Regimental Foundation

Canadian Forces QR & Os (Queen's Regulations and Orders) allow military units to apply for the status to issue receipts for income tax purposes for donations to a Unit Fund. Units apply through the chain of command, and National Defence Headquarters applies on their behalf to Canada Customs and Revenue Agency for charitable status. This allows units to raise funds for administrative and capital expenditure purposes, offering tax relief to donors. In 1960 the Senate requested the Serving Battalion to submit an application which was subsequently approved. The Unit Fund has been administered by the Senate from inception. The Senate approved the formation of a Regimental Foundation in 1979. The Toronto Scottish Regiment Foundation is a corporation registered under the laws of the Province of Ontario, and has been registered as a Public Charitable Foundation with Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. Its purpose is to raise a permanent or capital fund, the income from which can be given to the Serving Battalion to help cover the costs of maintaining our distinctive highland uniforms, Regimental traditions, and assist in meeting the operating needs of the Serving Battalion not covered by the Department of National Defence. The original financial target of the Foundation of $50,000 was quickly exceeded. Since inception the Foundation has given over $500,000 to the Serving Battalion from income and capital gains on investments. While the Foundation operates under the guidance of eighteen Trustees as a totally independent entity, it does so under the watchful eye of the Senate, several of whose members are also Trustees of the Foundation. The Unit Fund differs from the Foundation in two aspects. It is designated as a charitable organization whereas the Foundation is a public foundation. The Unit Fund must distribute at least eighty percent of its charitable donations within one year of receipt, whereas donations to the Foundation are placed into a permanent or capital fund to earn income which in turn may be given to the Serving Battalion.

Officers' Association

The objective of the Officers' Association is to maintain contact with our former and serving officers, and assist the serving officers in the maintenance of the Officers' Mess.

The Association is made up mainly of former serving officers of the Regiment as well as a number of Associate (civilian) Members. Over the years the Association has lived up to its objective, undertaking major expenditures on drapes, carpeting, furniture restoration, and maintenance of the 'Rogues Gallery'.

The Officers' Association produces an annual Newsmagazine, and charges a nominal annual fee for membership.

Regimental Association

The Senate authorized the formation of a Regimental Association in 1967. Former and serving members of the Regiment may join the Association for a nominal annual fee. The Regimental Association is dedicated to maintaining comradeship, and mutual support for its members. It is an all ranks organization; our World War II veterans comprise the majority of the membership with former and serving officers accounting for approximately 10% of the membership. The Association meets on a regular basis, and hosts an annual reunion.

Over the years, the Association has provided significant funding to the Serving Battalion, especially prior to the formation of the Regimental Foundation.

Through dedicated efforts of some of the founding members of the Association, a Regimental Museum was officially opened in 1984. The serving Battalion provides a room at The Captain Bellenden Hutcheson VC Armoury which has been furnished and converted to a display area for Regimental artifacts and memorabilia.

The Commanding Officer's Wife's Brooch

At the change of command in 1967, a new Regimental tradition was begun with the introduction of the Commanding Officer's Wife's brooch. The brooch was enclosed with a letter addressed to Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Hilborn dated October 11h, 1967 which read as follows:

I am enclosing the Toronto Scottish pin which my late father Lieutenant-Colonel Alan G Poupore DSO OBE ED had made for my mother many years ago. As you may know father was one of the originals and founders of The Toronto Scottish Regiment and served with it until he was transferred to the Ordnance Corps in 1941. It is the wish of my brother John, my sister Barbara Heintzman and myself that his pin be given to the Regiment, and that it should be worn by the wife of the Commanding Officer of the Regiment, and should be passed on at each change of command. We hope you will agree that the pin is very beautiful and that in this way it will serve as a memorial to one of your finest Colonels and his lady.

                     -- [signed Robert Poupore]

The brooch was put into wear when Colonel Hilborn on behalf of the Poupore family presented it to Mrs Jean Vance following the November change of command from Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Eshelby to Lieutenant-Colonel Donald Vance.

The brooch is one of a kind and was manufactured by Birks, Ellis, Ryrie in the same shape and size as the Regimental collar dog. (The company today is Birks Limited). The Ellis was Lieutenant-Colonel John F Ellis MBE who brought the 1st Battalion home from overseas in 1946). The exact date when the brooch was made is not known.

The 21 October 1998 appraisal described the brooch as follows: "Platinum (acid tested) Commanding Officer's Wife brooch. With inscription on blue enamel Belgium-France 1916-1919 and a 75 in the centre. It contains 45 diamonds, single, full and baguette cut, with diamonds weighing aprox .50 ct in total. VS2/H-1 avg. With 6 calibre cut synthetic rubies".

It is of note that Alan G Poupose was originally a cavalry officer in The 9th Mississauga Horse Regiment. He was second-in-command to Lieutenant-Colonel Colin Harbottle at the time Poupore was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1917.He took command of The 75th Battalion in the rank of Major on the 2nd of September 1918 when Lieutenant-Colonel Harbottle was wounded, and he remained until the 13th of September 1918 when he left France bound for the Canadian Expeditionary Force to Siberia. His brother Lieutenant William E Poupore also served in The 75th Battalion, and was awarded the Military Cross in May 1917.

Major Poupore returned to service when the Mississauga Regiment was organized in 1920, which subsequently became The Toronto Scottish Regiment in 1921. His service continued right through to 1940 when Major Poupore was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, The Toronto Scottish Regiment until his transfer to The Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps in 1941.

In the event the incoming CO is not married, the brooch will be given over to the Senate to be placed into safekeeping.

Contact Us

Toronto Scottish Regiment Pipes and Drums
Captain Bellenden Hutcheson VC Armoury,
66 Birmingham Street,
Toronto M8V 2B8, Canada
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