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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!

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Home > The Old Days (Photos from our competitive years) > Our Roots

Scout Band


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The Toronto Optimists began as a Boy Scout Band in 1952. The band was founded by Bud Parker, the Scout Leader for the 18th Boy Scout Troop. Mr Parker used his own money to purchase the instruments. Over time, the Band changed homes and became the 157th Boy Scout Band.

15 files, last one added on Jan 06, 2024
Album viewed 526 times

Opti-Corps (the Optimist Trumpet Band)


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While the official name of the band was the Optimist Trumpet Band, most people referred to them as Opti-Corps. In fact, almost 70 years later there are still people who refer to the Toronto Optimists as "Opti-Corps".

35 files, last one added on Nov 19, 2024
Album viewed 707 times

Danforth Tech Crusaders


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Toronto Optimists first instructors, Barry Bell and Lorne Ferrazzutti had been instructors at Danforth Tech for their Drum Corps, the Crusaders. When Barry and Lorne moved to the Toronto Optimists after the 1957 season, many members of the Crusaders followed them.

8 files, last one added on Nov 08, 2022
Album viewed 420 times

Western Tech


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Toronto Optimists first instructors, Barry Bell and Lorne Ferrazzutti had begun their drum corps careers with the Western Tech Trumpet Band. When the Toronto Optimists was created and Barry and Lorne because the corps' first instructors, many band members from Western joined them.

8 files, last one added on Nov 02, 2024
Album viewed 96 times

4 albums on 1 page(s)

Random files - Our Roots
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A few members of the 18th Scout Troop Band (1953)670 views
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Opti-Corps713 views
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Opti-Corps813 views
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Trophy won by Opti-Corps for top corps in a parade (Stouffville, 1957)610 views
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Western Tech Band (circa 1956)507 views
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Opti-Corps National Party635 views

Last additions - Our Roots
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Some of the trophies won by Opti-Corps454 viewsNov 19, 2024
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Page from Western's yearbook showing some future members of the Optimists (1955)497 viewsNov 02, 2024
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Western Tech Band (University of Toronto, about 1956)527 viewsNov 02, 2024
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Western Tech Band (circa 1956)507 viewsNov 02, 2024
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Lorne Ferrazzutti with a drumming trophy (about 1954)510 viewsNov 02, 2024
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Western Tech Band (circa 1956)543 viewsNov 02, 2024