September 23rd, 2021
Normally I begin my September reports recounting what I did on my summer vacation and often there is an element related to the history of our community. I can honestly say, other than documenting some UIS archival material and interacting with noted author Alan Hustak, I have done little in that regard. What I did manage to do is safely meet with friends on occasion, visit the pool in the complex almost daily, and walk around the neighbourhood.
We have lost a number of people over the summer. We said goodbye to Catherine Polson, Frances Gillan, Raymond Savard, and our beloved Jane Skelton.
We first got to know Catherine in 2015 when she competed in the United Irish Societies’ annual Selection Evening. At the time I noticed what a good public speaker she was and that she had a pretty good shot at winning the competition. While she lost out to Carly Meredith, Cat got busy as a parade princess and so we saw her at every event, from the more intimate ones to the bigger ones. Quite often princesses and queens fade into the sunset, rarely to be seen again. Cat was an exception, and exceptional. She kept active within the UIS, attended events, volunteered her time for such important work as the Christmas Basket program, and joined our Polar Bear Plunge team benefitting Special Olympics Quebec. I was proud to have her as one of the directors at the St. Patrick’s Society,
Frances Gillan was a quiet and unassuming member of the UIS Entertainment Committee in its heyday. She always without fail gave her 100% in performing for the shut-ins and those who most benefitted from the committee’s volunteerism. In her latter years she retreated gracefully as she battled Alzheimer’s Disease. Though the organization never forgot Frances, the organization is forever grateful for the contributions she made to the United Irish Societies of Montreal and its mission. Sadly, she lost her battle prior to August 15th.
The United Irish Societies of Montreal selected City of Verdun Mayor Raymond Savard as Chief Reviewing Officer of the 1989 St. Patrick’s Parade. While quite often former dignitaries fade away after they are honoured, Mr. Savard continued to be a regular at our activities. He proudly wore his sash when attending the Parade or the Mass of Anticipation. During his son André’s time as Verdun Borough Councillor, Mr. Savard was known to attend the annual Verdun Mayor’s reception as his guest. During his time in office he saw the wisdom in protecting Verdun’s valuable shoreline from real estate developers. All Verdunites and visitors now have a wonderful waterfront to enjoy and it’s thanks to Mr. Savard’s vision. Sadly on July 20th Mr. Savard left this world after a career in business and of public service.
As we all know, a little over a week ago Jane Skelton passed away. She was one of the more senior UIS members in terms of longevity, having joined somewhere around 1990 or 1991 and she was most definitely the most senior Executive Committee member, excluding the past presidents, being named chairperson of the Float Committee in the Spring of 1994 for the 1995 season in the days when UIS members decorated a float pursuant to that year’s parade theme.
She moved over to chair the Membership Committee for the 1996 and 1997 seasons before joining the Elected Executive as Corresponding Secretary (1998 – 2005) and Treasurer (2006 – 2010, 2013 – 2021).
When necessary Jane also stepped in to lead other committees – Christmas Baskets (2012 – 2016) and Entertainment Committee (2000 – 2001, 2005)
She was an entertainer at heart and enjoyed bringing some sunshine into the lives of shutins and those needing a little pick me up through her association with the UIS Entertainment group.
For her years of dedication to the organization, in the Spring of 2019 outgoing president Paul Loftus presented Jane with Gold Card (Life) Membership in the UIS.
I look back now with regret that the organization did not consider her for the Simon McDonaugh Humanitarian Award because, looking back on her time on the Executive, she went about her volunteerism in a quiet and unassuming way much like I am sure Simon McDonaugh did.
I will miss her critters, her bananas, and her presence at meetings and events.
Ken Quinn
Historian – The United Irish Societies of Montreal
historian@montrealirishparade.com
1934 was a big year in two of Montreal’s founding communities. Both the the St. Patrick’s Society and the Société St. Jean Baptiste were celebrating their centennial anniversaries. The United Irish Societies of Montreal was led by John Loye, a man involved in numerous organizations both within and without the Irish community. Along the way it is likely Loye developed many friendships.
One of these friendships was developed with Dr. Victor Morin, a Past President of the Société St. Jean Baptiste, a fellow member of the Antiquarian Society, and a future president of the Royal Society of Canada. Clearly the Société St. Jean Baptiste of yesteryear had different aims and objectives than today’s.
