Brant 45 History
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BIOGRAPHIES
of the OFFICERS of BRANT LODGE 1999-2000
Compiled by Wor. Bro. David Gregory, Worshipful Master
WORSHIPFUL MASTER DAVID GREGORY:
My autobiography will be first. I am 53 years old and was born and
raised in Paris. My father, John, was a family physician and my
mother, Marion, was a traditional stay-at-home Mom. I have an older
sister, Gail, who is a retired high school teacher living in Owen
Sound. My father is deceased and my mother now lives in Brantford.
After graduating from Paris District High School in 1965, I attended
the University of Toronto from 1965 to 1972 and obtained degrees
in Mechanical Engineering and Law. I came to Brantford in 1974 and
joined a law firm in which the three other members were Masons.
Bro. Paul Read and Bro. Bob Innes recommended me for membership
in Brant Lodge in 1976, but I didn't become an Officer until the
early 1990's. My beloved wife, Christine, died of cancer in August
of this year. I have two sons, Mike, 15, and Peter, 9, who keep
me busy. They are both competitive swimmers with the Brantford Aquatic
Club. They are good boys, and I am very proud of both of them. I
left the practice of law in 1998 to become an Adjudicator with the
Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal, conducting hearings in disputes
between landlords and tenants of residential housing. I am a Past
President of the Brant Curling Club and the Brant Law Association.
I am a Fellow of the College of Freemasonry. I am currently the
President of the Brantford Scottish Rite Association and the Brant
District Ambassador to Murton Lodge of Perfection. I am also a member
of Mocha Temple.
SENIOR WARDEN BRO. DENNIS JACKSON
Dennis was born in Brantford and is 36 years old. Dennis'
cultural heritage is diverse and includes connections to the Underground
Railroad and the Mohawk Nation. Dennis is married to Brenda and
they have 5 children. Dennis is a graduate of North Park Collegiate
and has studied Law and Security Administration at Mohawk College,
as well as social science programs at University of Western Ontario.
Dennis is employed as a correctional officer. Dennis is a member
of First Baptist Church and has volunteered his time as a baseball
coach. Dennis was sponsored into Brant Lodge by W. Bro. Mike Campbell
and the late W. Bro. Ron Weeks. Dennis is a member of Murton Lodge
of Perfection and the 1812 Re-enactment Degree Team. Dennis works
hard at our Masonic ritual and is an asset to Brant Lodge. I wish
him well in his goal to become your Worshipful Master in November.
JUNIOR WARDEN BRO. JAMES BRAUND
James was born in Hamilton and is 29 years old. James married
his Tricia last September and she has been very active in assisting
with his kitchen duties. James has a high school education and works
as a grinder at Westcast Industries. James is also a graduate of
Mohawk College with a diploma in Architectural Technology. James
was sponsored into Brant Lodge by W. Bro. Peter Waller and W. Bro.
Dennis Fulkerson. James' father, Bro. Ken Braund, is also a member
of Brant Lodge and has assisted James tremendously in preparing
meals. James is a member of the 1812 Re-enactment Degree Team. James
is a member of several historical military re-enactment groups,
including Butler's Rangers and the U.S. 16th Regiment Afoot. James
is a hard-working young man and I am pleased that he is pursuing
his desire to be the Worshipful Master of Brant Lodge.
SENIOR DEACON BRO. CARL LEESON
Carl was born in Orangeville over 61 years ago and lives in
Brantford. Carl has been married to Lynda for over 37 years, and
they have two adult children and two foster children. Carl and Lynda
have had between 40 and 50 foster children over the years, particularly
hard to place children in their teenage years. Carl has received
diplomas in connection with his specialized training in foster care.
Carl has a high school education and works as a press operator at
Lintec Business Forms. Carl was sponsored into Brant Lodge in March,
1996 by W. Bro. Don Clarkson and W. Bro. David Leslie. Carl is a
member of Unity Shrine No. 14, the Murton Lodge of Perfection, and
the Brantford Scottish Rite Association. Carl is active in his church,
Sydenham United, is the Group Committee Chairperson of 3rd Sydenham
Scouts, and a member of the Brantford Foster Parents Association.
Carl is one of those special people that can't say no and he is
an excellent ritualist. Whenever I need someone to do work, I can
count on Carl. All things being equal, Carl with be W.M. of Brant
Lodge when we celebrate our 150th Anniversary in 2003, and that
is not by accident. I am proud to have Bro. Carl Leeson as a friend
and as an officer of Brant Lodge.
