BRAMPTON -
As many as 2,000 members of one of the world’s most well-known fraternal organizations, the Shriners, are coming to Brampton next month for their 2008 Rameses Spring Ceremonial. The Shriners are a brotherhood of men who are all masters of Freemasonry, which is the oldest, largest and most widely known fraternity in the world. “The Shriners are one of the oldest fraternal charity organizations in North America. Started in the late decades of the 19th century, it was formed to promote the idea that we could make a difference to others through charity work, while having a good time,” said Jeff Williams, communications co-ordinator of 2008 Spring Ceremonial. Shriners emphasize the idea of philanthropy in all that they do, ranging from charity work to the preservation of their own fraternal bonds. The charity work they do supports the 22 hospitals they have across North America. These hospitals treat children with disorders such as orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. “They, nor their families, get any bills. We subsidize their transportation so that makes it easier for the family to get to either the hospital in Erie or Montreal, which are our Canadian units, or Boston, depending on what they are being treated for,” said Barrie Williams, president of the Peel Shrine Club. “We raise money for the hospital so that the families get no bill. It’s all paid for.” The ceremonial is a chance for the Shriners to get together and celebrate their fraternal organization in the Flower City of Canada. “The city has been extremely helpful. Anything we’ve asked for, they’ve pretty well done for us,” said Doug Morris, director of the ceremonial. The ceremonial has been in the making for the past three years, with events and accommodations planned since it formed as a proposal designed by Morris and another individual. “The ceremonial consists of initiating candidates into the Shrine, getting our members together from far flung places to re-establish friendships and acquaintances, holding business meetings, and of course, many fun filled events,” said Jeff Williams. The opening ceremony for the event will take place on June 5, with a flag raising at 3 p.m. at Brampton City Hall. The ceremonial itself will take place June 6- 8, with events happening on each day. “On Friday night, we are having an event at the Bramalea Curling Club with Rockin’ Ray Michaels and the Greaseballs. Saturday, the parade will pass through downtown Brampton, and our feast, which the mayor will be attending, will be held at the Mandarin. Sunday, we have a drum head at the Brampton Curling Club on McMurchy Street,” said Jeff Williams. Though the ceremony is primarily for initiating new candidates into the Shrine Club and enjoying all that Brampton has to offer, it will also be used to raise money for the Shriner’s hospitals. “During what they call the feast, which is really the banquet on the Saturday night, all the different clubs will get up and present a cheque to the potentate, or the illustrious sir as we call him,” explained Morris. “And that money will go directly into the transportation fund or directly to the hospital. The transportation fund is the money that we use to transport the children and their parents or guardians that go with them to the hospital that they are going to.” Shriners from all across North America will be gathering in Brampton for this event. “We’ve got some coming from the States. We got London coming, that’s where the other centre is. There’s one in Montreal, there’s one in Toronto, and there’s one in London,” said Terry Fulton, past president of the Peel Shrine Club and current treasurer. The parade on June 7, starting at 1:30 p.m., was designed specifically for the public’s enjoyment. All residents of Brampton are invited to attend. “There are two areas where, basically, the public are invited to, which are our opening ceremonies on the Thursday, and then of course the parade,” said Morris. “Basically it’s our way of thanking the general public for allowing us to come here and have our ceremonial. The parade starts at the GO station on Church Street West and goes down to main and Frederick Street where it breaks off.” Anywhere between 50 and 60 parade units will be showcased for the public to see. “All those parade units come out of the Shriner’s pocket,” said Fulton. “We’re going to have fun, and the parade should be fun for the public.” For more information on the Shriners and the Spring Ceremonial, visit www.peelshrineclub.com/home.html.
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