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Nov 2 2011 Violet Third (née Schleger, b. 1921 in Neudorf, Saskatchewan) is the daughter of German immigrants, her father owned a cement-contracting company and her mother was a dressmaker. At the age of three, the family moved to Vancouver (the West End) where Violet attended Dawson Elementary School and a commercial secondary school on Broadway and Granville. Her first job was in her sister's restaurant on Pender and Granville. At nineteen, Violet met her first boyfriend and soon-to-be…

Angus Macpherson Nov 9 2011, Nov 14 2011 Born: Angus Macpherson, Dec 12 1951, in Johnstone, Scotland (between Paisley & Glasgow) First of four siblings (2 sisters and 1 brother). One sister lives in England, just north of Liverpool. She took music lessons for a time, but gave it up. Another lives in Oakville, and is married to a piper. She is a former drummer with the Vancouver Ladies & Burnaby Ladies Pipe Band. Her son is a Pipe Major and also plays in the 78th Frasers, along with a…

May 25 2004 Hugh McLennan Audio is distorted by background noise and difficult to hear/inaudible at times. Born: Montreal, Quebec, Oct 22nd 1927. Eldest of two children. Younger sister Elizabeth passed away several years prior to the interview. She had 3 children. Father: William Durie McLennan, born in Montreal on Nov 24th, 1889. Youngest of 3 (2 older sisters). Worked as an architect. Also worked with the Canadian Field Artillery. Paternal Grandfather: Also William. From a large family.…

John Buchanan Feb. 18 2015 Born: John Buchanan, on May 26, 1939, in the family home in Shettleston, Glasgow. Only child, oldest grandchild on both sides. They lived in a tenement building with no hot water. Father: Born in Bridgton, Glasgow in March 1915. Worked manual labour. A large steel company in his area had relocated to a town called Corby, England and he relocated there for work around age 17 or 18. It was called "little Scotland" due to the number of Scots who moved there. He worked…

February 10 2012 Margaret (Peggy) Maryanne Askew (née Gillies, b. 1943 in Sidney, NS) is the only child of Donald John Jones Gillies (b. 1901 on St. Kilda) and Lillian Gilmore (b. 1911 in Turriff, Scotland). As the youngest of five boys, Peggy's father grew up on the island of St. Kilda, collecting eggs and birds on the island's cliffs, one of the many jobs necessary to stay alive. The soldiers stationed on the island during the First World War intrigued many of the young people with stories…

Jan 11 2012 Laurie Hamilton Anderson (b.1947 in Glasgow) is the youngest of five children (three sisters and one brother). His father, David Vernon Anderson (b.1910/1911 (approx.) in Glasgow), was one of eight children. Although never in active service, David was in the army in the Second World War (his brother died in service). An employee of Scottish Legal Life Assurance Company, he also served as the superintendent of the first non-sectarian youth club in inner city Glasgow. He spent his…

Dec 23 2011 Jane Hammond (née Jane Elle Campbell, b. 1949 in Toronto) is the youngest of four children. Her father, Albert McTaggart Campbell (b. 1910 in Strathroy, Ontario, d. 1973) was the eldest surviving son of seven-eight children, two of whom died from appendicitis. Growing up in a farming community, he received his Bachelor's of Science in Agriculture from the University of Guelph before teaching science in northern Ontario. After marrying he moved to South Ontario where he became…

April 25 2012 Therese McErlean Born: Therese MacInness, June 11th, 1949 in Vancouver. Five siblings (2 brothers & 2 sisters), Therese was the fourth. Father: Micheal MacInness. Born in Eriskay, Scotland in 1904. He was a master mariner, and when he came to Vancouver, he ran an icebreaker in the north, and was a longshoreman in the offseason. He was a quiet man, and Therese regrets that she didn't get to know more about him or his family. He spoke Gaelic, but didn't read or write it. He…

Nov 26 2011 Dauna Neveaux (née Daune Mae Currie, b. 1935 in Chilliwack, BC) is the youngest of four (three older brothers). Her father, Earl Marshall Currie (b. 1891 in Boissevain, Manitoba), was the eldest of five children. He trained as a teacher and, after a traumatic experience in Petersfield, Manitoba (two of his students drowned), he moved to Vancouver to join his family. In 1911 he took up a bread route in Shaughnessy before moving to Sardis in 1913. In 1938, Dauna's father bought ten…

George L. Morgan July 14 2011 Born: George Lambie Morgan, June 3, 1927 in Troon, Ayreshire, Scotland. One of 11 siblings (3rd youngest). Five girls were born first, followed by 6 boys. Father: Walter John Morgan. Born in London, England in 1893, passed in 1934. Was in the Army for a time and also a sailor. Served in the Royal Fusiliers during the First World War. Before the War, he was a cabin boy. He was a "jack of all trades", but was unable to care for 11 children after his wife passed.…

Hal Senyk Nov. 10 2012 Born: Anthony Harold "Hal" Senyk, March 4th 1950 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Youngest of 3 siblings. Siblings: Older sister was a Highland Dancer, which is how he became involved in bagpiping. His brother was not involved in Scottish dance or music. Sister became involved in dance through their maternal grandmother, and took lessons from Liz Merrimen. Hal also took dance lessons starting from age 5. Attended Lord Nelson School for primary years. The family moved to Montreal…

Jan 9 2012 William "Bill" Thomson Strachan Born: St. Fergus, Scotland on March 8, 1921. The house was built in the 1700's. He was the oldest of 3 boys: William, Sandy? & Peter. His mom remarried after his father passed, and had 3 girls: Isabella, Sheila, & Lilas. [Step]Father: Peter Strachan. Father: William Dunbar. Born in Crimond. Grandfather: William Thomson. Harbour master in Peterhead. William's great-grandfather [Thomson] died one day short of his 100th birthday. Mother:…

March 10 2005 John McIlwraith (b. Sept. 4, 1926 in Glasgow) was one of four children. Father: William Mason Peyton McIlwraith (b. in Connel Ferry, Scotland (near Oban)), had three brothers and three sisters. He met John's mother after returning from service in the First World War. William was an engineer for Singer as well as an amateur musician (banjo, guitar, piano, choir conductor) and baker. He would compose and transpose music for choirs. During the Depression, he was forced to take on…

Alan Matheson Jan 15 2015, Jan 26 2015 Born: James Alan Matheson. Born in Calgary, Alberta, March 29, 1959. Second eldest of four (two brothers and a younger sister). Father: Daniel Glenn Matheson. Born in Lac-Mégantic in Quebec Sept 15 1925. Went into the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1944, stationed in Borden, Ontario. Moved to Calgary after being stationed at Currie Barracks. Worked for Alberta Wheat Pool and became involved with Decca Records in the 1950's. Opened the first standalone…

Feb 27 2012 Chief Ian Geordie (middle name from the movie "Wee Geordie") Campbell (b. 1973 in North Vancouver, BC) of the Squamish Nation is the youngest of two children (older sister). His mother (of the Baker family, from the Englishman John Baker) has three siblings and his father, Wayne, has six. Ian's surname "Campbell" is from Jimmy Campbell, a Scottish emigrant who married a Katzie woman (Fort Langley area) in the mid 1800s. Jimmy's daughter, Jenny Campbell, was a member of the…