Edward Shaw (Ted) Donaldson

1911 – 1977

Ted Donaldson was a pianist and organist, a member of the Len Hopkins Orchestra, a schoolteacher, and a local historian.

At age 15, Donaldson led a 10-member orchestra for an awards ceremony for winning hockey teams in New Edinburgh. While attending Lisgar Collegiate Institute, he led the student orchestra and was active as a piano accompanist for community events and at MacKay United Church.

By 1933, he was advertising his dance orchestra for clubs, including the Tip Top Cascades in Gatineau, the Lido Cabaret in Hull, and Orange Hall in Ottawa. He sometimes advertised his group as Ted Donaldson’s Imperial Canadians Orchestra. His orchestra also played for dances and social events at Wesley United Church and the YMCA. His orchestra remained active until at least 1939.

Donaldson also played piano for many years with the Len Hopkins Orchestra at the Château Laurier.

Donaldson taught school in a few communities, including Alexandria, Vankleek Hill, Massey and Ottawa. He also worked at the Customs and Excise section of the Department of National Revenue. He was a fellow of the Royal Society of Linguists, the Royal Empire Society, the Monarchists League of Canada and a founding member of the New Edinburgh Cricket Club.

Donaldson’s family had deep roots in New Edinburgh. At the time of his death, Donaldson was writing a history of New Edinburgh that included his personal recollections of being a lifelong resident there. An article in the New Edinburgh News in April 1976 indicated that “Ted has always lived in the same house – one his uncle built. As a youngster, he would sneak out at midnight to the empty house his grandfather had lived in, and play the old organ to frighten people in the neighbourhood.”

Upon Donaldson’s death, Local 180’s newsletter indicated that he was “a well known pianist who had performed with many different groups in Ottawa. A native of Ottawa and a member for many years, the late Ted was loved and respected by all and leaves a great many friends in this local who will sorely miss this kindly gentleman.”