THE SHORT HISTORY OF THE CANADIAN BRANCH

The Canadian Branch history outlined below has been researched from various sources including Creag Dhubh, Minutes of Branch Annual General Meetings, the Bratach Uaine, the Green Banner, and other Canadian Branch newsletters from the past. It is hoped that the contents of this tab can be a source for those interested in Branch history. Suggestions for additional useful content are welcome.

In 1947, the late Col E.R. Rivers-Macpherson OBE, a retired British Military Officer, laid the groundwork for the Canadian Branch of the Clan Macpherson Association. The Association had been recently formed in Scotland with the mission to support the Clan Museum in Newtonmore.

In March 1948, with the Hon. Ewan Alexander Macpherson, the Chief Justice of Manitoba as Chairman, the first Branch Annual Meeting was held at the home of Col Rivers-Macpherson, who was elected the new Hon. Secretary.

For more information on the formative days of the Branch see the article "The Early Days" by Gordon Macpherson in the September 2011 issue of the Green Banner.

Since the establishment of the Canadian Branch, Annual Gatherings which include the Branch Annual General Meetings as part of the program, have been held at various locations including successful joint Gatherings with the US Branch every five years starting in 1980. The format of Canadian Gatherings has evolved over the years arriving at one similar to the Annual Gathering held in Badenoch. Please see the list of Gatherings since inception below.

Contributions and Achievements of the Branch over the Years:

BRANCH CHAIRMEN SINCE FOUNDING OF THE BRANCH:

Hon. Justice Ewan Alexander Macpherson QCWinnipeg MB19491952
Dr. Cluny Macpherson CMGSt John's NF19531956
Col. E. R. Rivers-Macpherson OBEOttawa ON19571958
Lloyd C MacPherson CDAurora ON19591965
Hume MacphersonStouffville ON19661967
Hon, Justice A. Alex CattanachOttawa ON19681970
J. Donald MacPhersonOakville ON19711978
R Gordon M. Macpherson CM, KStJBurlington ON19791983
Wallace C. MacPhersonHalifax NB19831987
Neil F. McPhersonOakville ON19871991
Stuart G. McPhersonBeamsville ON19911994
J. Oliver McPhersonMilton ON19941994
W. Ian McPhersonEtobicoke ON19941997
Andrew K. P. MacPhersonGrimsby ON19972000
Douglas MacPhersonOakville ON20002004
Robert ArchibaldPort Hope ON20042007
LCol. Mark F Macpherson CD, FSA Scot.Hemmingford QC20072010
John C GilliesCollingwood ON20102013
William Macpherson P.Eng.Mississauga ON20132016
Edward Smith CDBrantford ON20162020
Denise Lagundzin FSAScotWalkerton ON2020 


PAST HONORARY CHAIRMEN OF THE CANADIAN BRANCH:

Lloyd C MacphersonAurora ON -1988
J Donald Macpherson   
R Gordon M Macpherson CM, KStJ, FRHSC, FRSA, FSAScotBurlington ON 2010-2023


BRANCH GATHERINGS THROUGH THE YEARS

The following table lists all of the Canadian Branch Gatherings including Joint Gatherings with the US Branch which alternate between Canadian and US locations. In the early days the format was simply an Annual General Meeting with a social. Then a church service on Sunday was added. The Gatherings in Stouffville hosted by Hume Macpherson included some highland games and pipers. Then a ceilidh became “de rigeur”, with the Gathering format we enjoy today developing from these beginnings.

