District History

Ronald Servant - District Director 2025-2026

July

The district achieved Distinguished status for the first time since 2012-2013

J.A. Gamache wins another district championship

J.A. Gamache won the District International Speech Contest again. His wins are recorded in 1996, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2024, and he won the French speech contest in 1998.

He competed in the World Championship of Public Speaking in 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2018, placing third on his first appearance.

Leigh Street — District Director 2024–2025

July

Leigh Street served as District Director for the 2024–2025 programme year.

Michel St. Germain — District Director 2023–2024

July

Michel St. Germain served as District Director for the 2023–2024 programme year.

Amy Campbell — District Director 2022–2023

July

Amy Campbell served as District Director for the 2022–2023 programme year.

Tanya Hall — District Director 2021–2022

July

Tanya Hall served as District Director for the 2021–2022 programme year.

Kimberly Dueck — District Director 2020–2021

July

Kimberly Dueck served as District Director for the 2020–2021 programme year.

Ronald Servant — District Director 2019–2020

July

Ronald Servant served as District Director for the 2019–2020 programme year.

Susan Dalati — District Director 2018–2019

July

Susan Dalati served as District Director for the 2018–2019 programme year.

Laurence Pechadre Lenoir — District Director 2017–2018

July

Laurence Pechadre Lenoir served as District Director for the 2017–2018 programme year.

Brian McDonald — District Director 2016–2017

July

Brian McDonald served as District Director for the 2016–2017 programme year.

Brian Sutton — District Director 2015–2016

July

Brian Sutton served as District Director for the 2015–2016 programme year.

Harry Kingston — District Governor 2014–2015

July

Harry Kingston served as District Governor for the 2014–2015 programme year.

Gina Cook — District Governor 2013–2014

July

Gina Cook served as District Governor for the 2013–2014 programme year.

Norma Domey — District Governor 2012–2013

July

Norma Domey served as District Governor for the 2012–2013 programme year.

More than 200 clubs

Under District Governor Beverley Miranda, DTM, the district passed the 200-club mark.

Beverley Miranda — District Governor 2011–2012

July

Beverley Miranda served as District Governor for the 2011–2012 programme year.

Gina Cook elected International Director

Gina Cook, DTM, served as an International Director of Toastmasters International from 2010 to 2012, overlapping with Sue Dalati's term. It is the only time in the history of Toastmasters that two sitting International Directors from the same district have served at the same time.

Lise Blondin — District Governor 2010–2011

July

Lise Blondin served as District Governor for the 2010–2011 programme year.

District recognitions, 1984 to 2009

This entry summarises awards spanning many years, so it is filed at the last of them rather than at any one.

District 61 reached Select Distinguished status in 1987, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2007, and President's Distinguished status in 1984, 1993, 1998 and 2004.

It received Excellence in Leadership awards — for meeting its mission as a Distinguished District three or more years running — in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2009.

Sue Dalati elected International Director

Sue Dalati, DTM, served as an International Director of Toastmasters International from 2009 to 2011.

Leona Hamel — District Governor 2009–2010

July

Leona Hamel served as District Governor for the 2009–2010 programme year.

Frank Schilder — District Governor 2008–2009

July

Frank Schilder served as District Governor for the 2008–2009 programme year.

A District 61 member leads Toastmasters International

Chris Ford, DTM, served as President of Toastmasters International for the 2007-2008 year — the district's only International President.

Simon Parcher — District Governor 2007–2008

July

Simon Parcher served as District Governor for the 2007–2008 programme year.

Susan Dalati — District Governor 2006–2007

July

Susan Dalati served as District Governor for the 2006–2007 programme year.

Camille Bentkowski — District Governor 2005–2006

July

Camille Bentkowski served as District Governor for the 2005–2006 programme year.

Chris Ford elected Third Vice President of Toastmasters International

At the International Convention in Reno, Nevada, Chris Ford, DTM, was elected Third Vice President of Toastmasters International.

France Vezina — District Governor 2004–2005

July

France Vezina served as District Governor for the 2004–2005 programme year.

Jeannine Scott competes at the World Championship

Jeannine Scott, ATM-B, represented District 61 in the World Championship of Public Speaking in Atlanta, Georgia.

John Gupta elected International Director

John Gupta, DTM, served as an International Director of Toastmasters International from 2003 to 2005.

Richard Inomata — District Governor 2003–2004

July

Richard Inomata served as District Governor for the 2003–2004 programme year.

Nicolas Waldteufel — District Governor 2002–2003

July

Nicolas Waldteufel served as District Governor for the 2002–2003 programme year.

