Doris Camelon
Celebrates Her 100th Birthday
by Marilyn Snedden
Celebrates Her 100th Birthday
by Marilyn Snedden

Doris Erskine, daughter of Blair Erskine and Mary Blair, grew up on a farm on the Clayton Road next to the Ramsay Township #6 & 7 school. She was the eldest of 4 children and noted she felt they missed out on the games at noon hour at the school since they went home for lunch every day.
When it came time to go to Almonte High School, she biked the 5 miles each way when the weather allowed. As soon as she was 16, she drove a 1932 Chevy to school. Like all children growing up on farms then there were lots of chores to do. Doris helped feed the animals and helped harvest hay and grain. She still found time to play in the creek with the neighbourhood kids.
She belonged to 4-H Clubs and Junior Farmers and attended the first Junior Farmer camp at Lake Couchiching in 1947.
After High School she attended Normal School in Ottawa to train as a teacher. It wasn’t until a century later that the title “The Ottawa Teacher’s College” came into being. After graduating she taught for 2 years at Bennie’s Corners and 2 years near Appleton.
In September 1947 she married Russell Camelon and moved to his farm on the Mississippi River on the ninth line. Of course, back in her day, this meant she had to give up teaching as married women were forbidden in the school system. Their 2 children Evelyn and Kathy were born on the farm. Doris stayed home with them until the 1950’s when teachers were scarce and the Pakenham School Board chair came begging her to return. My neighbour Dorothy Delaurier told me it was her finest hour when the same trustee who forced her to quit teaching when she married John Delaurier came back a decade later to beg her on bended knee to return to a rural school.
Doris started teaching again in 1955. She served as the principal in the 4 room Pakenham School from 1955-60 and retired in 1981.
There was quite a steep hill leading down to their home near the river and Doris said she never missed a day of school even though she didn’t have a front wheel drive vehicle. Russell kept a pile of sand at the top of the hill. She used it to make sure she made it to school. Doris recorded her memories for the history book of the Rural Schools of Pakenham. Those memories included teaching 30 pupils in Grades 5-8 when she was the principal. There was no time off for planning, marking or office work. Her annual salary was $2,550 the first year she taught.
Doris was a busy woman teaching and raising two children as well as managing the household and likely filling in when needed in the fields in the summer. She was an active member of the Blakeney United Church and then St. Andrews after 1968. She served in several positions in the UCW and was Clerk of Session from 1985-88. She belonged to The Ramsay Women’s Institute for over 60 years and was made a Life member.
Russell and Doris retired to Almonte in 2001 where Russell died 3 years later. Doris sold the farm in 2006 and moved to a retirement home in Toronto to be close to her daughters and grandchildren.
She celebrated her 100th birthday on July 25, 2024, with her friends and family in Toronto. The celebrations also included a Zoom call with some old friends.
St. Andrew’s celebrates the life of a woman who contributed so much to our community.
When it came time to go to Almonte High School, she biked the 5 miles each way when the weather allowed. As soon as she was 16, she drove a 1932 Chevy to school. Like all children growing up on farms then there were lots of chores to do. Doris helped feed the animals and helped harvest hay and grain. She still found time to play in the creek with the neighbourhood kids.
She belonged to 4-H Clubs and Junior Farmers and attended the first Junior Farmer camp at Lake Couchiching in 1947.
After High School she attended Normal School in Ottawa to train as a teacher. It wasn’t until a century later that the title “The Ottawa Teacher’s College” came into being. After graduating she taught for 2 years at Bennie’s Corners and 2 years near Appleton.
In September 1947 she married Russell Camelon and moved to his farm on the Mississippi River on the ninth line. Of course, back in her day, this meant she had to give up teaching as married women were forbidden in the school system. Their 2 children Evelyn and Kathy were born on the farm. Doris stayed home with them until the 1950’s when teachers were scarce and the Pakenham School Board chair came begging her to return. My neighbour Dorothy Delaurier told me it was her finest hour when the same trustee who forced her to quit teaching when she married John Delaurier came back a decade later to beg her on bended knee to return to a rural school.
Doris started teaching again in 1955. She served as the principal in the 4 room Pakenham School from 1955-60 and retired in 1981.
