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. " pon CC SI EEC Se : GSR EN S----- Over 100 members attend Leask Reunion hv Linda Stone The 54th annual gathering of the Leask Clan in Toronto, Canada, was also the second international reunion of the clan. A variety of activities June 17-20 were well attend- ed. The presence of Clan Chief Madam Leask of Leask attends all events added greatly to our pleasure and the success of the reunion. The reunion began Thurs- day evening, June 17, with a wine and cheese party followed by an elegant buffet dinner at the home of George and Kathie Leask in Klein- burg. About 110 people chatted and mingled under a large yellow and white marquee set up on the lawn, and visited informally in the spacious Leask home. George Leask had a number of photographs taken, and these were later made avail- able for reprints to anyone interested. At this get-acquainted evening and at subsequent events, two books were available: Madam Leask's The Leasks, and Ewart and Clara Leask' s Genelology: Leask Clan Society, a history of the Ontario Leasks. Both books sold well, and copies are still available to clan members who wish to obtain them. On Friday, June 18, a group of 50 people made an excursion to Niagara-on-the- Lake and Niagara Falls. The. day's events included stops at Niagara-on-the-Lake's period and antique shops, the Floral Clock, an excellent lunch at. Michael's Inn, a visit to Marine Land, and, of course, several hours at the Falls. Beautiful weather added to the enjoyment of the day. The group arrived back at the Chelsea Inn hotel in Toronto, where most out- of-town guests stayed, at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 19, was left free during the day for visitors to sightsee and shop in Toronto. A gala evening in the Lester B. Pearson Room of the Ramada Inn began with cocktails at 6:30. Roses were provided for all the ladies by Ross and Leila Stone. The head table enter- ed to music by pipers Shona Stone and Donald Forsythe. After grace, a toast to the Queen, and the singing of "O Canada", about 130 people sat down to roast beef dinner. After dinner, Master of Ceremonies Ewart Leask introduced head table guests: Madam Leask of Leask; Ontario Leask Clan Society Presidents Ross and Leila Stone; secretary- treasurers Wes and Joan Lane; Ewart's wife and co- author of the Leask geneology book, Clara; and members at large George and Kathie Leask. Elmer Eadie read an original poem of ancestry which, was well received. President Ross Stone connected this year's gather- ing with last year's first international gathering in Edinburgh, Scotland. He expressed pleasure at seeing travellers from Australia, Scotland, England, western Canada, and the states of California, Wisconsin, Iowa, Conn. Massachusetts, Indiana, and Michigan. A toast was drunk to Madam Leask, the 22nd chief of the Leask clan. Madam Leask, looking lovely in a pale yellow gown with a gardenia corsage, responded to the toast with spirit and charm. She especially thank- ed her hosts, George and Kathie Leask, and greeted all clan members. Madam Leask reported on events in the Aberdeenshire Leask clan, which has 135 paid-up members. She reported that a tartan, which she helped design, is awaiting final approval and will likely be available to Leask clan members by fall. A special invitation was extended to clan members to attend the 1985 International Clan Leask gathering in Scotland. Madam Leask concluded her remarks with a toast "to absent friends." Ewart Leask thanked many people for their efforts in producing the Ontario Leask geneology book, and presented a copy of it to Madam Leask. Charlie Leask presented copies of The Love of Scotland by Leslie Gardner to George and Kathie Leask, Ewart and Clara Leask, the Thomas Leask family of Hamilton, Wes and Joan Lane, and Ross and Leila Stone in appreciation of their efforts toward the gathering. Betty Stone and her daughter Janice Stone sang a song Betty had written for the occasion. The song was very well received, and Madam Leask asked that it be made generally available. Ewart Leask recalled the history of the Leask clan in Ontario. Prosperous and hardworking, the Leasks soon owned large tracts of land and raised prize _ winning cattle and horses, shortly after their arrival in 1841. Mr. Leask expressed his pleasure'in finding 'new' relations and invited people from a number of areas to speak about their heritage. Miss Grace Leask of Milwaukee presented a copy of her book on the geneology of the Leask-Dowells of south Shields to Madam Leask. Mr. Brian Leask of Australia announced that he had probably discovered a missing part of his own geneology