Dauphin Ukranian Festival Parade, July 30, 2011, Saturday morning

It was an excellent morning for a parade -very much worth waking up early and driving four (4) hours from Winnipeg to Dauphin. Perfect weather, great crowd, wonderful participants and warm fellowship.

Here are some pictures before proceeding to the form-up area.

 What a beautiful float put up by the Dauphin Shrine Club.






Here are pictures of the other parade participants.

Thanks to WB Randy Ashcroft for driving me in his lovely wife's beautiful and sleek vehicle - a red, convertible Solstice. The car was a head-turner.








RWB Al Hadley, DGM in the Mason's Care van, with VWB Bert Manalang, Grand Sword Bearer.








Here come the Khartum Shriners! Riding the convertible is Illustrious Sir Gary Saunders, Potentate.







Noble/RWB Joel Segal, Outer Guard of Khartum, in the Shrine Stop Burn Injuries (SBI) van.







The Dauphin Shrine Club put up a beautiful colored float.










The Brandon Shrine Club Car Patrol wowed the crowd with their cute little cars.

Following are pictures taken during the oasis after the parade. Thanks to Noble Darren Carlson and the Dauphin Shrine Club Nobles & Ladies for a wonderful fellowship and all the courtesies extended to the Grand Lodge Officers (DGM RWB Al Hadley and Grand Standard Bearer VWB Bert Manalang) and Lady Carol, who went to Dauphin for the parade.

 

 
It was a great start to the August long weekend.
Thanks to Lady Carol Hadley for taking the pictures with my rundown camera and to VWB Bert Manalang for being my travelling companion to Dauphin and back.

Filipino-Canadian Cabletow Service Club Dinner & Fellowship - July 23, Saturday

The Filipino-Canadian Cabletow Service Club Inc held a fellowship dinner in my honor at the residence of the Club President, Bro William Tam, and Sis Irma Tan. This is Bro William's third term as President so he already knows the what, when, where, how and why of the Club. Here  is a picture of the lovely Presidential couple sometime during the event.

The organizing committee for the dinner was very ably chaired by WB Nat de Guia, shown in this picture.









Like a typical Filipino-Canadian gathering, there was a lot of food - sumptuous and tasty. Nobody was dieting that evening.

I gave a few words as a response to the gracious Toast to me.









I was humbled to be made an Honorary Member of the Club. The President also gave me my Club pin.

Sis Mae gave the response to the Toast to the Ladies.











Karaoke time - with live guitar accompaniment.












MWB Terrry Shand, PGM and a Cabletow Honorary Member, signing the poster. The newly-Installed DGM, RWB Don Campbell, patiently waits for his turn.











Group picture of the Brethren.

Group picture of the couples and some.

Here is a picture of the event chairman, WB Nat de Guia, thanking the committee members and the Cabletow members for helping make the evening a very successful one.














More singing - this time it is from a visiting Kuyang.

We do love to sing, specially with the good oldies.

It was cozy under the canopy.














The other canopy had beautiful lights.







 

















My lovely wife, Sis Mae, with Kuyang Dansoy, newly designated DDGML (Dikit nang Dikit sa Grand Master's Lady).

Thank you very much, Officers & Brethren of The Filipino-Canadian Cabletow Service Club Inc, for all the courtesies extended to Sis Mae and me. You have made our visit to Toronto (Sis Mae's first) very memorable. We look forward to visiting you again in the near future.

With relatives and friends in Toronto - July 2011

We had a chance to be with some of our Toronto relatives and friends after the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario.

In this picture with Mae are my cousin, Donna, her son, William III (or "Tres" or "Thirday") and my cousin-in-law, Jun (William Jr).

Dinner hosted by my uncle, Dr Solon, and aunt, Dra Jo, at their Missisauga home, with my grad schoolmate and friend, Art, with his wife, Edith, who live in Barrie.

Here, we have a picture with my uncle, aunt and their two very beautiful "Princesses", my cousin, her husband and their son, and Joann, the excellent cook of my uncle and aunt.

Another picture of the Marilyn Monroe building in Missisauga.

Lunch at the 360 Restaurant with my uncle.

Mae and my uncle trying to hold on to the rope? Or was it to the wall?

The Winnipeg Bombers won against the Toronto Argonauts at the Rogers Centre that evening.

Touring the Niagara Falls & CN Tower

Daytime view of the dome

Here are some of the pictures taken when we toured the Niagara Falls. We stayed at the Niagara Fallsview Resort, where the following pictures were taken.

Nighttime view of the dome

 Here is a picture inside the resort. It was like Las Vegas. They even had a wedding chapel. I invited Mae to renew our vows but she just wanted to go shopping.














Aboard the "Maid of the Mist 7" to see the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls up close.

 Big time behind us.

Ice wine tasting.

Another church where we could have renewed our marital vows. Unfortunately, the priest was not available.

Having lunch with at the 360 Restaurant in the CN Tower.