Gathering Year Location Convener Facility Used
0 1948 Ottawa ON Col. Rivers-Macpherson Residence
1 1949 Ottawa ON Col. Rivers-Macpherson Residence
2 1950 Ottawa ON Col. Rivers-Macpherson Residence
1951 NO GATHERING
3 1952 Ottawa ON Col. Rivers-Macpherson Residence
4 1953 Montreal QC Douglas G Macpherson United Services Club
5 1954 Montreal QC Douglas G Macpherson United Services Club
6 1955 Montreal QC Douglas G Macpherson United Services Club
7 1956 Toronto ON Rev Dr A Macpherson Riverdale Presbyterian Church
8 1957 Toronto ON Rev Dr A Macpherson Riverdale Presbyterian Church
9 1958 Toronto ON Rev Dr A Macpherson Riverdale Presbyterian Church
10 1959 Toronto ON Rev Dr A Macpherson Riverdale Presbyterian Church
11 1960 Stouffville ON Hume Macpherson Creag Dhu Farm
12 1961 Baddeck NS Lloyd C MacPherson Baddeck High School
13 1962 Stouffville ON Hume Macpherson Creag Dhu Farm
14 1963 Stouffville ON Hume Macpherson Creag Dhu Farm
15 1964 Toronto ON Lloyd C MacPherson Lord Simcoe Hotel
16 1965 Toronto ON Lloyd C MacPherson Lord Simcoe Hotel
17 1966 Niagara Falls ON Hume Macpherson Niagara Falls Club
18 1967 Toronto ON Hume Macpherson Lord Simcoe Hotel
19 1968 Toronto ON Justice Alex Cattanach Lord Simcoe Hotel
20 1969 Hamilton ON Justice Alex Cattanach Dundurn Castle
21 1970 Kettleby ON Justice Alex Cattanach York Pine United Church
22 1971 Toronto ON J. Donald MacPherson Lord Simcoe Hotel
23 1972 Toronto ON J. Donald MacPherson Lord Simcoe Hotel
24 1973 Toronto ON J. Donald MacPherson Lord Simcoe Hotel
25 1974 Hamilton ON J. Donald MacPherson Hamilton Club
26 1975 Toronto ON J. Donald MacPherson King Edward Hotel
27 1976 Hamilton ON J. Donald MacPherson Hamilton Club
28 1977 Toronto ON J. Donald MacPherson Chelsea Inn
29 1978 Antigonish NS J. Donald MacPherson St Francis Xavier University
30 1979 Hamilton ON R Gordon Macpherson Hamilton Club
31 1980 Niagara-on-the-Lake ON (Joint) R Gordon Macpherson Pillar and Post Inn
32 1981 Toronto ON R Gordon Macpherson Croft Scottish Restaurant
33 1982 Hamilton ON R Gordon Macpherson Hamilton Club
34 1983 Halifax NS Wallace C. MacPherson Citadel Inn
35 1984 Hamilton ON R Gordon Macpherson Hamilton Club
36 1985 Dearborn MI (Joint) Wallace C. MacPherson Dearborn Inn
37 1986 Toronto ON Neil McPherson Chelsea Inn
38 1987 Halifax NS Neil McPherson Citadel Hotel
39 1988 Toronto ON Neil McPherson Granite Club
40 1989 Hamilton ON Neil McPherson Hamilton Club
41 1990 Niagara-on-the-Lake ON (Joint) Neil McPherson Pillar and Post Inn
42 1991 Halifax NS Stuart G. MacPherson Prince George Hotel
43 1992 Georgetown ON Stuart G. MacPherson Georgetown Golf and Country
44 1993 Hamilton ON Stuart G. MacPherson Hamilton Club
45 1994 Kingston ON J. Oliver McPherson Confederation Place Hotel
46 1995 Plymouth MA (Joint) W. Ian McPherson Sheraton
47 1996 Hamilton ON W. Ian McPherson Hamilton Club
48 1997 Toronto ON W. Ian McPherson Boulevard Club
49 1998 Oakville ON Andrew MacPherson Holiday Inn
50 1999 Kitchener ON Andrew MacPherson Sheraton Hotel
51 2000 Ottawa ON (Joint) Douglas MacPherson Delta Hotel
52 2001 Trenton ON Douglas MacPherson Holiday Inn
53 2002 London ON Douglas MacPherson London Hilton Hotel
54 2003 London ON Douglas MacPherson London Hilton Hotel
55 2004 Toronto ON Douglas MacPherson Courtyard Marriott Hotel
56 2005 Albany NY (Joint) June Macpherson Crowne Plaza
57 2006 Toronto ON Bob Archibald Courtyard Marriott Hotel
58 2007 Collingwood ON John Gillies Blue Mountain Resort
59 2008 Collingwood ON John Gillies Blue Mountain Resort
60 2009 Quebec City QC June Macpherson Palace Royal Hotel
61 2010 Baddeck NS (Joint) John Gillies Inverary Resort
62 2011 Toronto ON Jacqueline Murdoch King Edward Hotel
63 2012 Kingston ON Bill Macpherson Radisson Hotel
64 2013 Waterloo ON Bill Macpherson Waterloo Inn
65 2014 Ottawa ON Jacqueline Murdoch Westin Hotel
66 2015 Itasca IL (Joint) Jacqueline Murdoch CDA
Donna Rucks USA
Eaglewood Resort
67 2016 Toronto ON Jacqueline Murdoch Delta Toronto East
68 2017 Brantford ON Ed Smith Best Western Hotel
69 2018 London ON Jan McCredie and Ewan Macpherson Best Western Lamplighter Hotel
70 2019 Guelph and Fergus ON Jan McCredie Hampton Inn (Guelph)
 2020 NO GATHERING - due to COVID-19 pandemic
 2021 NO GATHERING - due to COVID-19 pandemic
73 2022 Puslinch, ON Denise Lagundzin, Beverly MacPherson-Letford, Jan McCreadie Crieff Hills Retreat
74 2023 Cobourg, ON Janet McCredie, Beverly Letford McPherson, Ella Gillis, Ewan Macpherson, Denise LagundzinCobourg Highland Games
75 2024 Puslinch, ON Janet McCredie, Beverly Letford McPherson, Ella Gillis, Ewan Macpherson, Denise LagundzinCrieff Hills Retreat - Burns Dinner