crop Acres winery where, on occasion, talented individuals bring wonderful sound to life . . . 

      •  Additional information for this story has been gleaned from James Jordan's wonderful volume "Morrisburg, a history - c. 1784-1958' . . .