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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)

Don Mills Skyraiders


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3 files, last one added on Dec 11, 2011
Album viewed 285 times

Durham Girls


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22 files, last one added on May 07, 2026
Album viewed 360 times

Dutch Boy (Kitchener-Waterloo)


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49 files, last one added on Mar 10, 2026
Album viewed 1217 times

Etobicoke Crusaders


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7 files, last one added on Dec 05, 2017
Album viewed 258 times

Flying Dutchmen Junior (Kitchener-Waterloo)


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10 files, last one added on Dec 23, 2018
Album viewed 341 times

Garfield Cadets


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26 files, last one added on Nov 12, 2025
Album viewed 756 times

Geneva Appleknockers Jr


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8 files, last one added on Jan 06, 2026
Album viewed 185 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 18 times

Grantham Police Boys Band


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43 files, last one added on Mar 31, 2026
Album viewed 624 times

Greece Cadets


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12 files, last one added on May 06, 2026
Album viewed 306 times

Guardsmen (Illinois)


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6 files, last one added on Jan 03, 2026
Album viewed 55 times

Guelph Opti Knights


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3 files, last one added on Mar 22, 2009
Album viewed 346 times

101 albums on 9 page(s) 3

Random files - Other Corps (mostly Canadian)
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Ventures (Ivor Wynne Stadium, Hamilton, 1980)1002 views
1963_cdca_3_8_ver2c.jpg
Ivor Bramley announcing, Jesters (CDCA Convention, 1963)11 views
1978_july_cardinals_others_014b1.jpg
Philadelphia PAL Cadets (US Open prelims, 1978)549 views
77_krescendos_584.jpg
Peterborough Krescendos (1977)869 views
1972_lasalle_big10_022a.jpg
LaSalle Cadets (Big 10 prelims, Hamilton, 1972)971 views
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Drum Major receives award (1961)1267 views

Last additions - Other Corps (mostly Canadian)
1963_cdca_3_8_ver2c.jpg
Ivor Bramley announcing, Jesters (CDCA Convention, 1963)11 viewsJun 02, 2026
1971_shriners_t011_16d.jpg
Blue Rock (Shriners Contest, CNE Stadium, Toronto, 1971)18 viewsMay 30, 2026
1970_lasalle_shrine_ogden_bw_030c.jpg
LaSalle Cadets (Ogdensburg, NY, 1970)22 viewsMay 28, 2026
1960_rochester_t0127_27c.jpg
Toronto Optimists and St. Joe's, on retreat (NY - Canadian Championships, Rochester, NY, 1960)26 viewsMay 26, 2026
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De La Salle, playing concert (New York - Canadian Championships, Rochester, 1960)23 viewsMay 24, 2026
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Santa Clara Vanguard (Lamport Stadium, Toronto, 1978) 22 viewsMay 22, 2026