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Comox Valley Ocean Waves Square Dance Club celebrates 65 years

Dance Party March 3 in Courtenay
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By Pat Chalmers

Special to The Record

As the Comox Valley Ocean Waves Square Dance Club pauses to celebrate our 65th year of square dancing in the Valley, we realize how lucky we have been to have had so many talented and dedicated callers and cuers to lead us through the years.

Although much of our history has been lost over time we do know that square dancing was being taught in the school system in the valley in the 1940s by Mrs. Dot MacKerrall (nee Robinson). Our own adult club got going in the early 1950s under the direction of Leo Auterson. At that time we were called the Coho Downers, later to become the Comox Valley Squares led by Ron Leonard. In 1974, the club was re-christened the Ocean Waves Square Dance Club with caller Bob and Joy Jeglum. We have been in the business of fun and laughter, exercise and learning ever since.

Square dancing is many different things to people and everyone comes to square dancing for their own reasons. It is an amazing way to exercise; dancers can get the equivalent of a five-mile walk in a two-hour dance.

Square dancing is party time every time you do it. It brings people together for fun and fellowship. You meet new people and make new friends. It’s a wonderful way to share common interests with other people, and to escape the worry and pressures of today’s busy world. What I am surprised about is that the large corporations have not yet figured out that square dancing can also be a wonderful team-building exercise.

I recently listened to an interview of David Johnston (Governor General of Canada 2010 – 2017) on CBC Radio. He said that when he was Governor General he would invite all the foreign diplomats for a Canadian Winter Party at which they would be introduced to skating, sledding and square dancing. He went on to say that “the square dance was the wonderful part” as it was truly an inclusive activity and was enjoyed by all.

And so the party continues. On March 3 in the Native Sons Hall from 1:30-4 p.m. square dancers from the Island and mainland will congregate to help the Ocean Waves celebrate 65 years of square dancing in the valley. Why do we dance? Perhaps a better question would be: Why would we not? We are looking forward to the next 65 years. Try it, you’ll be surprised and delighted.