Volunteer Awards 2019

 

Donalda McDonald

Donalda joined RSCDS Toronto Association in 1977 and received her full certificate in St. Andrews in 1990.   She was a reliable substitute teacher at Trinity, and by the year 2000 she was added as one of the teachers at Glenview, and soon after she was teaching Branch Classes.

Before long, she added Don Mills and Scarborough social groups to her busy schedule, both in 2004, and the Tayside Morning class was also added to her already busy week.

Donalda served on the Teachers’ Panel and devised the programmes for Dancing in the Park both in 2004 and 2015.

She regularly attended St. Andrews Summer School and brought home teaching notes from the new books to share with her fellow Toronto teachers. 

Much of what teachers do is unpaid and is taken for granted by their classes; the time it takes to choose the dances, interpret and teach the dances, and to choose music for these dances. Donalda’s class preparation was exemplary, and she seldom had to look at her notes when teaching a class – she made it seem so easy.  If you listened closely while she would teach, you could often hear her throw out little gems, sometimes a dancing note, and sometimes a little amusement – if you paid attention, you were often rewarded.

Donalda was a great supporter of Branch events and would brief for all her social groups when needed.  If it wasn’t a night for her to brief, she would be on the dance floor, helping new dancers though the dance. 

Having four social groups at the same time is remarkable, and many dancers were fortunate to be part of these as well as her Association classes.  Although she has relinquished her social groups, dancers continue to enjoy her company at Trinity, where she has been a member since 2007.


Anne Anderson

Anne joined the RSCDS Toronto Association in 1999. She dances at Don Mills where she is the contact person for the group and a steadfast supporter of the group.  Her demeanour sets a welcoming tone to maintain and promote dancing at the social level and embodies the true spirit of Scottish country dancing. 

She is a long-time supporter of TA events, including the monthly dances where she warmly greets dancers as she sells 50/50 draw tickets that support Dancing in the Park, a task that she has done with cheer and good will since 2010.  She has been an active, inviting presence at past Multicultural Days, again providing a wonderful example to the public.

Anne has been a member of the demonstration pool for 15 years, attending countless demonstrations, encouraging audience participation, and promoting SCD through chatting with attendees and her exemplary execution of dances, as well as supporting newcomers to the pool.  That is a lot of pas de basque!

She has been a steady presence at Dancing in the Park over the years, helping to set up the banners, dancing, and assisting new dancers. 

More recently, she has been helping at the Level 1 Association Classes at St. Leonard’s, inspiring and supporting our new dancers. 

Anne has done all this quietly, efficiently, and with great charm and friendship.  She is truly deserving of recognition.



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Chris Elliot

Chris has been an active dancer and member of the Toronto Association since 2009.  She currently dances at Scarborough and Petronella and was also a member of the Fallingbrook group.

She has been the treasurer of the Scarborough Social Group since 2010 and helped with the organization of the very popular Christmas Dance that Scarborough ran for many years. As "Keeper of the Purse", she is always the first to arrive at the hall to make sure the tea supplies are ready, the chairs are out, and the sign-up sheet is in place -- things that many of us take for granted.

At the branch level, Chris has been an active member of the Demo Pool since 2009 and has danced at many, many demonstration events.  She has been the Convenor of the 50/50 Draw Committee since the 2010-2011 dance season.  Again, this is a task that goes largely unnoticed, but she guarantees a winner every month! 

She has also organized Scottish country dance classes at a local seniors’ centre, inviting some current dancers to help the participants get through basic formations.

Chris is a dedicated member of the association who prefers a quiet approach to helping and deserves recognition for all her involvement with both the Association and her social groups.  She is truly an emblem of volunteerism keeping SCD alive and well.