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A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CANADIAN BRANCH

    The late Col. E.R. Rivers-Macpherson, OBE, a retired British Army officer,     established the groundwork for the Canadian Branch of the Clan Macpherson Association.  He came to Canada in 1947 with a Charter from the Chairman of the newly formed Clan Association in Scotland, Mr. Tom Macpherson, M.P., to establish a branch of the Association in the Dominion.  To build up a branch, Col. Rivers-Macpherson began an earnest nationwide recruiting drive directed to all clansmen listed in the telephone directories of the major cities.

The result was that the formation of the Canadian Branch a year later in March 1948 with the Hon. Ewen Alexander McPherson, the Chief Justice of Manitoba, as the first Chairman and Col. Rivers-Macpherson as Hon. Secretary. The first Annual Meeting was held at the Hon. Secretary’s home in Ottawa.

During the past 49 years, annual gatherings have been held in Ottawa; Montreal; Toronto; Stouffville, Ontario; Niagara Falls; Kettleby, Ontario; Baddeck, Nova Scotia; Hamilton, Ontario; Antigonish, Nova Scotia; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Georgetown, Ontario; Kingston, Ontario; Kitchener, Ontario; Ottawa, Ontario. In addition, the Canadian Branch has hosted three very successful joint rallies with the United States Branch at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario in 1980 and 1990 and at Ottawa in 2000.

The Canadian Branch has continued to grow under the successive leadership of the following Chairmen:

• Dr. Cluny Macpherson CMG, of St. John's,  Newfoundland

• Col. E.R. Rivers-Macpherson OBE of Ottawa

• Lloyd C. MacPherson KCLJ, St. Andrew’s College, Aurora, ON

• Hume Macpherson, Stouffville, Ontario

• Hon. Mr. Justice A. Alex. Cattanach , Ottawa, Ontario

• J. Donald MacPherson, Oakville, Ontario

• R. Gordon M. Macpherson, Burlington, Ontario

• Wallace C. MacPherson, Halifax, NS

• Neil F. McPherson, Oakville, Ontario

• Stuart G. MacPherson, Beamsville, Ontario

• J. Oliver McPherson, Milton, Ontario

• W. Ian McPherson, Etobicoke, Ontario

• Andrew K.P. MacPherson of Grimbsy, Ontario

• Douglas MacPherson of Oakville, Ontario

The current Chairman of the Canadian Branch is Robert Archibald from Port Hope, Ontario.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE CLAN MACPHERSON

The Canadian Branch has taken on an active role in promoting Scottish history, traditions and culture, particularly as they relate to the Clan Macpherson. The Branch has always been a strong supporter of the International Clan Association, especially in our major financial contributions to the maintenance and expansion of the Clan House & Museum in Newtonmore, Scotland.

One of its the most notable achievement of our Branch was the publication in 1966 of “The Posterity of the Three Brethren”.  This detailed history of the Clan Macpherson was written by Prof. Alan G. Macpherson of Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland, with our former Chairman the late Lloyd MacPherson as editor. This book has met with such success over the past 30 years that currently four editions being published.

In 1996, the Canadian Branch honoured the Clan Macpherson Association with a presentation of the official Coat of Arms with Banner for the Association to mark the 50^th Anniversary.  The Banner is now carried in the Grand March during our International Rally in Scotland.

As well, the Branch paid tribute to our Chief Sir William Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie during the 50^th Anniversary by presenting him with his own personal bonnet badge.  The badge incorporates the Chief’s Cat from his own Coat of Arms plus the three eagle feathers designating a clan chief.   Thirty years earlier, a similar presentation was made to our former Chief Brigadier General Alan Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie.

A Branch highlight occurred in 1972 when our Chief Sir William and Lady Macpherson made their first trip to North America to represent the Clan as official hosts of the memorable Scottish World Festival held at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.  At that time, the Branch presented Sir William with a banner depicting his own Coat of Arms, which is also carried in the Grand March.

The Canadian Branch played an extremely instrumental role in the formation of the current U.S. Branch.   As a result of membership decline in 1966, the U.S. Branch was consolidated under the leadership of the Canadian Branch.  Our Branch assumed the responsibility to keep the Clan Association alive in North American.  As a result, the Canadian Branch became known as the North American Branch.  In 1972, working with our American members, the Canadian Branch helped re-establish the U.S. Branch.

The modern Clan Societies have allowed people of Scottish ancestry to retain and adapt their culture and traditions.  Consequently, all Macphersons and Associated Families have found that membership in the Clan Association a worthwhile investment linking past to present.