My Year In The Grand West

Located in the local Plympton-Wyoming Fairgounds, just a few miles from Sarnia, on this Saturday night my wife and I drove a few hours to experience the annual Pie Olympics - an event held annually for the past 23 years - during the Ladies Night of the district. The event also raised money for the local hospice, which is the District Charity and has been for the past 8 years. The evening was also attended by many Grand Lodge officers, including the Grand Master, as well as quite a few past GMs, such as MWBro Atkinson, MWBro Todd, MWBro Green and MWBro Dowling, and likely among the crowd several men aspiring to be GM one day.

On this fine night, February 20, it was time to visit Whitby again and on the occasion of the Official Visit of the DDGM of Ontario District, RWBro Grant Parnell, to David T. Campbell Lodge, who were initiating a new brother into the Craft. And these lads were well practised; and we were treated to some Masonic Education as well. After a banquet (catered by the brethren of Composite Lodge) that featured the biggest ham steak I've ever eaten, WBro. Yuri Dimagiba led the brethren through a perfect degree that certainly put a smile on the face of the candidate for the evening, and practically left him speechless at the conclusion. WBro John Dean and I had a great conversation after lodge concerning the history of Whitby in general and the history of the lodge specifically. The original lodge room for Masons in Whitby was located at the "four corners" downtown and was later sold to a bank, which then enabled the purchase of land on Cocchrane Street, ust north of Dundas (...