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March On! ...the history of the

Toronto Optimists Drum & Bugle Corps

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Optimists' Photo Gallery

Photos of the Toronto Optimists, the Seneca Optimists, the Optimists Alumni and many others!

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Home > The Old Days (Photos from our competitive years) > Other Corps (mostly Canadian)

De La Salle


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113 files, last one added on Oct 22, 2026
Album viewed 1068 times

Denis Morris Majestics


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4 files, last one added on Dec 28, 2011
Album viewed 272 times

Don Mills Skyraiders


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3 files, last one added on Dec 11, 2011
Album viewed 315 times

Durham Girls


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22 files, last one added on May 07, 2026
Album viewed 420 times

Dutch Boy (Kitchener-Waterloo)


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53 files, last one added on Oct 28, 2026
Album viewed 1318 times

Etobicoke Crusaders


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7 files, last one added on Dec 05, 2017
Album viewed 289 times

Finleyville Royal Crusaders


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4 files, last one added on Nov 04, 2026
Album viewed 4 times

Flying Dutchmen Junior (Kitchener-Waterloo)


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10 files, last one added on Dec 23, 2018
Album viewed 382 times

Garfield Cadets


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26 files, last one added on Nov 12, 2025
Album viewed 806 times

Geneva Appleknockers Jr


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9 files, last one added on Oct 17, 2026
Album viewed 215 times

Georgian Lancers


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The Georgian Lancers drum and bugle corps was formed in the fall of 1976 under the leadership of Sue Edwards, Rodger Tippin and Remi Blais.

The idea of forming a parade corps was first discussed by the three people who are now the Directors of the corps, Sue Edwards, Rodger Tippin and Remi Blais, in June of 1976. They were involved in instructing majorette groups in the Owen Sound and Meaford area. After a number of meetings, the recruiting program was unofficially started on July 1st when Mr. Tippin took three people to a corps exhibition in Port Dover. They attended about six more events after that, concluding with the Seneca Optimists perform their music for the new members of The Lancers and their parents in the high school gym on September 25th . Twelve recruits and ten adults attended the 1976 Canadian Nationals.

As in most smaller communities, the new corps received exce1lent co-operation from the local television station and newspaper, the Owen Sound Sun-Times in giving valued publicity to their program. The evening of September 9th, the cable station featured an interview, films and slides about drum corps to introduce the activity to the community and the Sept. 21st edition of the newspaper followed up with a 1/4 photo feature on the corps. In an interview with press representatives and the local radio and television station, Mr. Tippin, a Director of the corps, stated, "We had two objectives in asking the Optimists to appear in Owen Sound; to teach the community a little more about drum corps and to interest more kids in this area to get involved."

Competitively, the Georgian unit began in the 1977 Canadian Nationals “Junior E” division, placing 4th and moved up to the “Bantam Class” the following season, where they were crowned the 1978 Canadian National champions. The last 2 years saw the corps enter the field of competition with 3rd place finishes in both the 1979 Canada Central Circuit & Canadian Nationals “”Junior Cadets” class, concluding with another 3rd position in the 1980 Ontario Provincial “Cadet Class” championships.

In an attempt to adopt a different approach to the activity, they reorganized as the Northern Spirit “music group” in 1981.

Paul Legault (DCX)

4 files, last one added on Mar 04, 2026
Album viewed 48 times

Grantham Police Boys Band


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43 files, last one added on Mar 31, 2026
Album viewed 705 times

106 albums on 9 page(s) 3

Random files - Other Corps (mostly Canadian)
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Utica Yankees (Batavia, NY, 1969)11177 views
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Braintree Warriors (Rome, NY, 1960)772 views
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Simcoe Golden Lions guard (1977)1078 views
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Lions of London (Parade somewhere, 1978)36 views
1967_lasalle_negs_007a.jpg
LaSalle Cadets (1967)1026 views
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Vic Kruklis, Lorne Ferrazzutti, Ed Law & Bill Stoney of Commanders (Hamilton, 1964)1493 views

Last additions - Other Corps (mostly Canadian)
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Conqueror (Nationals prelims, Varsity Stadium, Toronto, 1964)7 viewsNov 05, 2026
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Finleyville Royal Crusaders (DCI Canada, Hamilton, 1979)20 viewsNov 04, 2026
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LaSalle Cadets (1970)33 viewsNov 03, 2026
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Lions of London (Parade somewhere, 1978)36 viewsOct 30, 2026
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Guelph Royalaires (St. Catharines, 1961)40 viewsOct 29, 2026
1980_sheet_79_19a.jpg
Cadets of Dutch Boy (1980)50 viewsOct 28, 2026