The Boat Crew
The Society’s Directors
The Society Directors manage the not-for-profit Society including managing assets, organizing events, fundraisers, and communications.
Gurth Pretty
Co-founder, boat share owner, Director and Warrant Officer
Gurth Pretty is an amateur culinary and naval historian. He has been re-enacting for 20+ years, with different War of 1812 groups, both British army and Royal Navy. His interest in the Royal Navy began upon volunteering aboard HM Schooner Bee (Discovery Harbour, Penetanguishene) as a landsman.
Aboard the longboat, Gurth is the gun captain and occasional helmsman. At re-enactment events, he is the ship’s cook, preparing period meals over the camp fire. He received his warrant from the Victualing Board, establishing him as a warrant officer.
In his everyday life, Gurth is a certified cheese professional and owner of Lakeview Cheese Galore, Mississauga’s premier and only cheese shop.
Ryan Moore
Co-founder, boat share owner, Director and Lieutenant
Ryan Moore is an avid historian, sailor and a re-enactor since 2013. He has been sailing on tall ships and a variety of smaller boats since he was young. In 2017 he crewed an 18th century Cornish lugger from England to France, delivering a cargo of ale. Ryan is often the skipper/coxswain of the longboat and portrays the rank of Lieutenant at re-enactment events.
When he’s not immersed in nauticalia, Ryan is busy as an urban planner working for a Toronto development company.
Rory Tassonyi
Co-Founder, boat share owner, Midshipman
With a passion for nearly all aspects of Napoleonic era history and culture, it is no surprise that in 2011, Rory Tassonyi began his journey in re-enacting and living history. Rory had enjoyed doing civilian portrayals and dabbling in light infantry military re-enacting, but traditional sailing and the Royal Navy has always been his passion. Rory has been sailing since he was seven years old, on small craft and a variety of tall ships.
When the opportunity came to help found a Royal Navy re-enactment society in Toronto, he jumped at the chance.
As part of HMS Psyche CMHS, Rory typically portrays a midshipman, a young gentleman being trained to become an officer. At events you can typically find him brushing up on traditional sailing skills, hosting evening parties, or supervising the grog ration.
When not engrossed in the Napoleonic era, Rory is honing his skills in fencing, archery, horseback riding, cooking and leather work. He typically works as an Outdoor Guide leading camping and canoeing trips.
Members of the Society
The Society’s members participate in decision-making for the Society, providing guidance and direction on Society activities, use of funds, assist with communications, and support educational activities.
Members contribute annual membership fees, are invited to attend our Annual General Meeting and HMS Pickle Dinner, receive black powder firearm insurance and access to exclusive Psyche merchandise.
Members also have first priority for seats on the longboat during cruises and re-enactments.
Our 2023 members include:
Glendon Hovey
Glendon is our resident bos’un and an expert on rigging small boats, ropework and woodwork. He also skippers his 16-foot wherry, Firefly. He’s a native of Nova Scotia and runs his own business supplying quality nautical accessories at Holystone Harbour.
Raiffe Sculthorpe
Having been a re-enactor for years portraying a variety of personas, Raiffe is now developing new skills as part of the crew of the HMS Psyche. Through his efforts he has elevated himself from Landsman to Ordinary Seaman. He enjoys the camaraderie, boat maintenance, and safety conscious outlook of the Society.
Bryan Jordan
Bryan has been re-enacting since 2013, first as a member of the British Indian Department and now the Royal Navy, aboard Psyche. He has a wealth of knowledge in the history of the time period and enjoys the educational component of the hobby. Outside of re-enacting, Bryan is an accomplished teacher at Durham College.
Bruce Scott
Bruce is HMS Psyche's Royal Marine. He has been sailing since 2014, and has been boating all his life along the Rideau Canal. He first started reenacting in 2020.
Jurek Romaniec
Mark Psutka
Jurek’s love of sailing started in 1973. He has cruised and raced on the East and West coasts as well as the Great Lakes and owned his own 34ft (modern) yacht from 1998 to 2010 . He has been portraying Royal Navy crew from the War of 1812 period after participating as visiting crew aboard HMS BEE at Discovery Harbour in 1992.
Mark is an experienced re-enactor who isn't afraid to get his feet wet. He joined the Psyche for the grog.
Social Members
John Beals
John is based in Saint John, New Brunswick and is organizing a 'micro navy' to give experience to young sailing 'naturals' through family-oriented learning and historical recreation. This enterprise extends his youth at the South Street Seaport Museum in NYC where volunteers reenacted the harbour life of sail and steam. John wants to honour Canada's formative years, when British, French and First Nations collaborated in national and economic efforts that culminated in the formation of Canada.
Click here to learn more about John’s nautical learning club (via Facebook).
Liz Webb
Liz is a long-time reenactor and follower of HMS Psyche. She joins the Society as a Social Member with an interest in occasionally sailing aboard the boat.
Honourary Members
These members have made significant contributions to the Society.
Ken Fisher
Original owner & builder
Original builder of the boat and famed naval reenactor.
Norman Carsons
Assistant boat builder
Contributed to the construction of the boat. Taught the crew how to rig the longboat, built the bowsprit and made the heads’l.
Peter Rindlisbacher
Canadian Maritime Artist
Donated prints of his artwork for Society fundraisers.