back to list

Old Elgin Band Donates

Left to right: Thomas Lay, a Past President of the Old Elgin Band, Ian Raven, Executive Director of the Elgin Military Museum, and Bot Holt, Treasurer of the Old Elgin Band. Photo by Robert Chaulk, St. Thomas Times Journal

2011 marked the end of over a century of military music in Elgin County as the members of the Old Elgin Band laid down their instruments and dispersed. Ever true to their spirit of giving to their community, band funds were generously distributed amongst several organizations including the Elgin Military Museum and The Lord Elgin Branch 41 of the Royal Canadian Legion each of which received cheques for $4,000.

The band has taken many forms and several names over the last hundred years and records show there has been music attached to militia forces in the county, even if only a single bugle, since before the Rebellion of 1837.

The citizens of Elgin County, here in the heart of southwestern Ontario, can be justly proud of the trumpet band once judged amongst the best in Canada. They played not only in major parades across two continents, including the Mardi Gras festival in New Orleans, and throughout the Netherlands; but they have also  played for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth both in Canada and in Scotland. Their expertise was long standing. In 1908, the band travelled to Quebec City where they played on the Plains of Abraham for the Prince of Wales and in 1911 they took on perhaps their most distinguished 'gig' in London, England in the great parade that accompanied the coronation of that Prince of Wales as George V.

For more about the bandsmen of the Elgin Regiment, click here.

News & Updates

• Sea Cadet Corps 272 Ojibwa on the Real ThingThere is nothing like the real thing. That is what members of the Ojibwa Sea Cadet Corps from Etobicoke found out on Saturday when they visited the retired Canadian Cold War submarine HMCS Ojibwa in Port Burwell. 23 excited cadets and seven officers of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps, named to honour HMCS Ojibwa, arrived at the submarine around 10:30 in the morning ready to explore and lend a hand to making the submarine ready for tours.04/30/2013
• Ojibwa Staff on Liberation TourBonds forged almost seventy years ago are being reinforced by The Frank Graham Cycle Liberation Tour. Formal ceremonies marked by the governments of Canada and the Netherlands came to an end with the 65th anniversary of the Liberation of Holland in 2010 as…04/24/2013
• Minnan-Wong Endorses Project OjibwaCouncillor Minnan-Wong was impressed by the employment and economic opportunities flowing into the community as a result of the project. He indicated that he saw the Ojibwa as appropriate to receive funding from the Green Lane Trust whose funds are provided by the City of Toronto for distribution to worthy projects.03/25/2013
• Museum Responds to Concerns over $8 MillionDear Sir, Regarding your article, "Project Ojibwa cost hits $8 million" in your January 30 edition, I would like to reassure the people of Bayham and the region that Project Ojibwa is not only progressing well and on track for the planned opening this summer, but is also seeing signs of an extremely busy tourist season ahead... 02/14/2013
• Draft Chapter of Project Ojibwa Story _The Grant that DisappearedThe Executive Director of the Elgin Military Museum, Ian Raven, and the Project Coordinator for Project Ojibwa, Dan McNeil (RAdm retd), are in the process of writing a book: "HMCS Ojibwa - Canada's Cold War Go Boat". This is an initial draft of one of the chapters. HOW DND FEDERAL BUREAUCRATS LOST THE ELGIN MILITARY MUSEUM ONE AND ONE-HALF MILLION DOLLARS OF FEDERAL FUNDING - A Part of the PROJECT OJIBWA Story02/14/2013
• Ojibwa Officially Home!The stern of Ojibwa passes into the fenced compound that will be her new home. After a long day travelling the last 400 meters, Ojibwa arrived on her permanent foundations shortly after 7:00 pm tonight.  The journey took longer than anticipated as Mammoet…02/14/2013
• Ojibwa Move on Daily Planet Dec. 17 at 7:00 pmBe sure to watch the Discovery Channel program Daily Planet on Monday, December 17 at 7:00 pm EST.  The show will feature the move and offload of Ojibwa. The Daily Planet crew spent several days in Port Burwell filming for the episode and got some spectacular…02/14/2013
• First pictures of Ojibwa on landCheck out Ojibwa's first pictures on land.02/14/2013
• Mark Your MailCanada Post has created a unique method to honour the arrival of HMCS Ojibwa in Port Burwell. Starting Thursday, November 22nd, all mail sent from the Port Burwell Post Office will bear this special mark. While all mail from the Port Burwell area goes through…02/14/2013
• Volunteer AppreciationWe would like to thank all our wonderful volunteers for their time and dedication to the museum all year and for the arrival of Ojibwa.  Please join us on December 15th 2pm-4pm at the Elgin Military Museum.  We look forward to seeing you!…12/11/2012
• 70th Anniversary DieppeToday, The Elgin Military Museum looks back in sorrow in memory of the 70th Anniversary of the Raid on Dieppe, August 19, 1942 and to those who lost their life that day or were condemned to years of hardship as prisioners of war and a lifetime of anguish.…08/27/2012
• Museum Receives Grant from St. ThomasDuring recent budget meetings, the St. Thomas City Council approved a grant of $8,422 to the Elgin Military Museum for operating expenses.  This grant represents a $1,000 increase over last year to match the funds received from the Province.  The…04/13/2012
• Elgin Book of Remembrance on Royal TrainA faded photo, a newspaper clipping from the past; faces of those for whom Lest We Forget was ...02/24/2012
• Aussies Request Info About HolzmindenRecently, we were approached to assist with background information for a screen play regarding the notorious prisoner of war camp at Holzminden ...02/24/2012
• Old Elgin Band Donates2011 marked the end of over a century of military music in Elgin County ...02/24/2012
• Have You Heard the One About the Kangaroo?And you thought our connection to elephants was unusual, 'well, wait till I tell you'!02/24/2012
• Museum Wins Community Service AwardThe Elgin Military Museum's booth won the Community Service Award at the recent St. Thomas Home Show.04/07/2011
• Model Ships Works of ArtThe Museum has a fine collection of model ships that have been handmade by exceptionally talented craftsmen. 04/04/2011