Weston Silver Band – A Proud History

	the Weston Boys Band Canadian National Exhibition, 1921

The WSB began as The Weston Boys Band, founded in 1921 by George Sainsbury. Sainsbury began his musical life playing in a fife and drum band in his hometown of Fawley, England at the age of 12. Before emigrating to Canada in 1905, he founded his own fife and drum band which became a Brass Band in Littlehampton, England ( later to become the present day Littlehampton Concert Band – please see links page). Shortly after his arrival, he became bandmaster of the Weston Town Band. The outbreak of World War I brought civilian banding to a halt and Sainsbury took charge of the 220th Battalion Band and later, the Headquarters Band of Military District No.2

At the conclusion of the war, with instruments made available through the military, Sainsbury formed the Weston Boys Band, which included his four sons, Horace, Wilfred, Lloyd and William. By the end of the 1920’s, the Boys of Weston had grown into young men, and the band was renamed The Weston Silver Band.

World War II saw the majority of band members enlisting in the armed forces and the band ceased operations for the first and only time in its history, becoming the official band of the Canadian Field Artillery, beforereforming under Sainsbury’s baton in 1946. With instruments in poor repair and financial support a continuing issue, the band became incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1947.

Over the last 50 years, the Weston Silver Band has continued to provide entertaining and outstanding concerts to the public and a challenging and rewarding experience for its band members.

	the Weston Silver Band 1977

From its top place finishes during the heyday of band contesting at the Canadian National Exhibition Band competitions in the 1960’s and 1970’s to its entry in the North American Brass Band Association’s competitions in North Carolina and Indianapolis in the 1980’s, the WSB continued to represent the proud tradition of brass banding in Toronto and the province of Ontario.

In 1995, the WSB hosted the NABBA competition in Toronto which saw 15 bands from Canada and the US competing for top honours. Later in the year, Weston was honoured to be one of two bands representing NABBA at the Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, Kentucky.

As with many other performing organizations, the late 1990’s proved challenging with declining opportunities for financial support through arts agencies and municipal governments. In 2002, the WSB responded proactively to funding concerns by applying for and receiving Charitable Status through CCRA and by re-writing the Weston Silver Band constitution and by-laws, originally drafted in 1947, to allow for the formation of a Board of Directors to involve members of the community of Weston who could assist in fundraising and marketing objectives. The Board of Directors is made up of the members of the Weston Silver Band executive (musicians) and members of the Weston business community. Its purpose is to assist and support the Weston Silver Band Association mandate to promote and perform Brass Band music in the community of Weston, the GTA and beyond.

In 2005, the WSB received a substantial grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to assist the bands’ efforts to strengthen its infrastructure and augment its inventory of instruments. In addition, the WSB receives support from the Toronto Arts Council and from private donors and supporters.

Brass bands have a long and proud history in Ontario and the WSB honours its history of providing a valuable and unique contribution to the rich musical heritage of this province. Our thanks to our supporters and we look forward to many more successful years of brass banding.

Weston Silver Band Conductors