The Bedellus

As part of the Oakville’s 150th Anniversary celebrations, the Town of Oakville is seeking registrations from individuals interested in being the next Town Crier. All residents 18 years of age and older are invited to compete for the title, which the successful competitor will hold for four years.

As part of the selection process, registrants will be asked to attend a competition at the Oakville Waterfront Festival (Coronation Park) at noon on Saturday June 23, 2007. Prior to the event, each participant will be provided with a proclamation to be performed at the competition. Participants are urged to put their own creative energies and twists into their performance. Visitors to the festival will be invited to cheer on their favorite competitors and will witness the selection of a new Town Crier.

When selected, Oakville’s Town Crier will be expected to attend events as requested, write and develop original Town proclamations for special events as well as outside agency requests. These skills will be fully developed through association with the Ontario Guild of Town Criers. Popular performances of the Town Crier include events such as the Oakville Santa Claus Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremonies, Canada Day Celebrations and the Waterfront Festival.

Interested individuals are asked to register online for the competition via the Town Crier Web Page or by visiting the Clerks’ Office at Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road.

For more information:
Vicki Tytaneck, Assistant Clerk
Clerk’s Department
905-815-2003
vtytaneck@oakville.ca

Mary Jo Milhomens, Supervisor of Marketing
Corporate Communications
905-338-4244
mmilhomens@oakville.ca

Doug Turvey, the Town Crier for the Township of Zorra and the Town of Ingersoll had the opportunity to do a cry for the Royal Highland Fusiliers in the City of Cambridge on April 28, 2007.

HRH Prince Andrew was on hand for the ceremony as their Commander in Chief. The ceremony was a traditional one which allowed the Fusiliers permission to enter the city.

HRH can be seen just over the top of the scroll as Doug performs his cry. Doug is the Past-President of the Ontario Guild of Town Criers.

Port Colborne Town Crier, Derek R. Miller is inviting all Criers far and wide to join in the second Criers Meet and Greet as part of the 2007 Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival on August 5th.

This Meet and Greet is a chance to sing the praises of your hometown, have some fun and attend a world class event in all your Town Crier finery. Each crier is to come prepared with two cries (a hometown cry and an open cry – both non-judged) and attend in two small parades (one through Lock 8 Park – the first venue, the second from the Museum downtown about four blocks to City Hall) where the Criers will have a dinner and reception with Port Colborne’s Mayor Vance Badawey and best of all have a lot of fun.

The schedule for Sunday, August 5, 2007 looks like:

• Arrive at Lock 8 Park – 1pm
• Meet and greet then Parade to stage 1:50pm
• 1st Cry at Lock 8 Stage – 2pm
• Parade with Red Hats – 2:30pm
• En route to Museum – 2:45pm
• 2nd Cry at Lifeboat Stage at Museum – 3:15pm
• Free Time at Museum – 3:45 – 4:15
• Parade to City Hall – 4:15pm
• Meet and Greet with Mayor Badawey – 4:30pm
• Dinner – 5pm

The day ends at 6pm and Criers are free to enjoy main festival and fireworks over the canal at 10pm.

There is food, entertainment and transportation to and from Lock 8 and lots to do downtown.

Derek can be reached at: towncrier@city.portcolborne.on.ca to provide more information for any Crier interested in attending.

It may not be all that exciting for some members of the Guild, but the current constitution is in need of a serious revisiting. As the Guild grows so its constitution requires growth and change to meet challenges unforeseen by the old models.

A copy of the new document has been posted here for members to see and discuss prior to the Annual General Meeting being held in Petrolia. At that time a simple motion to replace the entire constitution to take effect at the end of the meeting will be put forward.

To view the constitution in its amended form click here.

Members are encouraged to ask questions and direct their comments to Brent McLaren who is collating and coordinating the revisions.

If a member wishes to see the last working document, which has most of the changes highlighted and deletions in cross-out type, send Brent an e-mail and he will forward that document to you or click here.

All of the files are in Adobe Acrobat format.