There was quite a steep hill leading down to their home near the river and Doris said she never missed a day of school even though she didn’t have a front wheel drive vehicle. Russell kept a pile of sand at the top of the hill. She used it to make sure she made it to school. Doris recorded her memories for the history book of the Rural Schools of Pakenham. Those memories included teaching 30 pupils in Grades 5-8 when she was the principal. There was no time off for planning, marking or office work. Her annual salary was $2,550 the first year she taught.
Doris was a busy woman teaching and raising two children as well as managing the household and likely filling in when needed in the fields in the summer. She was an active member of the Blakeney United Church and then St. Andrews after 1968. She served in several positions in the UCW and was Clerk of Session from 1985-88. She belonged to The Ramsay Women’s Institute for over 60 years and was made a Life member.
Russell and Doris retired to Almonte in 2001 where Russell died 3 years later. Doris sold the farm in 2006 and moved to a retirement home in Toronto to be close to her daughters and grandchildren.
She celebrated her 100th birthday on July 25, 2024, with her friends and family in Toronto. The celebrations also included a Zoom call with some old friends.
St. Andrew’s celebrates the life of a woman who contributed so much to our community.
A long overdue tribute to Marilyn Snedden
August 22, 2020
by Rhonda Tees

At a choir gathering on Saturday, August 22, 2020 we took the opportunity to pay tribute to a very special person.
To begin, I would say three things. First, nothing in this tribute is an exaggeration. Second, the list of this person’s accomplishments and volunteer work is so long that many key points have been missed. And third it was very difficult to winnow it down to a manageable size.
This tribute is made to someone who is a farmer, genealogist, historian, curator, author, fundraiser, board member, musician, feminist, sports woman, red-haired beauty queen and volunteer extraordinaire.
You can’t open a newspaper in the valley without seeing her smiling face pictured handing out awards, paddling for the Almonte hospital, erecting historical signs or working in an archive. It feels like she is everywhere - doing everything.
Marilyn Snedden started racking up honours early on, both academically and with her extracurricular pursuits. At an early age she was active in 4-H and Junior Farmers where she won many trophies. In high school she was on Student Council where she served as President in Grade 12. She also played every sport available in those days to “the weaker sex”. In 1958 she won the United Nations trip to Washington & New York to represent Lanark County Junior Farmers. She was strong academically and won the Annie Thoburn Trophy in Grade 13 as the student with the highest marks. And just to round out the package she was a beautiful Dairy Princess and Almonte High School Prom Queen.
She was just getting started.
In the early 60s there were three acceptable options for girls wanting a career after high school: teaching, nursing and secretarial work. Marilyn chose nursing and started training at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. Her training ended abruptly when she became pregnant with her first child. Marilyn and Earl then had four children between 1961 and 1965. Presumably, they discovered what was causing this and took steps to cap the size of their growing family at four.
So, in the 60s Marilyn helped run a dairy farm called Mississippi Holsteins, raised four children, did volunteer work at church and in the community and pursued her many hobbies. As I did research on the amazing Marilyn I stopped to ponder what her days were like. Certainly, she was fully engaged from sunup to sundown with children and the farm. And then, based on what I’ve discovered, she would head off to a meeting or do a pastoral care visit, or work on one of the books she was writing, or bake some pies for a fundraising event, or work in her garden so she’d have something fabulous to enter in the spring and fall flower shows.
I add that this is not likely a very comprehensive list. What’s that expression, “If you need something done ask a busy person”? This notion certainly applied then, as now, to The Madame.
So, that was the sixties.
In the 70s and early 80s Marilyn served three terms as President of the Lanark County Genealogical Society. She has since been presented with an Honorary Life Membership Award that is given to long-standing members of the society who have made significant contributions.
In the 90s Marilyn helped create Archives Lanark for Land Records when the Ontario Government was going to destroy original documents after preserving the information on microfilm. She still helps operate the archives today as a facility for people researching their family roots. Marilyn is, of course, also on the Board of Directors.
Marilyn has penned or co-authored several books including: The Snedden Saga in 1994, a history of St. Andrew’s in 1997 co-authored with Freda Somerton, The Robertsons of Ramsay in 2006, a series of hard cover books on the Rural Schools of Lanark County, specifically coordinating the one on Ramsay Township in 2014 and Montague in 2017.
