QUARRIERS
CANADIAN FAMILY
NEWSLETTER
  



January 1997                                                                                                                                                     Page 1 of 4
Kingston reunion a fabulous success
More than 300 attend Saturday afternoon meetings 

"This is a wonderful event for all of us who came
over from Quarriers. We must this going"

                                                   ...Hugh Blair
Bridge of Weir
trip suggested

During the Sunday morning session in Kingston a group trip to Scotland was suggested as a fhtiire goal. If you would like to join a group tour please send the enclosed form to Compass Rose travel.

Time to form a
new association?

In the Sunday morning session at the '96 Reunion, talk centred on establishing an association to keep the Quarrier spirit alive in Canada. Freddie Fifer, chair of the UK-based association of Quarriers children suggested that his group would provide any possible assistance. The group

The Kingston gathering held on the weekend of October 26, 1996 was an unqualified success and a joyful time for all. More than 260 paying guests attended the 2-day event. Saturday afternoon sessions swelled to 300 plus with many short-term visitors tracing their roots. Gerald Lee, General Director of Quarriers welcomed guests. Mr. Lee provided an update on Quarriers recent activities and commented on how the homes had lost touch with Canada following the 2nd World War. "This should never have happened. I assure you that we will not let this happen again", he emphasized. Beth Bruder, the gathering chairperson added her welcome and urged everyone to full participation and "sharing of our common heritage." "We must remove the stigma that so many children felt in coming to Canada as home children and we must move to emphasize the positive contribution the children made to Canada."

Bill Dunbar, honorary archivist at Quarriers and a retired house "uncle", provided a full history of The Orphan Homes of Scotland. His 

     (Continued on page 2)
Suggested dates: Mid-late August or Septemher I8, 1997 to coincide with the Thanksgiving at Bridge of Weir

Here's a suggested program from Tony Williams of Quaniers:

Weekend of 20-21 September 1997, as this could be Quarriers annual Thanksgiving day (the Saturday). We have a service in Mount Zion Church and the Former Boys and Girls Association holds a dinner dance in the evening at a local hotel.

We could not accommodate such numbers in the Village. The Forte Posthoase hotel some 5 miles away at Erskine right on the edge of the River Clyde can cope and can offer half board (dinner, bed and breakfast) for £32 per person sharring 

            (Continued on page 4)
operates entirely separately from Quarriers Homes. Their events are priced to cover costs and additional funds are raised for a benevolent fund.

A Canadian group could embrace the same ideas. However, it is suggested that the group might also play a role in assisting the further development of Quarriers. (see "What do you say..." p.3 and the insert form)

Saturday Night Surprise!
Kingston mayor, Gary Bennett got more than stuffed chicken at the Saturday dinner. Musing with Tony Williams and Gerald Lee, Mayor Bennet suggested that little 

            (Continued on page 3)


VOLUME 1, NUMBER 1                                                        JANUARY 31,1997
News Coverage                                                                           1
Message from Scotland                                                                   2