Third place at the World Championship of Public Speaking

J.A. Gamache placed third in the World Championship of Public Speaking in Anaheim, California, in his first appearance at the contest.

Bob Lyle — District Governor 2001–2002

July

Bob Lyle served as District Governor for the 2001–2002 programme year.

Chris Ford elected International Director

Chris Ford, DTM, served as an International Director of Toastmasters International from 2000 to 2002.

Sylvie Limoges — District Governor 2000–2001

July

Sylvie Limoges served as District Governor for the 2000–2001 programme year.

John Gupta — District Governor 1999–2000

July

John Gupta served as District Governor for the 1999–2000 programme year.

More than 100 clubs

Under District Governor Chris Ford, DTM, the number of clubs in the district roughly doubled, passing 100.

Chris Ford — District Governor 1998–1999

July

Chris Ford served as District Governor for the 1998–1999 programme year.

First in North America, third in the world

Under District Governor Jack Gammon, DTM, District 61 placed first in North America and third in the world.

Jack Gammon — District Governor 1997–1998

July

Jack Gammon served as District Governor for the 1997–1998 programme year.

Region VI Evaluation Contest

Connie Maartense, DTM, won the Region VI Evaluation Contest.

Rick Murphy — District Governor 1996–1997

July

Rick Murphy served as District Governor for the 1996–1997 programme year.

Elvira Fillion — District Governor 1995–1996

July

Elvira Fillion served as District Governor for the 1995–1996 programme year.

A first World Championship contestant

Italo Magni, ATM, became the first District 61 contestant to compete in the World Championship of Public Speaking, at the International Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

Velma Latmore — District Governor 1994–1995

July

Velma Latmore served as District Governor for the 1994–1995 programme year.

Jacques Borne — District Governor 1993–1994

July

Jacques Borne served as District Governor for the 1993–1994 programme year.

Jane Stuart — District Governor 1992–1993

July

Jane Stuart served as District Governor for the 1992–1993 programme year.

LEADER named a Top Ten District Bulletin

At the International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, the district newsletter LEADER — edited by Jane Stuart, DTM — was chosen as one of the Top Ten District Bulletins.

The honour was repeated in 1994-1995 with joint editors Henry Heald, CTM and Jane Stuart, DTM; in 1998-1999 with editor Jean-Luc Leterme, DTM; and again in 2000-2001 with editor Cynthia Fortin, ATM-B.

Jacques Waisvisz — District Governor 1991–1992

July

Jacques Waisvisz served as District Governor for the 1991–1992 programme year.

Ray Swanson — District Governor 1990–1991

July

Ray Swanson served as District Governor for the 1990–1991 programme year.

Fifty clubs

Under District Governor J. P. Champagne, District 61 passed the milestone of fifty clubs.

JP Champagne — District Governor 1989–1990

July

JP Champagne served as District Governor for the 1989–1990 programme year.

Eileen Ball — District Governor 1988–1989

July

Eileen Ball served as District Governor for the 1988–1989 programme year.

Muriel How elected International Director

Muriel How, DTM, served as an International Director of Toastmasters International from 1987 to 1989 — the first of five from District 61.

Jean Racine — District Governor 1987–1988

July

Jean Racine served as District Governor for the 1987–1988 programme year.

Dan O'Connor — District Governor 1986–1987

July

Dan O'Connor served as District Governor for the 1986–1987 programme year.

The President's 20-Plus Award

District 61 received the President's 20-Plus Award for the first time, as one of the three districts with the highest percentage of clubs carrying 20 or more members. It has received the award in many years since.

Barry Finlay — District Governor 1985–1986

July

Barry Finlay served as District Governor for the 1985–1986 programme year.

President's Distinguished District

District 61 was recognized at the International Convention as a President's Distinguished District, having led every district in the world in exceeding its goals for educational completions, membership growth and club extension.

Frederick Lawson — District Governor 1984–1985

July

Frederick Lawson served as District Governor for the 1984–1985 programme year.

Twenty-five years on: seven new clubs, and none lost

In its twenty-fifth year, under District Governor Muriel How, DTM, District 61 chartered seven new clubs and lost none — a final count of 33 clubs and growth of more than 30 percent.

Muriel How — District Governor 1983–1984

July

Muriel How served as District Governor for the 1983–1984 programme year.

First Distinguished District, and the French translation programme

Under District Governor Lilli Janzen, ATM, District 61 earned its first Distinguished District recognition, for educational completions and membership growth.