She was the president of the Ramsay Women’s Institute several times where she remains the curator of the Tweedsmuir Histories. The branch won awards for producing slide shows and DVD's on the histories of the 3 hamlets in the area.
She currently chairs the local chapter of the Ontario Senior Games Association which sponsors over 20 games to keep seniors 55 and over fit and active. In August 2019 she took on the major task of hosting all the seniors of Eastern Ontario.
Marilyn is also on the Board of Directors of the North Lanark Agricultural Society responsible for organizing the Almonte Fair each year. Her main focus is the Horticultural displays of flowers and vegetables, but she pitches in wherever needed to make the fair a success.
And while doing all of these things she also:
And finally, we arrive at St. Andrew’s where Marilyn gives extravagantly of her time and talents. Over the years she has played the organ, taught Sunday School, served on committees in leadership roles as chair, secretary, and member, worked on special projects and fundraisers and helped with countless events and dinners.
I also think it is worthy of note, that Marilyn was the very first woman elected as an elder at St Andrew’s in 1971. Since then she has served in virtually every role available for both the Pastoral Charge and St. Andrew’s. Over the years Marilyn has been:
In virtually every case she has served as chair and secretary of these committees and bodies for multiple terms.
Marilyn has been singing and playing in church choirs since she was very young. She knows the alto part to every hymn we have ever sung in the Sanctuary of St. Andrew’s. I can say as a fellow alto that it is very comforting when I fall off the rails to be able to lean an ear in her direction to get back on track.
Marilyn mentioned to me not long ago that she has lately found herself in the evening falling asleep in front of the TV. Incredibly, she found this surprising. It doesn’t seem like much of a mystery to me but then I’m not blessed with the boundless energy of The Madame. I’m sure you have now easily figured out why I call her The Madame.
Marilyn will say that there is nothing out of the ordinary about her. But I respectfully submit that she is dead wrong in this regard. I find her quite extraordinary. She is incredibly hard working, has an infectiously positive attitude, is always giving to - or doing something for - someone, is creative, has a just get it done attitude, has a great, warped and often off-colour sense of humour, is wonderfully calm and even-tempered, and is filled to the brim with compassion and kindness. She is a dream to work with on committees, in the kitchen and in the choir loft. Nothing is ever a problem.
So, we are today paying a LONG overdue tribute to the remarkable Marilyn Snedden.
Please join me in thanking her for all she does for us at St. Andrew’s and our extended community.
To begin, I would say three things. First, nothing in this tribute is an exaggeration. Second, the list of this person’s accomplishments and volunteer work is so long that many key points have been missed. And third it was very difficult to winnow it down to a manageable size.
This tribute is made to someone who is a farmer, genealogist, historian, curator, author, fundraiser, board member, musician, feminist, sports woman, red-haired beauty queen and volunteer extraordinaire.
You can’t open a newspaper in the valley without seeing her smiling face pictured handing out awards, paddling for the Almonte hospital, erecting historical signs or working in an archive. It feels like she is everywhere - doing everything.
Marilyn Snedden started racking up honours early on, both academically and with her extracurricular pursuits. At an early age she was active in 4-H and Junior Farmers where she won many trophies. In high school she was on Student Council where she served as President in Grade 12. She also played every sport available in those days to “the weaker sex”. In 1958 she won the United Nations trip to Washington & New York to represent Lanark County Junior Farmers. She was strong academically and won the Annie Thoburn Trophy in Grade 13 as the student with the highest marks. And just to round out the package she was a beautiful Dairy Princess and Almonte High School Prom Queen.
She was just getting started.
In the early 60s there were three acceptable options for girls wanting a career after high school: teaching, nursing and secretarial work. Marilyn chose nursing and started training at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. Her training ended abruptly when she became pregnant with her first child. Marilyn and Earl then had four children between 1961 and 1965. Presumably, they discovered what was causing this and took steps to cap the size of their growing family at four.
