The Canton of Caer Draeth was inaugurated in approximately
1978 and was based at the Curling Club in Cookstown. Events were held at
least once a year, most notably a Spring event, to shake off the heavy dormancy
of winter. In 2008, the year that Ealdormere celebrated ten years as a
kingdom, Caer Draeth celebrated its 30th anniversary with a Spring Tune Up
event which included a feast of 30 dishes prepared for 90 feasters.
A group of members of Caer Draeth, who actually resided in
the Penetanguishene-Midland area, decided to form their own group closer to
home, so the Incipient Canton of Swans Keep was born at a Christmas pot luck in
December 2002 with the first actual meeting being held in the Midland Library
with long time SCAdian, Miriel (Yvonne Mitchell) as Seneschal. Meetings were
subsequently moved to the Real Canadian Superstore (originally Zehrs) free
kitchen teaching space and THL Augustyn (Nick West) became Seneschal. Work was
done to get approval for the name of Swans Deep, which reflected the Trumpeter
Swans that were indigenous to the area and were in the process of being
reintroduced at Wye Marsh, as well as the deep harbours in the area. That
didn't pass, so Swans Keep was subsequently submitted, and was approved in
2004.
Swans Keep grew and flourished, having regular A and S
classes and annual demonstrations. We held our first event, a weekend camping
event in June of 2009, sponsored by the Canton of Petrea Thule. Saturday's
fighting activities were completely rained out but the archery activities took
place and much fun was had, including celebrating the 40th birthday of its then
Seneschal, THLord Augustyn, and a bardic circle after the rain ended late in the
afternoon. Subsequently, events entitled St. Valentine's Day Massacre were held
very successfully in February for four years, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, until
the vast warehouse space was no longer available to us.
In approximately, 2010, Swans Keep lost its free meeting
space at the Real Canadian Superstore in Midland and began meeting in Barrie at
a free warehouse location, being the workplace of one of its members.
Caer Draeth also lost its free space in Cookstown and was invited to
share the free space in Barrie for their own meetings on alternate weeks to
ours, as well as being invited to join in our fighting, archery, and thrown
weapons practices. Subsequently, the two groups decided to combine forces as
long as a new name and identity was chosen, with Caer Draeth being the name
being used until replaced.
In 2013, the new combined group (awaiting its new name) also
lost its free space in Barrie and began meeting regularly at the home of its
then Seneschal, Lord Connal, until such time as an appropriate public meeting
space could be secured.
After four years of discussion, suggestions, submissionsand
and returns, the new name of Beremere was submitted in 2014 and was
subsequently approved by the College of Heralds. Time and effort have also been
expended submitting and discussing new heraldry for our new name.
As of January 2015, we began meeting weekly at Grove Street
Public School for fight practices and A&S classes alternating biweekly.
(Some exceptions apply, please see calendar).
Our bid to hold Crown Tournament in October of 2015 was
accepted and the event was held successfully in the small town of Ivy south
west of Barrie.
Finally, in February 2016, with our new name and device
approved, the name of The Canton of Beremere was revealed at the court of
Winter War in London.
THLady Anne of Saffron Walden
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