in Grace Leask's family -- one illustration of the "small world" theory. Mr. Elmer Eadie presented a certificate of the CBC "Fresh Air" broadcast (which had been heard on national radio Saturday morning) to Madam Leask for a remembrance. The evening concluded with several hours' dancing to the Doug Robinson Orchestra. A bus trip on Sunday, June 20, took some 84 people on an all-day trip of the Leask settlement area. The tour commenced with a visit to Darlington, where Peter "Leask and family of seven sons and two daughters first settled. when coming to canada in 1841. Their original farm was Ryland Farm, no doubt named after Ryland Farm in Scotland. One of the highlights of the day was a visit to E.P. Taylor's Windfield Farms to see some of the champion race horses bred and raised there. All visitors were presented with a book about the horses, and were allowed to see a newborn colt. A tour of Sam McLaughlin's mansion, Parkwood Estate, was followed by lunch there. . During the afternoon we travelled east of Greenbank past the farm where Joan Lane was born, across Spadina Ave. and east on the 12 con. of Reach. We saw the land that Alexander (nephew of original Peter) owned. Part of it is Moneyfuffel Farm where Big Jim Leask farmed. Across the road is the farm now owned by John Leask (son of Roy Leask). We stopped at the next farm to the east, the John Leask Farm (later owned by his son Peter who is grand- son of the original Peter Leask). Madam Leask plant- ed a tree for Helen and Gary Wilson who now reside there. The stone house and lovely lawn was a beautiful setting for the piper, Mr. Al Ash to welcome us. Many toured the house before journeying on. Many thanks to the Wilsons for all their interest in the reunion. The tour proceeded north- ward and went past the farms of Neil Raines and Willie Stone, both close relatives of the Leasks. We saw the farms at Wick that formerly were Alex and David Leasks, then on to the village of Leaskdale. Mr. George Leask was appointed postmaster there in 1857 and at that time the village was to be named, so it, being in a valley or dale was called Leaskdale. The Leask home built in 1866 still contains many of the original furnish- ings and pihe floors and many antiques. We saw the mill stones on the mill race built in 1854 by Cameron Leask's grandfather George Leask. This is the only Leask farm today with an unbroken direct line inheritance from the original family. The tour past Fred Leask's farm where the site of the old saw mill was at one time. Two bus loads visited the Uxbridge Scott Museum, where a number of historical Leask family items are on display. Many thanks for your keen interest! The day ended at the Ux- bridge Arena where 260 , relatives of the Leask Clan Society gathered for a buffet dinner and friendly visit. Don Forsythe and Robert Harper piped in the head table. Master of Ceremonies, Charlie Leask, conducted the brief business meeting. The officers for 1982-83 were chosen: President Dorothy Adcock of Toronto, and Secretary-Treasurers Ewart and Clara Leask. A repetition of some of the Saturday night discussions was repeated for those who had been absent and several prizes were presented, with appropriate jokes, by Elmer Eadie. Madam Leask was presented with a silver Maple Leaf pin as a momentum of her visit with us. 'Madam Leask addressed her remarks primarily to the younger people present, tell- ing them of the family ghost which haunts the ancient Leask chapel, of the loyal hero William, the witch Janet, and the romantic milkmaid, Jessie. She re- peated her invitation to join in the 1985 Scotland reunion. The program 'ended at about 9 p.m. leaving families to visit and enjoy them- selves. The reunion, on the whole was felt to be more successful than anyone had imagined, and had created, in the words of Mr, Charlie Leask of Toronto, a healthy 'increase of kinship consiousness". PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday July 13, 1982 -- 33 From left: Janice Stone, Toronto; Madam CAESAREA Leask of Scotland and Betty Stone, Saintfield. COMMUNITY CHURCH REV. W.H. CRAWFORD, D.D. ANDY-CO DRIVING SERVICES SCHOOL LTD. During the Summer 686-2224 '"comeTaxDeductible gps 3993 Family Wish ) 11 AM. "BY APPOINTMENT ONLY' NR. or DON FREW & SONS LTD. R.R.1, NESTLETON 986-5568 or 986-5238 * Agents for Ontario Winter Wheat *We will be receiving wheat as an Agent for the Ontario Winter Wheat Marketing Board for the 1982 Crop. * Grains - Bought & Sold DON FREW sot BSONSLID. we ® Reg. Rd. 57 H * Grain Drying %% Hy. 54 % *Tractor-trailer Scales weight up to 80 Metric Tonne Scugog Chamber of Commerce... 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