So, in the 60s Marilyn helped run a dairy farm called Mississippi Holsteins, raised four children, did volunteer work at church and in the community and pursued her many hobbies. As I did research on the amazing Marilyn I stopped to ponder what her days were like. Certainly, she was fully engaged from sunup to sundown with children and the farm. And then, based on what I’ve discovered, she would head off to a meeting or do a pastoral care visit, or work on one of the books she was writing, or bake some pies for a fundraising event, or work in her garden so she’d have something fabulous to enter in the spring and fall flower shows.
I add that this is not likely a very comprehensive list. What’s that expression, “If you need something done ask a busy person”? This notion certainly applied then, as now, to The Madame.
So, that was the sixties.
In the 70s and early 80s Marilyn served three terms as President of the Lanark County Genealogical Society. She has since been presented with an Honorary Life Membership Award that is given to long-standing members of the society who have made significant contributions.
In the 90s Marilyn helped create Archives Lanark for Land Records when the Ontario Government was going to destroy original documents after preserving the information on microfilm. She still helps operate the archives today as a facility for people researching their family roots. Marilyn is, of course, also on the Board of Directors.
Marilyn has penned or co-authored several books including: The Snedden Saga in 1994, a history of St. Andrew’s in 1997 co-authored with Freda Somerton, The Robertsons of Ramsay in 2006, a series of hard cover books on the Rural Schools of Lanark County, specifically coordinating the one on Ramsay Township in 2014 and Montague in 2017.
She was the president of the Ramsay Women’s Institute several times where she remains the curator of the Tweedsmuir Histories. The branch won awards for producing slide shows and DVD's on the histories of the 3 hamlets in the area.
She currently chairs the local chapter of the Ontario Senior Games Association which sponsors over 20 games to keep seniors 55 and over fit and active. In August 2019 she took on the major task of hosting all the seniors of Eastern Ontario.
Marilyn is also on the Board of Directors of the North Lanark Agricultural Society responsible for organizing the Almonte Fair each year. Her main focus is the Horticultural displays of flowers and vegetables, but she pitches in wherever needed to make the fair a success.
And while doing all of these things she also:
- Delivered meals on wheels.
- Drove patients to medical appointments.
- Convened a Chili Days Shuffleboard Tournament.
- Participated in “Paddle for AGH” to raise funds for the hospital.
- Gave workshops on flower arranging.
- Submitted flowers and photographs at spring and fall flower shows.
- Enjoyed spring retreats each year with her ladies' group somewhere in Ontario.
- Took fall excursions to BC to visit family; and
- Chased people at the Fair with admonishments about “Poop and Scoop”.
And finally, we arrive at St. Andrew’s where Marilyn gives extravagantly of her time and talents. Over the years she has played the organ, taught Sunday School, served on committees in leadership roles as chair, secretary, and member, worked on special projects and fundraisers and helped with countless events and dinners.
I also think it is worthy of note, that Marilyn was the very first woman elected as an elder at St Andrew’s in 1971. Since then she has served in virtually every role available for both the Pastoral Charge and St. Andrew’s. Over the years Marilyn has been:
- Chair and secretary of the Official Board and of St. Andrew’s Executive Council;
- a long-standing member of the Pastoral Care Team, the Special Events Committee, the choir, and
- the council of Stewards where she presently serves as secretary.
In virtually every case she has served as chair and secretary of these committees and bodies for multiple terms.
Marilyn has been singing and playing in church choirs since she was very young. She knows the alto part to every hymn we have ever sung in the Sanctuary of St. Andrew’s. I can say as a fellow alto that it is very comforting when I fall off the rails to be able to lean an ear in her direction to get back on track.
Marilyn mentioned to me not long ago that she has lately found herself in the evening falling asleep in front of the TV. Incredibly, she found this surprising. It doesn’t seem like much of a mystery to me but then I’m not blessed with the boundless energy of The Madame. I’m sure you have now easily figured out why I call her The Madame.
Marilyn will say that there is nothing out of the ordinary about her. But I respectfully submit that she is dead wrong in this regard. I find her quite extraordinary. She is incredibly hard working, has an infectiously positive attitude, is always giving to - or doing something for - someone, is creative, has a just get it done attitude, has a great, warped and often off-colour sense of humour, is wonderfully calm and even-tempered, and is filled to the brim with compassion and kindness. She is a dream to work with on committees, in the kitchen and in the choir loft. Nothing is ever a problem.
