About the Branch

The Toronto Association was actually formed by World War One members from the imperial side of our family in 1921. In 1935 the Association opened a club on Wellington Street and the Saturday and Wednesday night dances were very popular. The Saturday night dances continued until the close of the clubrooms.

The first Red Hackle Dinner was held on January 12, 1928 in the King Edward Hotel. With our move to York street as described below, the Dinner moved to the Royal York Hotel and remained there until 1987 when we moved the venue to the 48th Highlanders Sergeants' and Warrant Officers' Mess in Moss Park Armouries.

Until the 40's, all Regimental members were from the Imperial Black Watch. The first "Canadians" (to which the new Regimental members were referred) did not arrive until the Second World War. From Wellington, we moved to York Street across form the Union Station in 1969 and had at our peak 550 members (mostly associate) possibly attracted by the delta in beer and liquor prices between ourselves and the Royal York Hotel directly opposite. However, all members knew the meaning of Regiment and family; for it was in those days we would have as many as 200 members on the annual November 10th evening Remembrance Day Parades.

Alas, the building on York Street was put up for sale in 1982 and although we had a large general membership, the managers of the Club had to be Black Watch Regimental personnel. This group was getting few in number, so the decision was made to close clubroom operations. However, we did go out in a blaze of glory in that on February 22, 1982 (the day after our last meeting), the electrical vault under the street outside blew up and the building went on fire. It has subsequently been demolished.

Since the loss of the formal clubrooms, we have been meeting in the Naval Club and in the Sergeants' and Warrant Officers' Mess of the 48th Highlanders of Canada.

The current branch executive is as follows:

President: William (Bill) Carlisle This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Vice-President: Kevin Brackley This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Secretary: Ian MacIntosh This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Treasurer: Keith O'Brien This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Membership Chairman: Joe Blake  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Immediate Past President: William "Bill" Davis

Directors: Johan Draper, John Furlong, Ray Joseph, William Landry

TBWA Active Service Fund
22 Duke Road
Brampton, Ontario L6T 3K2

Remember no service fees are taken off your donation. 100% of your money goes to the troops. The pickup, packing and delivery of the comfort packages to CFB Trenton is all done by volunteers.

BBQ 2011 - July 23/11:

As you are aware, this BBQ was a sellout, an event position which this Association has not experienced in many years. The in house catering was handled by the TBWA catering Corps headed up by Vice President, Kevin Brackley ably assisted on the grill by our Honorary Vice President Mike Boire.

Of course your TBWA Pipes and Drums were out in full force and played to an appreciative audience. In that audience, we had the privilege of having a number of new members join us. One of them was David Mack. Dave is recently retired from the The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland. Dave took the opportunity to tell us about the book which he has written about the service of the 3 Scots in the Ghan. All the proceeds of the sale are going to help injured Soldiers.

Gerri Achtenberg honored us again this year by donating some of his carvings as door prizes. The Kit Shop was on site with a wide variety of goodies and they picked our BBQ to unveil the 150th Anniversary Black Watch watch. HLCol. McCabe had the 150th Anniversary Skean Dhu on display for us to see.

Another highlight of the BBQ was the unveiling of the 150th Anniversary Portrait and the presentation of the atelier (artist proof) print of the original on canvas to Col. Angus. The limited edition prints of this painting are now on sale via this web site.

Upcoming Events

Plans are coming together well for our 84th dinner. This time, instead of a keynote Speaker, we will have Keynote Entertainment in the form of the TBWA Pipes and Drums and the McDonnell Highland Dancers. The show will encompass highland dancing of course but with the additional spin of how it fits in with the military training and history of the Black Watch from our inception.

• We are also working on a video display depicting key points throughout the 150 year history of the RHC.
• We have taken the opportunity to use a new venue that has a built in projection/sound system and a rectangular room allowing all to hear and see the proceedings.

This venue is known has Ellas Banquet Halls and is located at 35 Danforth Road in Scarborough. Dinner will be served at 1930 hrs (7:30PM) with cocktails at 1830 hrs. Tickets for this event may be purchased by mailing a cheque to our Treasurer Keith O’Brien. Keith may be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it If purchased before December 15/11 tickets are $55/person. After December 15th, they will be $60/person.

• See Events Calendar

Joining the Black Watch Association (Toronto Branch)

Please contact the Branch Secretary at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it