LVIWSRDA
The objectives of the Lower Vancouver Island Western Square & Round Dance Association (LVIWSRDA) are:
- to promote interest in square and round dancing,
- to further the welfare of each member club; and
- to foster the spirit of friendliness.
The LVIWSRDA holds five general meetings per dance season at 3:00 PM usually on the third Sundays of September, November, January, March, and April (AGM) at the Colwood Community Hall following the VDCTA’s four free workshops and the free Mainstream dance that begin at 1:30 PM at the same location.
All club members and guests (graduate square dancers and round dancers) are welcome to attend. are welcome to attend and participate in these workshops, dance, and meetings but only members of the Association Council (club delegates, the elected executive, and certain appointed positions) may vote at the meetings. The meetings typically adjourn between 3:45 and 4:15 PM.
Each dance season the LVIWSRDA and the VDCTA jointly sponsor the Spring Round-Up, usually on the first Sunday in May at the Colwood Community Hall, to welcome newly-graduated dancers, draw for the Dancers of the Year, and wind-up the dance season.
The two Associations also jointly sponsor a series of summer Mainstream dances on Wednesday evenings during June, July, and August. Half of these dances are held at each of the Colwood Community Hall and the Royal Oak Hall.
Each spring in even-numbered years the LVIWSRDA hosts a joint dance with the Upper Vancouver Island Square Dance Association (UVISDA) at a Lower Island location. In odd-numbered years this dance is hosted by UVISDA at an Upper Island location.
See the posters advertising these events on the COMING EVENTS page and check the CALENDAR page to confirm the dates and times.
LVIWSRDA Executive - 2024-2026
President – Carol Young
Vice President – Gary Weeks
Secretary – Gillian Bloom
Treasurer – Alex Wotherspoon
Past President – (vacant)
For email please leave us a message on the CONTACT US page.
LVIWSRDA Member Clubs
Country Cousins Square Dance Club
Dance A Rounds Round Dance Club
Frontier Twirlers Square Dance Club
Rainbow Rounders Round Dance Club
Star Twirlers Square Dance Club
For club details please visit the CLUBS page.
A Brief History of the LVIWSRDA
From 1954 to 1978 there was one dancers’ association on Vancouver Island. Initially called the Greater Victoria Western Dance Association (WDA), the name changed to Greater Victoria Western Square Dance Association (WSDA) in 1955, and then to Vancouver Island Western Square Dance Association (VIWSDA) later in 1955, as more clubs located elsewhere on the Island joined. Although “VI” was part of the name the association was usually referred to as the WSDA.
In 1978 the Upper Vancouver Island dancers separated from the VIWSDA to form their own association, the Upper Vancouver Island Square Dance Association (UVISDA). Lower Vancouver Island continued using the name VIWSDA or more commonly WSDA.
In 1995 the association name, VIWSDA, was changed by adding “& Round” to become the Vancouver Island Western Square & Round Dance Association (VIWSRDA). With this change the association was then usually referred to as the WSRDA.
In 2005 the word “Lower” was added to form the current name, Lower Vancouver Island Western Square & Round Dance Association. The abbreviation LVIWSRDA is now frequently used in place of the full name although WSRDA is also still used.
Lower Vancouver Island Association Presidents - Since 1978
1978-1980 Willard Bieber
1980-1982 Wilf Dorman
1982-1984 Hank Von Schalberg
1984-1985 Bill Plourd
1985-1987 Bruce Spencer
1987-1989 Peter Sandeman-Allen
1989-1991 Don Roberts
1991-1993 Chuck Salmon
1993-1993 Tom Tucker
1993-1994 Bob Vroom
1994-1996 Willard Bieber
1996-1998 Marlene Docherty
1998-2000 Tom Hubbard
2000-2002 Derek Tucker
2002-2004 Bruce Roger
2004-2006 Roger Ritchot
2006-2008 Colleen MacLennan
2008-2010 Bob Collins
2010-2012 John Doutaz
2012-2014 Frank Cloutier
2014-2016 Bruce Irving
2016-2018 Frank Cloutier
2018-2020 Dennis Sutton
2020-2023 Michele McIsaac
2023- Carol Young
Vancouver Island Association Presidents - 1954 to 1978
1954-1955 John Mooney
1955-1957 Russ Ard
1957-1958 Noel French
1958-1959 Fred Conconi
1959-1961 John Fairweather
1961-1962 Dai MacLeod
1962-1963 Jim Randall
1963-1964 Jim Allen
1964-1966 Taff Hughes
1966-1967 Vic Copp
1967-1968 Chuck Underwood
1968-1970 Byron Barker
1970-1972 Gordie Rutledge
1972-1974 Bill Rippon
1974-1976 Earl Dennis (Nanaimo)
1976-1978 Ken Middleton