JUNIOR DEACON BRO. HARRY WILDE
Harry is 51 years old and lives in Brantford. Harry's mother
also lives in Brantford and his late father was a PUC bus driver
for over 30 years. Harry has an older sister. Harry has been married
to Dianne for over 25 years, and they have three adult children,
Kathleen, Julie and Harry Jr. Harry spent his youth in Eagle Place
and Homedale, and attended elementary school at King Edward, Thomas
B. Costain and Dufferin schools and high school at B.C.I. While
he has taken a variety of post-secondary courses, Harry essentially
went straight from high school to Canada Permanent in 1968, and
spent the next 30 years in the trust company business. Harry took
a golden handshake from Canada Trust in 1998, and hasn't looked
back. He has completed a series of courses and now works as a real
estate appraiser for Hopkins-Lewis, holding the appraisal designation
of C.R.A. Harry was sponsored into Brant Lodge in November, 1995
by W. Bro. Richard B. Pickering and myself. Harry has two uncles
in Masonry, W. Bro. Norm Burke and Bro. Len Wilde, and is a member
of Murton Lodge of Perfection. Harry is active in his church, Greenbrier
Presbyterian, currently serving as a elder, and has been a member
of the Brantford Jaycees, served as General Chairman of the Salvation
Army Red Shield Campaign, and coached and refereed minor sports.
I have far more information about Harry than will fit on these pages.
I have been proud to call Bro. Harry Wilde a friend since 1974,
and am equally proud to have him as an officer of Brant Lodge.
INNER GUARD & TREASURER BRO. HARRY MCCLELLAND
Harry is 26 years old and lives in Brantford. Harry has a
brother, Jamie, and two sisters, Joanne and Teresa. His parents,
Rob & Margaret, also live in Brantford. If some of this sounds
familiar, it's because you read about Harry's brother, Jamie, last
month. Harry attended elementary school at Bellview and Major Ballachey
and high school at Pauline Johnson. After high school, Jamie attended
George Brown College where he studied Culinary Arts. Harry worked
for 5 years at Callahan's Restaurant and now works at Bell City
Foundry, obviously not as a chef. Harry pours grey iron and ductile
iron on different moulding machines, as well as operating a forklift.
Harry was sponsored into Brant Lodge in March, 1997 by his uncle,
W. Bro. Harry McClelland, and W. Bro. Jack Herron. Harry enjoys
cooking and baking and is taking classes at Mohawk College in different
subjects. I have it on good authority that Harry is a student of
the Martial Arts as well. Harry came forward to assume the role
of Treasurer in 1998 and I was pleased to appoint him as Inner Guard
last November. Harry is the kind of intelligent young man that we
need in Masonry, and I am proud to have Bro. Harry McClelland as
an officer of Brant Lodge.
SENIOR STEWARD BRO. JAMES MCCLELLAND
James, or Jamie as we know him, is 25 years old and lives in Brantford.
Jamie has a brother, Harry, and two sisters, Joanne and Teresa.
His parents, Rob & Margaret, also live in Brantford. Jamie attended
elementary school at Bellview School and Woodman Drive School, and
high school at Pauline Johnson. After high school, Jamie attended
Fanshawe College where he studied to be a library information technician.
Jamie worked for a short time in the kitchen at Callahan's Restaurant
and now works at Bell City Foundry. Jamie's duties as a process
controller include verifying casting densities and testing the chemical
levels in the iron. Jamie was recommended for membership into Brant
Lodge by his uncle, W. Bro. Harry Y. McClelland, and W. Bro. Jack
Herron and was initiated in January 1998. Jamie's brother, Bro.
Harry Y.R. McClelland, is also a member of Brant Lodge and you will
learn more about him next month. I had the privilege of delivering
the Junior Warden's lecture to Jamie, and I can recall vividly that
he was a very nervous young man. It has been a pleasure to see him
grow in confidence in the past 2 years. Jamie enjoys scuba diving
and reading. Jamie has proven to be a quick learner and progressed
through the 3 degrees with apparent ease, although I'm sure he put
in countless hours studying the work with his uncle and brother.
Jamie will be doing work for the first time at the February meeting,
and I have no doubt that he will do a superb job. I am proud to
have Bro. Jamie McClelland as an officer of Brant Lodge.
JUNIOR STEWARD BRO. GILBERT (GIL) RUSSELL
Gil is 49 years old and was born in Sudbury, where his parents
still reside. He is the oldest of 5 children. Gil is presently single
and has 2 grown children. Gil has fond memories of his dad building
a house in the country, having to do without indoor plumbing for
the first winter, and chopping wood for the stove. Gil is a Grade
12 graduate and took a pre-apprenticeship course at Cambrian College
in structural steel fitting. He worked at Inco for many years, and
then turned to the trucking industry in 1990. Gil has an A2 licence
and presently drives 200-300 miles per day delivering gypsum products
from Hagersville to places like Home Depot in Barrie. Gil works
long hours, starting early in the morning to make deliveries before
the stores open. Unfortunately, these hours often interfere with
Gil's real passion, Freemasonry. Gil is a member of St. Jude's Anglican
Church, where he participates in scripture readings and sings in
the choir. He curls, shoots pool, and plays darts. Gil was sponsored
into Brant Lodge by R.W. Bro. Bill Clarke and W. Bro. Dave Ritchie
and was initiated on Past Masters' night in June, 1998. Gil has
a zeal and enthusiasm for Masonry, and loves to visit whenever he
gets the chance. Gil has a strong affinity for food, and is therefore
enjoying his stint as Junior Steward. In the 1½ years that
I have known Gil, I have been impressed by his devotion to his Lodge
and by his willingness to help wherever possible. I am proud to
have Bro. Gil Russell as an officer of Brant Lodge.
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