Glengarry Old Time Fiddlers

From Glengarryceltic

The Glengarry Old Time Fiddler organization was formed on March 26, 1966 in Maxville. The purpose was to promote and preserve old time fiddle music and its related arts. Ron Clare was the first president and Fred Leroux is the only playing member who has been there since the beginning.

The organization had four dances a year - one for each season! The format was a concert followed by a dance at the Community Hall in Maxville. Beer was fifty cents and liquor was eighty-five cents!!

They released their first tape, “The 25th Anniversary Tape” in 1991 and the second “By Request” was made in 1995. By 1998 all tapes had been sold, so the group released a new CD entitled “Memories” - in memory of the late Bev MacQueen.

Now in their 38th year, the Old Time Fiddlers now wear blue vests, white shirts and Glengarry Highland Games tartan ties or bows and hold their dances at the Bonnie Glen Pavilion. A highlight of the year is their Christmas dinner and dance at which they donate $2000.00 to charities and other worthy causes. There are 20 active members - 18 fiddlers, one bass player and one pianist. Sherrill Trottier has looked after bookings, fiddle practices and music for the past number of years. Practices are twice monthly and the group entertains between 50 and 60 times a year, mostly for seniors from Lachute, Cornwall, St. Regis and many places in between. All members give freely of their time and no one receives any remuneration.