Follow Your Northern Neighbour

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Staff callersː Kris Jensen, Barry Clasper, Chris Phillips, Bill Eyler, Don Moger, Deborah Carroll-Jones, Sandie Bryant, Vic Ceder

40th Annual IAGSDC convention

Dates: 05-08 Jul 2023

Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada

Host hotel/venues: The Westin Ottawa

Hosting club: Ottawa Date Squares

Convention committee title: Ottawa Square Dance Convention 2023, Inc

Convention committee members:

Logo design: Patrick Vandesompele

Calling staff:

Trail-in dance:

Special dancesː

  • Intro to square dancingː Brian Crawford
  • Contra danceː Bev Bernbaum with Peach Jam
  • Country Western danceː Alan Gaudet
  • Olde Tyme Canadian Barn Danceː Bill Hands

Sound staff: Blanche (Len Christiansen), John Liesch

Vendor list:

Ruby Slipper Fun Badge Tour stops and highlights:

  • Callers were Barry Clasper and Don Moger
  • Each bus had a "Dorothy" escort - see photo below
  • Stopsː
    • Aberdeen Pavilion, Lansdowne Park
    • RCMP Musical Ride Stables
    • Canadian Museum of History
    • National Arts Centre

Pre/Post convention events & tours:

  • Signature Event – dinner/dance at Lago Barr & Grill on the shores of Dow’s Lake, calling by Brian Crawford & Tim Crawford
  • Byward Market Walking Tour
  • Deifenbunker Tour
  • Gatineau Day Trip
  • Gay Village Walking Tour
  • Montebello Day Trip
  • Ottawa River Boat Tour
  • Parliament Hill Walking Tour
  • Women's Walking Tour

GCA Caller Schoolː

Notable Notes and Highlights:

  • Old Queen Bingo – held during Houston, We Have a Promenade: MISSION SIMULATION as a fundraiser to replace missed 50/50
  • Upgrade to Junior Suite raffle (2 prizes). Won by Will Hamp and Joanne Laplante
  • Quilt raffle. Won by Paul Brulotte
  • Afghan raffle (2 prizes). Won by Jonathan Domash and Randy Hensley
  • Embroidery raffle. Won by Linda Paleshnuik
  • All attendees received a cloth bag hand made by Nelly Van Veldhuizen
  • Orientation sessions hosted by Michael Helfgott to explain IAGSDC Conventions and IAGSDC styling to 111 first-time attendees
  • US & Canadian National Anthems performed by Ottawa Gay Men's Chorus. Unfortunately no Japanese dancers could attend so Japanese National Anthem was played from a recording
  • 80-100 dancers danced on Parliament Hill to Chris Phillips & Kris Jensen
  • over 150 dancers danced Progressive Squares to Vic Ceder
  • Performance by Drake Jensen at the Saturday morning Brunch
  • Introduction to calling session with Bill Eyler
  • Ruby Lounge & Toto's Tavern – evening bars with entertainment by Chip Prince (show tunes singalong), Claude & René, Ottawa Drag Queens Showcase
  • Fistful of Firsts, a documentary noting highlights in the evolution of gay square dancing, aired for the first time. It was researched and produced by Jim Babcock

Specialty Tips:

IAGSDC officers:

IAGSDC meeting notes:

Attendance: 695

  • 646 dancers
  • 49 non-dancers
  • 23 US first-time attendees
  • 88 Canadian & overseas first-time attendees

Honky Tonk Queen winner: Phil D Canyon

Golden Boot Award: presented to James Ozanich by Vic Ceder, Debbie Ceder, and Caitlyn Ceder

10 Year Medallions - Recipients: 19

20 Year Medallions - Recipients: 12

25 Year Medallions - Recipients: 14

30 Year Medallions - Recipients: 7

Newsletter: ‘The Dorothy Dossier’

Ephemera:

  • Convention banner

    Convention banner

  • Magnet

    Magnet

  • Convention "pin" (actually a magnet)

    Convention "pin" (actually a magnet)

  • Fun Badge Tour dangle

    Fun Badge Tour dangle

  • Signature Event dangle

    Signature Event dangle

  • Signature Event fan

    Signature Event fan

  • Cookie from the Fun Badge Tour snack

    Cookie from the Fun Badge Tour snack

  • For the FBT there was a Dorothy on each bus. Here with FBT callers Barry Clasper & Don Moger

    For the FBT there was a Dorothy on each bus. Here with FBT callers Barry Clasper & Don Moger

  • The afghan made by Pam Clasper that was raffled off

    The afghan made by Pam Clasper that was raffled off

  • The quilt made by Barb Mazerolle that was raffled off

    The quilt made by Barb Mazerolle that was raffled off

  • The embroidery designed and stitched by Mike Parr that was raffled off

    The embroidery designed and stitched by Mike Parr that was raffled off

External Links:

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