Pat was born in Calgary, Alberta, but doesn't remember the occasion, or even living in Calgary for that matter. A couple of years after she was born, her parents relocated the family to Cranbrook, BC where they lived until she was 13. At that time, she was 'dragged off' to live in Balfour, BC, a tiny community located on Kootenay Lake, about 1/2 hour drive from Nelson. Her mother still lives in Balfour, as does her only brother (Jack) and her youngest sister (Lydia). The rest of her sisters live in Cranbrook (Katy), Parksville (Ev) and Fruitvale (Nel).
Pat started square dancing in January of 1974 in Nelson, BC with a high school club known as the L.V. Teens (Caller Glen Baillie). In September of 1974, she came to Victoria to attend university, and joined the Tanglefoot Twisters, an on-campus club (Caller Garry Dodds). Her first (very brief) exposure to the Caller-Teachers Association was in 1976, as the partner of John Corrigan. After approximately 5 years away from dancing, she went through beginners again in 1984 (Cobwebers, Caller Jack Weber), and subsequently joined the Promenaders. Shortly after completing class, her husband (much to her surprise) indicated an interest in learning to call, and they started working with Doug and Vi George. In addition, they attended Plus (Happy Gang, Caller Doug George) and Round Dance (Frankie and Johnny Palmer) lessons. Pat’s attempts to help her husband learn to call by writing patter for him were discouraged, so she turned to cuing rounds instead. In June of 1988, she attended a Round Dance Teacher’s School being held at Circle 8 Dance Ranch, Cle Elum, WA, with the Rothers instructing. In the fall of 1988, she held her own class to teach Round Dance Basics, and in the fall of 1989, the graduates of the previous year convinced her to form a club, the Two Step Dreamers. During this time, she also cued for the Spares’n’Pairs (mainstream club). Unfortunately, in the spring of 1990, personal circumstances led her to give up cuing and teaching, and she left the Victoria & District Caller-Teachers Association.
Several years later, in 1996, Brent Besse convinced her to cue rounds for him at the Plus 4's (plus club). She rejoined the V&DCTA in 1998, although her duties as Treasurer for the WSRDA kept her from attending CTA meetings until 2001. In the fall of 2000, she started cuing for Garry Dodds at the Star Twirlers (plus club), and in the fall of 2001 at the Diamond Squares (mainstream club Ladysmith). In 2002 she became President of the V&DCTA, and in 2003 she joined the Upper Vancouver Island Caller-Teachers Association. In January of 2004, she and Garry Dodds became the cuer/caller couple for the Travelling Squares in Nanaimo (mainstream club). She has published one round dance (“We’re From the Country” -- June 2000, Cue Sheet Magazine), and has several others (including “Canadian Man”, “The Gift”,“Santa’s Gonna Come in a Pickup Truck”, “Penguin, James Penguin”, and “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off”) in progress.
Other:
- Attend first B.C. Festival, Vancouver 1985 – model in fashion show
- Secretary for Promenaders (85-87) and Squarecrows (87-88)
- Attend second B.C. Festival, Victoria 1987 – serve on Programming Committee, cue, teach (“Very Smooth”), and deliver commentary for fashion show
- Attend subsequent B.C. Festivals in Nanaimo (1991) and Courtenay (2001)
- Attend Canadian National in Calgary (1986) and in Vancouver (1990)
- Publisher and Editor for Frontier Twirlers Newsletter (1991 - 1999)
- Co-chair of Totem Jamboree Committee from 1998 through 2001 (4 years)
- Provide Fashion Show Commentary for Rainbow Square Dance Apparel since 1994
- WSRDA Treasurer 1996 - 2001 (5 years)
- Cuer for UVISDA Caller-Cuer Appreciation Night in 2000 and 2003
- Cross Trail News Reporter (various clubs, various years)
- Publicity for Country Maples Campout since 2003
- President Victoria & District Caller-Teachers Association 2002 - 2005 (3 years)
- Member of Shadowcasters (advanced club)
- Member of Roundalab
- Vice-Chair of the Canadian Caller Liason Committee for Callerlab
When she is not dancing, Pat is employed as Book-keeper and Assistant Office Manager in a law firm in Victoria. In addition, she has served on the Strata Council for the Strata Corporation that she lives in for most of the years since she purchased her condominium. She also enjoys "camping" (with all of the comforts of home), and a variety of hobbies including reading, cooking, baking, needlepoint and sewing
