Scout House Heritage Band In Preston Canada Day Parade

The loud cheering and shouts of support for Preston Scout House Band by Canada Day 150 parade spectators were more than a match for a torrential downpour of heavy rain and fierce head winds that swept down the main street as the Band reached the halfway point of the big parade on July 1. Many waterlogged members remarked after the one-mile parade that the cheering was the loudest they had ever heard on Canada Day.

Despite the wretched conditions, most spectators held their spot on the curb and gave rousing cheers for about 100 current and former Scout House members in the special heritage band, including former drum majors Paul Bauer and Sonny Snyder, who led the Band in the1940s. Several participants wore the Band’s heritage uniform featuring tight black shorts and knee high socks. The Band finished the last block of the parade literally singing in the rain: the Band’s theme song set to the melody of Men of Harlech.

Following the parade, more than 250 Scout House members, family and friends attended a barbecue at the Speedsville Columbus Hall. Those purchasing barbecue tickets had been advised to bring lawn chairs for a pleasant afternoon of socializing in the sun, but everyone ended up inside for the barbecue food, potluck salads and desserts,; entertainment by the Silver Leaves Brass Ensemble; a heritage band jam session; formal presentation of the 2017 Wilf Blum Youth Music Scholarship award to Justin Schatz and drawing of the three winning tickets in the Scout House raffle.

Participation in the big parade celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary had been billed, tongue in cheek, as the Preston Scout House Band 2017 Summer Tour. Souvenir T shirts for the event feature a big red Scout House maple leaf logo on the front and the entire summer tour schedule on the back: a one-mile parade beginning at one end of downtown and ending at the other.

Preston Scout House Band, Inc. is a non-profit corporation with registered charity status able to issue tax receipts to donors, incorporated under the Corporations Act of the Province of Ontario on November 29, 1956.

The multi-unit organization offers individuals of any age the opportunity to “Arrange the soundtrack of your life” in marching arts activities starting as young as age 8 and continuing throughout life. These units are:

*Preston Scout House Cadets drum and bugle corps for young men and women up to age 22, Silver Award winners at the 2016 Drumline Ontario provincial championships.

*Preston Scout House Band, rebuilding in 2017 for resumption of full activity in 2018, is for those over age 18, performing across southern Ontario and beyond.

*Silver Leaves Brass Ensemble and percussion accompaniment, which performs at drum corps and community events throughout the year.

*Magic of Scout House competitive winter guard, established in the fall of 2014 and undefeated in its first three seasons of North East Color Guard Circuit contests.

*Heritage Drill Team, with members wearing tight black shorts, knee socks, short sleeved burgundy tunics, white gauntlets and Aussie hats as in the 1950s and ‘60s.

For more information about Preston Scout House Band Inc. activities, contact telephone (519) 653-3376, email prestonscouthouseband [dot] adm [at] sympatico [dot] ca or visit the website at: scouthouseband.com

Preston Scout House Band, featuring about 100 current and former members, performs the national anthem at the beginning of the Canada Day 150 parade on July 1 in Preston. (Photo by Jim Kennedy)