Brethren,

Further to the previous communication regarding the passing of V.W. Bro. Don Osborne, we Bytown Lodge will hold a Masonic Memorial Service in his honour with the following details:

• Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
• Time: 7:00 p.m. (brethren to arrive by 6:00 p.m.)
• Location: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 638 (70 Hines Road, Kanata)

Brethren who wish to take part in the Memorial Service are asked to please let the WM know at your earliest convenience so that we may coordinate roles accordingly.

Dear Brethren,

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of V.W. Bro. Don Osborne, who passed to the Grand Lodge Above this morning, Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Many of you had the opportunity to visit Don in recent days. We know those visits meant a great deal to him, and he spoke warmly and in appreciation of the brethren who came to see him.

At this time, there are no details available regarding the arrangement of a service. However, we will share further information with the membership as soon as it becomes available.

On behalf of Bytown Lodge, we extend our sincere condolences to Rose and the Osborne family. A card will be sent from the Lodge.

S&F

Brethren,

Congratulations to the Officers of Bytown who impressively took on new roles at our annual Step-Up Night. It was a packed, but successful evening. Particular kudos to Bro. Jay on his JW duties—coordinating a meal, MC’ing the Festive Board, and carrying the JW portion of the openings and closings should not be understated. Furthermore, the Irish stew was delicious.

Congratulations also to our two new Fellowcraft who were well prepared and who represented their sponsors and mentors well. We were all impressed by your work.

Thank you to all of the brothers who attended the various DDGM Official Visits. While Bytown didn’t sweep the Traveling Trowel, we were well represented at all of the visits and the DD was very proud of our efforts in supporting him throughout his year.

April brings the elections for the upcoming Masonic year. Please note that our April meetings will be held a week early with our CGP on April 2 and elections on April 9. Please attend if within the length of your cable tow as your vote is important. We will also be initiating a new member to Bytown that evening. In closing, please remember:

“Masonry is not a secret society. Everybody knows that the Masonic fraternity exists and no effort is made to hide the fact. It is only the wisdom of Masonry which is hidden, not because it is subtle, but because it is simple. Its secret is profound; not obscure. If Masonry uses the illusion of secrecy, it is because it knows that it is the nature of man to seek what is hidden. We are seekers after truth and we are so made that we cannot find the truth alone, but only in the love and service of our fellow man.”

– Author Unknown

W. Bro. Jon Orazietti
Worshipful Master, Bytown Lodge

Join us on Saturday, April 25, 2026, for the Cal Bellamy Memorial Chili Cook Off, an annual Bytown Lodge tradition celebrating great chili, great people, and a great cause.

Held at the Westboro Masonic Temple, this lively community event invites guests to sample delicious homemade chili, cheer on local contestants, and enjoy an evening of friendly competition. With awards like Judge’s Choice and Crowd Favourite, plus excellent prizes for the winners, it’s always a highlight on the Bytown calendar.

Brethren,

It was great to see so many brethren engaged and out travelling in February. With a busy month capped off with the very successful visit of our DD and Brother of Bytown R.W. Bro. George Ingraham, it was a month full of fellowship. I would like to thank all of the brethren who played a role in the evening, but particularly to Bros. Bosche and Oliver for their work in the kitchen—both the night before and the night itself. We planned for 50…and fed 70!

At our Official Visit, our Ottawa District 2 sister lodge at Westboro Temple, Ionic Lodge no. 526, brought out a staggering 17 members to win the Travelling Trowel—and according to their summons, they are planning to keep it at both Pembroke and Cobden. I encourage you to make the trip up the valley so that we might bring the Trowel back to Bytown!

I also encourage all brethren to attend the Day of Masonry on March 14, as well as our Regular Meeting where the potential officers for next year will try out their new roles, and we will be conferring Second Degrees on two worthy brethren.

Lastly, March is when we begin the work for our final fundraiser of the year; the Cal Bellamy Memorial Chili Cookoff, which will take place April 25. I am looking forward to tasting as many secret family recipes as I can!