So, we are today paying a LONG overdue tribute to the remarkable Marilyn Snedden.
Please join me in thanking her for all she does for us at St. Andrew’s and our extended community.
Thanks Barb for All You Do for St. Andrew’s and the Choir
March 3, 2014
by Rhonda Tees
March 3, 2014
by Rhonda Tees

Most of us don’t really appreciate what it takes to be the Music Director at St. Andrew’s. Setting aside for the moment the need for talent and experience in voice and piano our Music Director:
There are many things that have embodied Barb’s leadership in her role as Music Director but the three that are particularly notable are: Mentorship, Creativity and Faith.
Mentorship
Barb as mentor encouraged budding and professional musicians alike to bring their particular gifts to St. Andrew’s. Over the years, under her leadership, she has showcased and nurtured the talented children of our church family. We have had the privilege of listening to: Hunter and Hanna Blair, the Gillan children: Taylor, Jaclyn, Lindsay, Nicole, and Blake, Dana Hudson, Danya Hakeem, Analiesa & Noah Reid, and many Sunday School choirs comprising the children of all of our church families. She encouraged members of the choir to tackle solos and add their instruments to our sound. We have thrilled to the haunting sounds of David Sales’ oboe and his new EWI, Hunter Blair’s fiddle, Laurie Boon and Emily Nanne’s guitars and of course Bob Armstrong on keyboard. She worked with each of us to make sure we were comfortable when a solo was on the schedule. Cheryl, Ken, Laurie, Shirleen and I all appreciated her confidence and support as we did our best to tackle new solo pieces.
Creativity
When I think about Barb’s creativity I think of all of the musicians she has invited, cajoled and enticed to come to St. Andrew’s. The list includes groups and ensembles such as The five, The Stairwell Carollers, The Valley Men, The Nepean Choir and Tutti. Added to that is a long list of solos performers including: Colleen Saddler, Doug Russell, Emily Armstrong, Jennifer Blair, Kyle Felaver, Mark Piper, Marty Russell, and Mike Ryan to name a just a few.
Her creativity has also resulted in a great many highlights over the years.
In 2007, she orchestrated a coup for our small congregation, with the Besig Price Music Workshop. This workshop, presented by well-known composers Don Besig and Nancy Price, was nothing short of a triumph. Choir members and directors from all over Ottawa and beyond attended. The sanctuary provided wonderful acoustics for almost 200 voices that day. It was a tremendous event and fund raiser.
In 2010, we started the year by singing the National Anthem as the puck was dropped at a Frost Fest Junior A hockey game.
In 2011, the highlight of our musical year was the preparation and presentation of "A Tapestry of Light", a Christmas Cantata by Joseph Martin. We were accompanied by The Celtic Winds Consort, organized by David Sale. A large audience donated generously to the Lanark County Food Bank.
In 2015, Barb organized special music for Jeff’s covenanting service. David Sale on his oboe and me singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah to lyrics written by Rev. Debbie Roi were her brainchild. That year Barb also helped the Sunday School children turn the Grinch from a foul one into a fine one at the White Gift service.
Barb also started the tradition of an annual Carols for Christmas Concert, supported the annual World Days of Prayer, insisted that the choir be part of the music at the Cemetery Service in what we affectionately call the “Majestic Pines Cathedral”, helped get the children ready for White Gift services, organized a Homegrown Café, and supported all of the “Services in a Different Key” in the Dining Hall.
Faith
When I mentioned faith as a cornerstone of Barb’s music leadership I didn’t mean faith in God - although she has that in spades. I meant rather her faith in the choir. Barb somehow thinks we are better than we are. Barb has complete, unwavering, unshakable faith in our abilities. Where this comes from is unclear. The choir is small, with two exceptions we’re all pretty old and most of us don’t read music or have any formal voice training. And yet, Barb thinks we can pull off an entire cantata with professional musicians – and we do. She believes we can do a complete medley of Oklahoma with four rehearsals – and we do. She assumes we can sing solos and duets without ever having done so before - and we do. I’ve come to believe that our success – as modest as it is - is all, and only, about her faith in our abilities.