That same programme year, World Headquarters agreed to let District 61 handle the French translation of educational materials. Members coordinated the translation of three advanced manuals. The District 61 Translation Committee has since updated the basic Communication and Leadership Program manual, translated several more advanced manuals, and translated The Better Speaker Series and The Successful Club Series modules.

Lilli Morgan Janzen — District Governor 1982–1983

July

Lilli Morgan Janzen served as District Governor for the 1982–1983 programme year.

A show of support wins a reprieve

Still at 23 clubs a year later, 160 members turned out at the District Spring Conference. The show of support gained the district a further year.

Pauline Aboud — District Governor 1981–1982

July

Pauline Aboud served as District Governor for the 1981–1982 programme year.

Told to merge unless the district improved

At the International Convention, with 24 clubs, District 61 was told it would have to be integrated into another district unless there was marked improvement by June 1981. The district's bilingual status was perceived by some as the problem, and by others as a unique opportunity.

Marcel Auger — District Governor 1980–1981

July

Marcel Auger served as District Governor for the 1980–1981 programme year.

Fred Johnston — District Governor 1979–1980

July

Fred Johnston served as District Governor for the 1979–1980 programme year.

Decline to 23 clubs

From a peak of 47 clubs five years earlier, the district had fallen to 23.

Fred Coulson — District Governor 1978–1979

July

Fred Coulson served as District Governor for the 1978–1979 programme year.

William Groom — District Governor 1977–1978

July

William Groom served as District Governor for the 1977–1978 programme year.

Harold Moodie — District Governor 1976–1977

July

Harold Moodie served as District Governor for the 1976–1977 programme year.

Frank Hofstetter — District Governor 1975–1976

July

Frank Hofstetter served as District Governor for the 1975–1976 programme year.

Arthur Cormier — District Governor 1974–1975

July

Arthur Cormier served as District Governor for the 1974–1975 programme year.

District 34 disbands and District 61 reaches 47 clubs

The original District 34 was disbanded. Four of its clubs joined District 61, bringing the district to 47 clubs.

Stephen Evans — District Governor 1973–1974

July

Stephen Evans served as District Governor for the 1973–1974 programme year.

Lionel Masse — District Governor 1972–1973

July

Lionel Masse served as District Governor for the 1972–1973 programme year.

Jacques Perrault — District Governor 1971–1972

July

Jacques Perrault served as District Governor for the 1971–1972 programme year.

Charles MacMillan — District Governor 1970–1971

July

Charles MacMillan served as District Governor for the 1970–1971 programme year.

Growth to 43 clubs

The district had grown from its founding 14 clubs to 43.

Lionel Masse — District Governor 1969–1970

July

Lionel Masse served as District Governor for the 1969–1970 programme year.

Al Doyle — District Governor 1968–1969

July

Al Doyle served as District Governor for the 1968–1969 programme year.

Maurice Levesque — District Governor 1967–1968

July

Maurice Levesque served as District Governor for the 1967–1968 programme year.

Jim Childs — District Governor 1966–1967

July

Jim Childs served as District Governor for the 1966–1967 programme year.

Moe Rudner — District Governor 1965–1966

July

Moe Rudner served as District Governor for the 1965–1966 programme year.

Don Hart — District Governor 1964–1965

July

Don Hart served as District Governor for the 1964–1965 programme year.

ER Gauvreau — District Governor 1963–1964

July

ER Gauvreau served as District Governor for the 1963–1964 programme year.

WJ Huggins — District Governor 1962–1963

July

WJ Huggins served as District Governor for the 1962–1963 programme year.

JW Korez — District Governor 1961–1962

July

JW Korez served as District Governor for the 1961–1962 programme year.

Noel Savoie — District Governor 1960–1961

July

Noel Savoie served as District Governor for the 1960–1961 programme year.

Lloyd Taylor — District Governor 1959–1960

July

Lloyd Taylor served as District Governor for the 1959–1960 programme year.

JPB McCormick — District Governor 1958–1959

July

JPB McCormick served as District Governor for the 1958–1959 programme year.

District 61 is officially recognized

July

Toastmasters International recognized District 61 on 1 July 1958. Fourteen clubs chartered under District 34 formed it, and three of them are still active today:

• 606 St. Lawrence (1948)
• 1838 Québec (1955)
• 1935 Ottawa (1956)

Provisional status

Districts 60-P and 61-P were granted provisional status, one year before becoming full districts.

The idea of an all-Canadian district

A group of Canadian Toastmasters — then part of District 34, based in upper New York State — decided to form two all-Canadian districts.