SCOTTISH NEWSLETTERvictoriahighlandgames.com/games/wp-content/uploads/... · 2017. 4. 29. · 4...
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May represents the high point of the year for Scottish events in Victoria. There are the actual Highland Games on Victoria Day long weekend as well as related events for ten days prior to and concurrent with the main event. (See events listed on page 2 .) We are fortunate in Victoria to have one of the most historic Highland Games in Canada. The antecedents of the Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival started in 1864 under the then Caledonian Benevo- lent Society. In due course the latter amalga- mated with the St. Andrew’s Society and formed the St. Andrew’s and Caledonian So- ciety. In 1938 the Victoria Highland Games Association was formed and it has organized the event since then. Jim Maxwell has been President of the Victoria Highland Games Association for a dozen years and is a driving force behind making our local event so successful. The Games draws on some 300 volunteers, cul- minating May 20-22. While all the traditional elements of a Highland Games are present in Victoria’s event, there are also innovations each year. Interestingly the BC Highland Games (June 17) on its website claims to be ―the longest running Highland Games in BC‖ but no founding date is given. Also in the province there is the Penticton Scottish Fes- tival on July 1 and the Kamloops Highland Games on July 9. At Easter there was the annual Indoor Games hosted in Surrey. Because of the much larger population of the U.S., there are more Highland Games events there than in Canada. Their two larg- est Games are held at Grandfather Mountain , North Carolina and Pleasanton, California (which is a town south-east of San Fran- cisco). Pleasanton is sponsored by the Cale- donian Club of San Francisco. About 30 bands attend there on Labour Day weekend. Last year Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Band from Vancouver won top prize in the Grade One. Simon Fraser University Pipe Band has also attended in the past but did not compete there in 2016. SERVING THE SCOTTISH COMMUNITY OF GREATER VICTORIA EDITOR: LARRY SCOTT Highland Games Season Here and Yon SCOTTISH NEWSLETTER MAY 1, 2017 VOLUME 2: ISSUE 5 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Highland Games Here and Yon 1 Upcoming Events: May 2 Upcoming Events: June & Beyond 3 Highland Games … Continued 3 Contact Information Scottish Groups 4 Kirkin’ of the Tartan Photos—2017 5 Piper’s Club Photo 5 Scottish Newsletter Q&A 5 18% Donations accepted at: www.victoriahighlandgames.com Tae Victory! $2,000,000 Victoria Scottish Cultural Centre ―The first Highland Games in the USA took place in 1836. The Caledonian Club of San Francisco held its first Games in 1866 and boasts the oldest running Games in the USA. However, now in its 165th year, St. Andrew Society of Detroit runs the longest continuous Games in North America. Today there are more than 200 annual games and gatherings across the US, Can- ada and UK.‖ Quote taken from the following website: www.scotland.org/whats-on/highland- games/uk-usa-canada-highland-games The prominent Scottish events in Alberta are the Canmore Highland Games, September 2- 3rd, (ie Saturday evening + Sunday) and the Cal- gary Highland Games, Sept. 2nd; the Calgary event began in 1913 and Canmore in 1991. In Selkirk, MB there is a Manitoba Highland Gath- ering in mid-June. It originated in 1973. There is also something called the Saskatchewan Highland Gathering and Festival, put on in Regina. Like ours it is held on the Victoria Day long weekend. Drum Majors leading massed bands at the 2016 Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival. In Atlantic Can- ada there is the Antigonish Highland Games (July 7- 9) taking place in Antigonish, NS for its 154th year, making it as old as our Victoria High- land Games. Cont’d on p. 3
Transcript of SCOTTISH NEWSLETTERvictoriahighlandgames.com/games/wp-content/uploads/... · 2017. 4. 29. · 4...
May represents the high point of the
year for Scottish events in Victoria. There
are the actual Highland Games on Victoria
Day long weekend as well as related events
for ten days prior to and concurrent with the
main event. (See events listed on page 2 .)