So, we thank Barb, not just for coming out of retirement to fill in for Tony but for all she has done for the music program since becoming its Director in 2001. We offer our heartfelt thanks for your mentorship, creativity and faith in each of us. For your tireless, enthusiastic, hard work, for countless hours spent selecting, rehearsing and presenting beautiful music and for coaching and teaching each of us – all done with a beaming smile.
- meets regularly with the Minister to ensure meaningful connections between the messages of worship and the music;
- inspires the senior choir through continuous learning of vocal technique;
- selects and teaches new songs, anthems and music for special events;
- runs choir rehearsals every Thursday and Sunday and as needed in preparation for special music events;
- encourages budding and experienced musicians to share their talents with us;
- continually thinks of ways to use music to raise funds for the church;
- selects music for the choir library;
- practices at home to be prepared for practices, services and events; and
- is a member of the Worship and Life Committee.
There are many things that have embodied Barb’s leadership in her role as Music Director but the three that are particularly notable are: Mentorship, Creativity and Faith.
Mentorship
Barb as mentor encouraged budding and professional musicians alike to bring their particular gifts to St. Andrew’s. Over the years, under her leadership, she has showcased and nurtured the talented children of our church family. We have had the privilege of listening to: Hunter and Hanna Blair, the Gillan children: Taylor, Jaclyn, Lindsay, Nicole, and Blake, Dana Hudson, Danya Hakeem, Analiesa & Noah Reid, and many Sunday School choirs comprising the children of all of our church families. She encouraged members of the choir to tackle solos and add their instruments to our sound. We have thrilled to the haunting sounds of David Sales’ oboe and his new EWI, Hunter Blair’s fiddle, Laurie Boon and Emily Nanne’s guitars and of course Bob Armstrong on keyboard. She worked with each of us to make sure we were comfortable when a solo was on the schedule. Cheryl, Ken, Laurie, Shirleen and I all appreciated her confidence and support as we did our best to tackle new solo pieces.
Creativity
When I think about Barb’s creativity I think of all of the musicians she has invited, cajoled and enticed to come to St. Andrew’s. The list includes groups and ensembles such as The five, The Stairwell Carollers, The Valley Men, The Nepean Choir and Tutti. Added to that is a long list of solos performers including: Colleen Saddler, Doug Russell, Emily Armstrong, Jennifer Blair, Kyle Felaver, Mark Piper, Marty Russell, and Mike Ryan to name a just a few.
Her creativity has also resulted in a great many highlights over the years.
In 2007, she orchestrated a coup for our small congregation, with the Besig Price Music Workshop. This workshop, presented by well-known composers Don Besig and Nancy Price, was nothing short of a triumph. Choir members and directors from all over Ottawa and beyond attended. The sanctuary provided wonderful acoustics for almost 200 voices that day. It was a tremendous event and fund raiser.
In 2010, we started the year by singing the National Anthem as the puck was dropped at a Frost Fest Junior A hockey game.
In 2011, the highlight of our musical year was the preparation and presentation of "A Tapestry of Light", a Christmas Cantata by Joseph Martin. We were accompanied by The Celtic Winds Consort, organized by David Sale. A large audience donated generously to the Lanark County Food Bank.
In 2015, Barb organized special music for Jeff’s covenanting service. David Sale on his oboe and me singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah to lyrics written by Rev. Debbie Roi were her brainchild. That year Barb also helped the Sunday School children turn the Grinch from a foul one into a fine one at the White Gift service.
Barb also started the tradition of an annual Carols for Christmas Concert, supported the annual World Days of Prayer, insisted that the choir be part of the music at the Cemetery Service in what we affectionately call the “Majestic Pines Cathedral”, helped get the children ready for White Gift services, organized a Homegrown Café, and supported all of the “Services in a Different Key” in the Dining Hall.
Faith
When I mentioned faith as a cornerstone of Barb’s music leadership I didn’t mean faith in God - although she has that in spades. I meant rather her faith in the choir. Barb somehow thinks we are better than we are. Barb has complete, unwavering, unshakable faith in our abilities. Where this comes from is unclear. The choir is small, with two exceptions we’re all pretty old and most of us don’t read music or have any formal voice training. And yet, Barb thinks we can pull off an entire cantata with professional musicians – and we do. She believes we can do a complete medley of Oklahoma with four rehearsals – and we do. She assumes we can sing solos and duets without ever having done so before - and we do. I’ve come to believe that our success – as modest as it is - is all, and only, about her faith in our abilities.