“Life is 10 percent what you make it, and 90 percent how you take it.”
– Bro. Irving Berlin (1888 – 1989)

W. Bro. Jon Orazietti
Worshipful Master, Bytown Lodge

Brethren,

As the winter months move along so does our Masonic year. I am extremely proud of the team and their stellar work in welcoming our newest member into the Craft. It was a great night that I am sure he won’t forget.

Thank you all as well to all who put on another successful Robbie Burns Night. We are all a little more Scottish because of the wonderful night of food, merriment, music and prose.

February will be another exciting month! I implore all members to come out to as many events as you can, but in particular, our Regular Meeting where we will host our DDGM on his Official Visit to his home lodge and pass a worthy brother to the Second Degree.

Lastly, the Ottawa Masonic Charity Ball will be an excellent opportunity to raise money for both district charities, so I hope to see a goodly number of Bytown brethren.

Remember brethren, Brotherly Love is the cement which unites us. Without it, our sacred institution would crumble. Yet with it, we can build ever higher. So please come out to support new and experienced brethren alike.

W. Bro. Jon Orazietti
Worshipful Master, Bytown Lodge

This year’s Robbie Burns Dinner is sold out. Thank you to all who will be attending!

Bytown Lodge No. 721 is hosting Robbie Burns Night, Saturday January 17, 2026.

Brethren, Happy New Year!

While we had the chance to enjoy some time off, I know that the holidays can be a busy and sometimes stressful time. I hope you were able to participate in some classic traditions or even make some new ones. We spent time with family, ate too much, and watched the staple Christmas movies.

Speaking of traditions, thank you to everyone who attended the holiday social at V.W. Bro. Macdonald’s home. The food and fellowship were wonderful, and it was great to see so many smiling, and full faces.

The New Year is a time for renewal, so we will exemplify this with the First Degree for Mr. Oliver at our Regular Meeting. Thanks to all who have stepped up for roles and agreed to back up.

We also have our annual Robbie Burns Night on January 17, so come out, try some haggis and embrace your inner Scott.

Happy 2026!

“Oh would some power the gift give us,
to see ourselves as others see us.”
– Bro. Robert Burns

W. Bro. Jon Orazietti
Worshipful Master, Bytown Lodge

It is with deep sorrow that we share the news that our Brother, R.W. Bro. John G. Hawkins, Past District Deputy Grand Master (2019-2022), has passed to the Grand Lodge Above, today, September 25, 2025.

R.W. Bro. Hawkins was a devoted Mason and proud member of Bytown and Renfrew Lodges. He served as Worshipful Master of Bytown in 1986 and again in 2004, and his leadership extended well beyond the walls of our lodge. He was Potentate of Tunis Shriners in 2014, initiated into the West Lawrentian Chapter, Order of DeMolay, in 1972, Master Councillor in 1974, and served as Grand Master of the Canadian Order of DeMolay from 1997 to 1999. His Masonic journey and service to the Craft left a profound mark on our Lodge and the wider fraternity.

On behalf of Bytown Lodge, we extend our heartfelt condolences to V.W. Bro. Jeff Hawkins, his mother Julie, his sister Jackie, and their extended family. They have expressed their appreciation for the kindness and support shown by the Masonic family during this difficult time.

Greetings Brethren,

With the change in temperature, and our first meeting under our belts, pumpkin spice season is definitely upon us.

I enjoyed seeing so many brethren and visitors out in September. Thank you to Bro. Bosche for the wonderful meal and to everyone who contributed or stayed to assist with clean up. Thank you as well to the brethren who made the trip from Pembroke to deliver the Traveling Gavel.

As you can see from the summons, we have a busy October with multiple District 2 events as well as our own two First Degrees including fraternal visits from our DDGM, a trip to Ashlar to present the Travelling Gavel and our first annual Oktoberfest event. Please promote this in your social circles and point your friends to the new Bytown Instagram account for details.

And remember:

“Happiness lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.”

– Bro. Franklin D. Roosevelt

W. Bro. Jon Orazietti
Worshipful Master, Bytown Lodge