March On! ...the history of the

Toronto Optimists Drum & Bugle Corps

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Optimists' Photo Gallery

Photos of the Toronto Optimists, the Seneca Optimists, the Optimists Alumni and many others!

Home Login

Album list Last uploads Last comments Most viewed Top rated My Favorites By date Search

Home > The Old Days (Photos from our competitive years) > Those who have gone

We Remember

47 files, last one added on Nov 04, 2025
Album viewed 868 times

Mr Baggs

Alan "Daddy" Baggs, Founder of the Optimists.

"Baggs was the kind of man everyone would naturally call "Mister." He commanded respect and led by example."

8 files, last one added on Apr 28, 2019
Album viewed 333 times

Al Lavigne

Al played baritone in Optimists until, I believe, 1963. Al Passed away Dec 16 2000.

4 files, last one added on Oct 26, 2006
Album viewed 329 times

Al Miller

5 files, last one added on Oct 23, 2016
Album viewed 275 times

Al Morrison

During the late 50s and early 60s Al marched with the Toronto Optimists and, later, with the Canadian Commanders. He also instructed a number of corps in the Toronto/Hamilton area. Most recently, Al played mellophone in the Alumni Corps. He passed away on March 24th, 2006.

7 files, last one added on Feb 11, 2014
Album viewed 352 times

Andy Henderson

3 files, last one added on Mar 26, 2016
Album viewed 269 times

Bernie Beer

3 files, last one added on Sep 30, 2022
Album viewed 297 times

Bogo Avsec

5 files, last one added on Dec 15, 2008
Album viewed 299 times

Brian Byrne

13 files, last one added on Mar 18, 2017
Album viewed 482 times

Carol Munro

12 files, last one added on Sep 21, 2012
Album viewed 378 times

Clare Reid

6 files, last one added on Jan 05, 2016
Album viewed 254 times

Dave Barrett

2 files, last one added on Jan 23, 2006
Album viewed 320 times

32 albums on 3 page(s)

1

Random files - Those who have gone

Gary "Chops" Czapinski695 views

Ron Chong (St Joe's Classic, 2009)466 views

Wayne Dean (1965)682 views

Bernie Thompson, Paul's dad and Optimists equipment manager (1964)713 views

Vern Johansson with a replica of Optimists Nationals Trophy (Remembering Paul Thompson, 2015)644 views

Dave Barrett (1975)1617 views

Gary Corbett (Optimists Reunion, 1998)920 views

Ron Prokop dancing at an Optimists social gathering (1960)555 views

Last additions - Those who have gone

L-R: Richard and Hans Boehnke (Optimists 50th reunion, 2008)49 viewsNov 04, 2025

Doug McPhail (1961)471 viewsFeb 03, 2023

Bernie Beer (Falconer, NY, 1960)502 viewsSep 30, 2022

L-R: Colin Hedworth, Ronn Prokop and Mark Wicken (Christmas costume parade, 1961)505 viewsSep 18, 2022

Don Chisolm (late 1950s)465 viewsAug 16, 2022

Vern Johansson when he was drumming with the Bantam Optimists413 viewsJun 10, 2022

Art Tamaki (1967)479 viewsMar 10, 2022

Vern Johansson becomes Drum Major (1966)444 viewsJan 09, 2022