The Friars

With the Archbishop’s favour and blessing, plans got underway to organize “The Friars” with the first meeting of the “founding five” in December, 1969. The format for “The Friars” evolved through subsequent meetings. The need, the purpose, and the objectives of the “Friars 70” were explained at their first meeting on January 19, 1970. The attendance and enthusiasm shown indicated to those present that “The Friars” of Edmonton would be successful. (Friars’ leaflet, in ARCAE 84-2-3)

Archbishop Jordan outlined the need for funds: for the post-graduate education of priests, to assist with the operating costs of Newman Theological Institute (as it was then known), to help pay the salaries of certain hospital chaplains, and generally to provide for priests in need of financial aid. An additional goal was to encourage friendships in the community and to show the support of the community for its priests and seminarians.

The name “Friars” was chosen to indicate the purpose of the group – to beg for money from the affluent to help the less fortunate. The founding five were Dr. Rupert Clare, Hal Spelliscy, Stan Melton, John Barry and Bernie Stanton. They gathered like-minded men and established an executive of 12 who would organize a single annual fund-raising event. The officers used the titles of members of religious communities – the president was called the Provincial General; the treasurer, the Bursar; the secretary the Amanuensis, and so on. The Pantryman organized the meal, the Almoner presented the “Friars’ Bag” (representing the financial gift) to the Archbishop. Every year, the Provincial General would become a trustee, and each officer of the executive would rise one position, eventually taking his place at the top.

The executive set the organization up as a pyramid. Each of the 12 would get 5 other men, and each would sell 5 tickets (1 ticket/couple). The goal was 300 people in order to get 200 attendees at the event.

The event was aimed at Catholic professional men, and a black-tie evening was planned with a reception, a meal, a guest speaker, entertainment, games and a dance. The most notable speaker was Chief Dan George, who spoke in 1971, the year he was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in Little Big Man. Over the years, the event has included reverse draws, raffles, a Treasure Chest game, and live and silent auctions. Every year the Friars have had favours or souvenirs for those who attended the Friars’ Night. In the early years, a glass mug bearing the group’s logo was delivered to the home of every Friar. More recently, the souvenir glassware, which in any given year might be a mug, a wineglass, a snifter or an Irish coffee mug, is set at each Friars’ place for the gala dinner.

In 1975, the Ukrainian Catholic community began active participation in the event and the Bag was divided between the Archbishop and the Eparchy, pro rata. In 1975, International Women’s Year, some attempt was made to find a woman to speak at Friars, but to no avail. The first woman to sit on the executive was Cecilia Johnstone, in 1985, and she rose to the position of Provincial General in 1993.

The first Friars’ Night was held at the Chateau Lacombe in 16 April, 1970. Eighty-three couples and 19 religious were in attendance, and many who did not attend the event made financial donations, resulting in a Bag of $7500.00. The speaker was the Most Rev. M.C. O’Neill, former Archbishop of Regina.

At the time of writing (2013), the Friars’ Ball is held at the Westin Hotel, usually on the first Friday in May. The Friars regularly host upwards of 450 guests, and the ticket sales, raffle, and live & silent auctions usually raise between $80,000 and $100,000 to share between Newman Theological College and the Ukrainian Eparchy (75%-25%). There is no longer a speaker, and the games (including the Treasure Chest) have been eliminated in order to leave more time for dancing following the meal.

Friars would not have succeeded without dedicated administrative assistance provided by the Archdiocese. Therese Cameron worked with the group for the first few years and was succeeded by Mitzi Crowe, who helped organize the event from the early 1970s until the early 1990s. She was followed by Theresa Demkow, Suzanne Binassi, and Anna Jaremko. As of 2012/2013 Joan Harrison of the Archdiocesan Development Office is the present Friars’ assistant.