Derek Tidd was officially appointed by the City in 1995. The duty of the Town Crier is to make formal announcements on behalf of the Mayor and City Council at all important functions held within the City boundaries. He leads the many parades which take place in the City during the year. When traveling he is Ambassador for the City, representing the Mayor, City Council and the Citizen's of Niagara Falls.
 
He is a member of the Ontario Guild of Town Criers. In the four years since his appointment he has participated in many competitions which take place annually in Ontario and those held in the United States. He has competed in two World Town Crier Championships. The latest which took place in Sidney, Vancouver Island B.C., where seven countries were represented, by sixty-two Town Criers, Derek was placed eleventh. A week later in a competition held in Anacortes, Washington, U.S.A. he was placed ninth.
The story of our Town Crier's Uniform.... It is Royal Blue because that is the City colour. The uniform has gold buttons and is trimmed with gold, which represents the priceless beauty of the Niagara Parkway and the area in which we live.
The hat is traditionally black and the red rosette on the left side is to commemorate those who lost theirs lives in the Battle of Lundy's Lane and in subsequent wars. He wears a Naval Badge because he served in the Air Branch of the Royal Navy in the second World War. The Ostrich Plume, in his hat contains feathers which were given to him by Andres Ostrich Farm in Niagara Falls. The plume simulates the white cloud above the Falls which from time to time looks just like it. The gold anchor around his neck is to remind us of the Welland Canal and the ships that sail through it from around the world.
"..........to 'cry' unto an empty street......
would be a pointless task,
So when you hear their bell and shout,
This is all they ask..........
Stay a while,
Gather round and to listen to their call.
Their only purpose thereabouts..........
Is to entertain you all.
10-02-1995 om 00:00
geschreven door Guy 
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