Cambridge grants support Scout House anniversary events

Grants from the city of Cambridge are supporting key events during 85th anniversary year celebrations by Preston Scout House Band Inc. The Cambridge Community Grants Program will provide $1,000 in 2023 to help defray annual operating costs. A grant of $2,000 from the Cambridge 50th Anniversary Fund will help pay for a major video production highlighting Scout House Band activities over eight decades.

The video production will be on view for visitors to enjoy during the free Community Open House at Preston Royal Canadian Legion Branch 126, 334 Westminster Drive North on Saturday, June 24 from 1 to 7 pm.

The Open House will include extensive displays of memorabilia, contest and travel highlights showing the history of the original Preston Scout House Band from 1938 to 1967, during the 1970s and ‘80s and alumni era activities beginning in 1993. The groups active during the alumni years include a Heritage Colour Guard and Drill Team, Preston Scout House Alumni Band, Silver Leaves Brass ensemble, Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and Magic of Scout House competitive winter guard.
The Open House will also offer a wide array of posters, pictures, programs, championship flags, opportunities for socializing, presentation of long service pins to current Scout House members, souvenir anniversary buttons and a wide selection of Scout House collectibles to take home. There will be a cash bar and outdoor barbecue.

Besides 2023 being its 85th anniversary, Scout House is also celebrating another community milestone: the 50th anniversary of the City of Cambridge. The city was formed when Galt, Preston, Hespeler, and the Village of Blair were amalgamated in January 1973. Everyone is encouraged to attend the Scout House Open House and other community anniversary events over the coming weeks.

The first special event of the Scout House anniversary year took place in early March at Preston Legion, with Scout House Band donating brass instruments to be used by youth in Jamaica. A week after the Open House, Silver Leaves Brass will participate in Preston’s annual Canada Day parade, one of several appearances in major festival parades throughout the summer and fall.

The internationally famous Preston Scout House Band began as an innovative new activity for members of the 1st Preston Scout Troop under the direction of local pharmacist and scoutmaster Wilf Blum. First rehearsals with instruments purchased through donations by local business leaders took place in the fall of 1938. By the mid-1950s, Scout House Band had grown to become one of the most successful and popular drum and bugle corps in North America.

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.

For more information about Preston Scout House Band Inc. activities, contact telephone (519) 653-3376, email PSHBAND [dot] INC [at] outlook [dot] com