Danforth Crusaders
Other Names: 330th Royal Air Cadet Squadron; Danforth Technical 330th Royal Air Cadet Squadron
Toronto, ON Canada
Founded: 1943
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CORPS Photos
The Danforth Crusaders drum & bugle corps was originally formed in 1943 as the 330th Royal Air Cadet drum and trumpet band Squadron of Toronto and sponsored by the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The Cadet corps performed in local, military and memorial events from 1944 to 1952, participating in the 1951 Waterloo Band Festival, widely recognized as the pre-Canadian National championships, placing 2nd in the Junior bands division. In 1953, they reorganized as part of the music program at the Danforth Technical School and was renamed the Danforth Technical School 330th Air Cadets, placing 4th in the 1953 Waterloo Festival Junior championships.
In 1954, the Air Cadets once again finished in 4th position in the Waterloo Junior division and moved up to the Waterloo “Novice” bugle division in 1955, where they placed 2nd before restructuring as the Danforth Crusaders drum and bugle corps in 1956, placing 3rd in the “Junior Class” championships. The corps was under the guidance of Barry Bell, Lorne Ferrazzutti and Fred Johnson. Barry Bell was a quiet, thoughtful man who was deeply in love with the idea of drum and bugle corps.
He and his good friend Lorne Ferrazzutti were horn and drum instructors for the Crusaders, both having arrived there from Western Technical School, where they ran a similar program. Fred Johnson also brought a wealth of drum corps experience to the newly created Crusaders. In 1957, the Danforth group participated in both the inaugural Ontario Provincial and Canadian National championships, finishing in 3rd position in both contests.
In the fall of 1957, Barry Bell and Lorne Ferrazzutti had come to the realization that for lack of strong support from the school, the Danforth Crusaders were not going to achieve the success warranted. Bell signed on with the Toronto Optimists as bugle instructor and drill teacher and Ferrazzutti would instruct the percussion line. Subsequently, many Crusaders made the leap with them.
The corps disbanded in 1958.
Toronto Optimists Alumni website; Paul Legault (DCX)
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