Trafalgar Castle School - Yearbook (Whitby, Ontario Canada)

Page 26 text:

Distinctively Canadian What is a Canadian? What qualities does he possess which set him apart from a Scot or a Pole or a Spaniard? My quest to determine the answer led me back two and one-half centuries in time. I stood unseen on the shore of the mighty St. Lawrence as Champlain claimed our land for France, and watched as, despite trials, failures and dis- couragements, the little French settlements continued to cling stubbornly to the rocky shore and grow like a lichen as it spreads over giant boulders. Surely here was something admirable. This tenacity of purpose and dogged courage — surely this was Canadian, for no other nation has had to contend with such extremes of climate; bitterly cold winters, smothering the land in a blanket of snow, and summers when the sun blazes down, robbing the land of its vitality. No other land began in a tiny clearing on the edge of so many miles and miles of standing timber. No other people had to fight rapids and prairies and mountains. Here, in New France, I had found a clue to the Cana- dian character and so, my purpose here fulfilled, I moved on. I was in Ontario when the Loyalists came; those hundreds arriving on our shores, homeless, destitute, forlorn. Although friendless and poverty-stricken, they bore proudly that characteristic from whence their name was derived; loyalty. Their loyalty endured torture and imprisonment rather than deny their allegiance to the British throne. Yes, this was certainly a Canadian trait. Had Canadians not always refused to unite with the wealthy American nation, preferring to keep their freedom under a democratic monarchy? I heard gun shots on the warm night air in 1862 and saw a black man scrambling over rocks, to fall exhausted on the little beach that marked the beginning of Canada and freedom. I saw his pursuers, helpless, deprived of their captive, forced to return to the south empty-handed, seething with rage. But look! From behind bushes and trees, see how Canadians race to carry the fugitive to shelter without a thought that this man is ot a different race. Why should one colour of skin be better than another? Such a thing is not im- portant to the friendly, freedom-loving Canucks. Nothing could be more typical of them than their lack of prejudice. And so I moved on a few years further to 1867: Confederation. I watched the parade of the passing years unfold as province after province joined Con- federation, until Canada stretched from sea to sea . This nation, a perfect blending of French and English, Protestant and Roman Catholic, farmer and factory labourer, exemplifies the best traits of the home-loving Canadian toler- ance, adaptability and sympathy for all oppressed. Thus I had completed my journey in time and had learned what distin- guished a Canadian from his fellow men: courage, determination, loyalty, love of freedom for all, lack of prejudice, congeniality. But could I find one person or group of people representative of this ideal? This was not easy to decide as Canada is a blend of many races and cul- tures. But in my search I halted beside a solitarV figure silhouetted against a blood-red sky: the Canadian Infantryman or soldier. Like Canada, the mem- bers of the Royal Canadian Army are of many races, creeds and backgrounds. Page 24

Page 25 text:

The Choir Opening Organ Recital On Monday evening, November 4th, we had the pleasure ot hearing the well-known organist, David Ouchterlony, give a recital on the recently in- stalled Casavant organ in Grace Chapel. On the same programme, we thrilled to the voices of our friends in the Chapel Choir under the direction of Dr. Stanley Osborne. Along with compositions by Willan, Vaughan Williams and Davies, the choir sang Dr. Osborne ' s own composition, Eternal God. Among the compositions that we heard from Mr. Ouchterlony were a chor- ale prelude on Walden by Dr. Osborne and his own Trumpet Tune . Mr. Ochterlony ' s true artistry was keenly felt by each member of the audience but his genius revealed itself at the conclusion of the evening. At the end of the programme sheet, as though it had been put there as an unimportant after-thought, the words Improvisation on selected themes were printed. It became an appropriate climax to the recital. Dr. Osborne presented our guest with a sealed envelope, seen previously only by himself, containing two original themes. Mr. Ouchterlony returned to the organ without a moment ' s hesitation and gave his listeners a taste of humour, delicacy, pensiveness, majesty, vitality, tender feeling, and, in sum- mation, infinite musical beauty. The programme was tremendously well received and we all agreed that the Chapel Choir was a worthy complement to this rare musician. Department of Music Page 23

Page 27 text:

And white and negro, Anglican and Greek Catholic, fight side by side. Their intense loyalty and courage is shown significantly by the fact that Can- ada did not hesitate to enter with Britain in a war to safeguard democracy. Could we not have remained aloof and refused to aid the tiny island in her defiance of totalitarian Germany? Possibly, but it would be unlike Canadians as a people to neglect responsibility. Europe still remembers the valiant action of these soldiers. Whenever there was a dirty job to be done or an impossible victory to achieve, they sent in Canadians, knowing we would not rest until the job was finished. Is that not why so many of Canada ' s sons have resting- places in foreign lands? Were not Canadians loved all over Europe for their amiability and good nature? Surely then, this common soldier is worthy to bear, as his emblem, the Canadian maple leaf. Surely he is distinctively Canadian. The kinds of borrowers and lenders are innumerable: the sly borrowers, frank borrowers, meek borrowers and haughty borrowers are counteracted by the unsuspecting lenders, peeved lenders, condescending lenders and eager lenders. For the meeting place of all these species, the boarding school for girls is an ideal spot. An everyday event in a certain school is to see a pert blonde girl bounce into the room of a shy brunette, famous for her collection of sweaters. They are scarcely on speaking terms and eyebrows rise when the vivacious Shirley is seen chatting with the sedate Sharon. Their conversation can easily be imagined. Hi! My, what a darling room! Where did you get all those pennants? Hi, Shirley! Gee, thanks — ■ my Dad brought them. How would you like to go downtown with the gang to-day? We should just love to have you. Could 1 really? I ' d love to come! By the way, while I think of it, 1 need a beige turtleneck sweater for to-night! You wouldn ' t happen to have one, would you? Moments later the sly Shirley emerges victorious from the room of the un- suspecting Sharon. Mary is known for being frank and is not always liked for it. When she enters Martha ' s room and declares: I just came in to borrow your red dress for the show to-night. I knew you wouldn ' t mind! It is no wonder that Martha can be seen turning tO ' her room- mate afterwards and saying: Who does she think she is? Borrowing can be banned, shunned, looked down upon and shrieked about, but it will always exist as an institution until human nature stops be- lieving that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence . Patricia Earle, Grade XIII. Borrowing Ann Wellington, Grade XII. Page 25