The Clan Ross Association of Canada held its meeting at the Royal Scot Hotel in Victoria during June of 2002. A get-together dinner was held at 6:00 PM on June 14 in Jonathon's Restaurant at the hotel, and most of the pictures above depict the arranging and rearranging of tables so that all in the group could be seated. After members introduced themselves and the Haggis was properly addressed, there was little opportunity for more photos during the meal.
After dinner, entertainment was provided in Vice-President Denis Fletcher and Barbara Fletcher's suite by accordianist Mary Ross of Victoria. Mary had a fine repertoire, and she soon had everyone singing along to the music.
After breakfast, many members took the double-decker bus tour of Victoria. We passed the BC Parliament Buildings, the Empress Hotel and other city buildings before driving along China Town, "Antique Row", and the lovely homes and gardens on Oak Bay. Our only stop was at Oak Bay Marina, where Pat took some photographs of the harbour seals. We swore that the bus driver deliberately sped up just as we arrived at Ross Bay, but Pat managed to take three fast pictures ... and her first one caught a glimpse of the Ross Chair, which Clan Ross Canada helped to restore as one of its major projects.
On Saturday afternoon, we took a double-decker bus on a tour of Butchart Gardens. The sunken gardens were spectacular, and that is where most of our pictures were taken. Titles, beneath the larger versions of the photos, will identify their content.
On Sunday morning, some of Doug's internet friends (Marilyn Mowat, Graham Donachie and Bob Fraser) met us for a brunch in Samuel's Restaurant at the Victoria Inn Hotel. Returning to the suite of Doug and Pat Ross, there was time for a wee dram of "The Water of Life", before the Annual General Meeting of the Clan Ross - Canada. Marilyn Mowat generously offered to drive Pat and Doug over to Ross Bay after the meeting, and both Graham and Bob drove over to continue our visit. Several pictures were taken on the site of the Ross Chair, above.
The Annual General Meeting of Clan Ross - Canada was held after a buffet lunch in the Tartan Room of the Royal Scot Hotel. Vice-President Denis Fletcher chaired the meeting and announced that, unavoidably, the President, the Secretary and the Newsletter Editors could not be present.
Victoria is a beautiful city with great people. We hope to return some day.