On April 15th, 1934 Loye writes to Morin explaining that the long established custom is to extend an invitation to the annual parade in June to the St. Patrick’s Society and trying to convince the Société St. Jean Baptiste to extend an invitation to the “big organization” as well. A plethora of letters follows, back and forth, to and from John Loye, and to and from the Société St. Jean Baptiste.
On April 24th Alphonse de la Rochelle, chef du secrétariat, takes notice of the request for an invitation when he responds to Loye’s letter by saying “Les membres du Conseil générale ont décidé d’acquiescer à votre requête et enverront une invitation…”
This unleashes a barrage of correspondence from John Loye. On April 26th he write to UIS Secretary William C. Hickey , where he says “… and I see a chance to do something, big or small, to put our community in the public eye.” I think he had more of an idea to do something big rather than small.
On May 4th a meeting is called for May 8th where a decision will be made regarding the invitation to participate in the St. Jean Baptiste Parade. Although there are no records in existence in the archives, there is evidence the United Irish Societies reacted positively to this invitation.
On May 20th Loye writes to Thomas O’Connell, city councilor, asking him to intervene with Mayor Camillien Houde for funding for this project., where he openly admits the reason for the request is to get funding to hire a band. Also on May 20th he writes to Leo J. McKenna, alderman, seeking funding for a float. In exchange for this opportunity Loye offers it as “an advertising medium” likely for McKenna’s Florist.
Working on the meat of the United Irish Societies unit, on May 22nd Loye writes to W.J. Cherry, Grand Knight of the Montreal Council of the Knights of Columbus , inviting them to participate. Setting up an elaborate unit required some funds, even back then. On May 29th, Loye writes to W.B. Rennick, General Manager of Dominion Stores, soliciting funds for a float but again pitching it as an opportunity for advertising. UIS Secretary William C. Hickey is in Dominion Stores’ employ.
On May 31st John Loye writes to Patrick Scullion, Captain of the Hibernian Knights of the AOH, seeking their participation. Loye says “Our unit will be incomplete if the Knights are not there”.
Feedback from letters written is being received. On June 5th Thomas O’Connell replies that he would “… advise not to approach Mayor Houde for the donation …” as it “…might affect a larger donation that you would be seeking at a later date…”.
Loye writes to John Boyle Jr. from the Shamrock Lacrosse Club on June 6th looking for its participation. On June 8th he writes to John Long, President of the St. Patrick’s Society looking for the Society’s support both for a float and for his member’s involvement. Also on June 8th Loye writes to Alphone de la Rochelle advising of the proposed unit, which consisted of the following:
- Mounted Marshal
- Platoon of Standards (flags)
- Company of Hibernian Knights, Uniformed
- Brass Band
- Living Cross – composed of 100 men
- Delegations, United Irish Societies
- Clearly the planned United Irish Societies unit was elaborate in nature.
On June 12th Loye receives correspondence from de la Rochelle seeking names and addresses of people to be invited to the solemn mass to be held at St. Jean Baptiste Church. Therefore as of June 12th de la Rochelle has not received Loye’s June 8th correspondence.
A letter dated June 13th was written by de la Rochelle to John Loye declining the UIS unit’s participation in the St. Jean Baptiste Parade after discussion by their conseil générale. The Société St. Jean Baptiste was looking to give their centennial parade a certain feel. UIS dignitaries were still welcome to walk in the parade however invitations were only sought for President John Loye and Vice President Charles Halpin.
In his year end notes, John Loye opined that in retrospect he took too much for granted and he should have sought the input of the Société St. Jean Baptiste Executive regarding the UIS unit. In the end there was no participation from the UIS in 1934. However, had the UIS participated in this grand religious and cultural manifestation it would surely have been the best unit involved.
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Michael Collins Finishes Irish Diaspora Run to Raise Awareness and Funds to Commemorate Famine Irish at Ireland Park in Toronto
Robert G. Kearns, the Chairman of Ireland Park Foundation and founder of Ireland Park, welcomed Michael Collins at the end of his run, along with members of Michael’s family, William Peat, Executive Director of Ireland Park Foundation, Fergus Keyes and Victor Boyle who are directors of the Montreal Irish Memorial Park Foundation, and members of the public.
Read more at Irish Canadian Famine Research.
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