So, we thank Barb, not just for coming out of retirement to fill in for Tony but for all she has done for the music program since becoming its Director in 2001. We offer our heartfelt thanks for your mentorship, creativity and faith in each of us. For your tireless, enthusiastic, hard work, for countless hours spent selecting, rehearsing and presenting beautiful music and for coaching and teaching each of us – all done with a beaming smile.

A Special Tribute to
Margarete Sauermann
by Rhonda Tees
On Sunday, October 29, 2017 St. Andrew's Choir paid tribute to our longest serving member Marg Sauermann. Marg has been singing in St. Andrew’s choir for sixty years!
Marg started singing in a choir when she was 7 years old. The church she attended at the time held auditions for the Sunday School children. Those with good voices went into the choir and those who did not have good voices were introduced to other activities in the church. Needless to say, Marg was asked to join the choir.
When she first came to Canada she took a break from choir singing because she didn’t yet speak English and the family moved several times in the first 3 years they were here. Marg joined St. Andrew’s choir shortly after she and her family moved to Pakenham in the summer of 1957. So, in 2017, Marg will have sung in the St. Andrew's choir for sixty years.
She has sung in many choirs over the years including The Centennial Choir and The Valley Festival Choir. At one point she sang in three choirs at the same time! We think it is safe to say that she has a deep, abiding love of music and singing.
The objective of choral singing is to sound, even when singing harmony, like one voice. As a choir we work hard to achieve that objective and even sometimes hit the mark. This doesn’t mean however, that as a choir member you don’t get to hear and enjoy the voices of those beside you, behind you, in front of you and in the same row as you. We are intimately acquainted with each other’s voices and are all in awe of Marg’s still beautiful soprano. It is still, at 96, strong, bright, flexible and always, always exactly on pitch. Marg sings with elegance and joy and sustains her top notes with what seems like complete ease.
Marg is an important member of our choir and an inspiration to us all. She lets us hope that we can keep singing forever.
So on Sunday, October 29, 2017, we recognized Marg for her commitment to St. Andrew’s and its choir, for her always sunny disposition, for her great sense of humour and for her beautiful soprano voice that adds so much to our choir and the music we make together here in our beautiful church.
Margarete Sauermann
by Rhonda Tees
On Sunday, October 29, 2017 St. Andrew's Choir paid tribute to our longest serving member Marg Sauermann. Marg has been singing in St. Andrew’s choir for sixty years!
Marg started singing in a choir when she was 7 years old. The church she attended at the time held auditions for the Sunday School children. Those with good voices went into the choir and those who did not have good voices were introduced to other activities in the church. Needless to say, Marg was asked to join the choir.
When she first came to Canada she took a break from choir singing because she didn’t yet speak English and the family moved several times in the first 3 years they were here. Marg joined St. Andrew’s choir shortly after she and her family moved to Pakenham in the summer of 1957. So, in 2017, Marg will have sung in the St. Andrew's choir for sixty years.
She has sung in many choirs over the years including The Centennial Choir and The Valley Festival Choir. At one point she sang in three choirs at the same time! We think it is safe to say that she has a deep, abiding love of music and singing.
The objective of choral singing is to sound, even when singing harmony, like one voice. As a choir we work hard to achieve that objective and even sometimes hit the mark. This doesn’t mean however, that as a choir member you don’t get to hear and enjoy the voices of those beside you, behind you, in front of you and in the same row as you. We are intimately acquainted with each other’s voices and are all in awe of Marg’s still beautiful soprano. It is still, at 96, strong, bright, flexible and always, always exactly on pitch. Marg sings with elegance and joy and sustains her top notes with what seems like complete ease.
Marg is an important member of our choir and an inspiration to us all. She lets us hope that we can keep singing forever.
So on Sunday, October 29, 2017, we recognized Marg for her commitment to St. Andrew’s and its choir, for her always sunny disposition, for her great sense of humour and for her beautiful soprano voice that adds so much to our choir and the music we make together here in our beautiful church.