We are fortunate in Victoria to have
one of the most historic Highland Games in
Canada. The antecedents of the Victoria
Highland Games and Celtic Festival started
in 1864 under the then Caledonian Benevo-
lent Society. In due course the latter amalga-
mated with the St. Andrew’s Society and
formed the St. Andrew’s and Caledonian So-
ciety. In 1938 the Victoria Highland Games
Association was formed and it has organized
the event since then.
Jim Maxwell has been President of
the Victoria Highland Games Association for
a dozen years and is a driving force behind
making our local event so successful. The
Games draws on some 300 volunteers, cul-
minating May 20-22. While all the traditional
elements of a Highland Games are present in
Victoria’s event, there are also innovations
each year.
Interestingly the BC Highland
Games (June 17) on its website claims to be
―the longest running Highland Games in BC‖
but no founding date is given. Also in the
province there is the Penticton Scottish Fes-
tival on July 1 and the Kamloops Highland
Games on July 9. At Easter there was the
annual Indoor Games hosted in Surrey.
Because of the much larger population
of the U.S., there are more Highland Games
events there than in Canada. Their two larg-
est Games are held at Grandfather Mountain ,
North Carolina and Pleasanton, California
(which is a town south-east of San Fran-
cisco). Pleasanton is sponsored by the Cale-
donian Club of San Francisco. About 30
bands attend there on Labour Day weekend.
Last year Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Band
from Vancouver won top prize in the Grade
One. Simon Fraser University Pipe Band has
also attended in the past but did not compete
there in 2016.
S E R V I N G T H E S C O T T I S H
C O M M U N I T Y O F
G R E A T E R V I C T O R I A
E D I T O R :
L A R R Y S C O T T Highland Games Season Here and Yon
SCOTTISH NEWSLETTER
M A Y 1 , 2 0 1 7 V O L U M E 2 : I S S U E 5
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E
Highland Games Here and Yon 1
Upcoming Events: May 2
Upcoming Events: June & Beyond 3 Highland Games … Continued 3
Contact Information Scottish Groups 4 Kirkin’ of the Tartan
Photos—2017 5 Piper’s Club Photo 5 Scottish Newsletter Q&A 5
Cultural Centre
18%
Donations accepted at:
www.victoriahighlandgames.com
Tae Victory!
$2,000,000
Victoria Scottish
Cultural Centre
―The first Highland Games in the USA
took place in 1836. The Caledonian Club of San
Francisco held its first Games in 1866 and boasts
the oldest running Games in the USA. However,
now in its 165th year, St. Andrew Society of
Detroit runs the longest continuous Games in
North America. Today there are more than 200
annual games and gatherings across the US, Can-
ada and UK.‖ Quote taken from the following
website: www.scotland.org/whats-on/highland-
games/uk-usa-canada-highland-games The prominent Scottish events in Alberta
are the Canmore Highland Games, September 2-
3rd, (ie Saturday evening + Sunday) and the Cal-
gary Highland Games, Sept. 2nd; the Calgary
event began in 1913 and Canmore in 1991. In
Selkirk, MB there is a Manitoba Highland Gath-
ering in mid-June. It originated in 1973. There is
also something called the Saskatchewan Highland
Gathering and Festival, put on in Regina. Like
ours it is held on the Victoria Day long weekend.
Drum Majors leading massed bands at the 2016
Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival.
In Atlantic Can-
ada there is the
A n t i g o n i s h
H i g h l a n d
Games (July 7-
9) taking place
in Antigonish,
NS for its 154th
year, making it
as old as our
Victoria High-
land Games.
Cont’d on p. 3
May Events
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Vancouver Island
Scottish Country Dance Society
May Ceilidh
Saturday, May 27th
7:30—9:30 pm City light Church Hall
550 Obed Avenue, Victoria
Admission $5.00
Suitable for everyone.
www.viscds.ca/events
Annual Clan Torchlight Ceremony 8:00 pm –Saturday, May 20th
BC Legislature Buildings
Tilted Kilt Pub Crawl Wednesday, May 17th
A double decker bus shuttles teams among 4
pubs in downtown Victoria. Sponsored by
Lighthouse Brewing. Each of the teams is
accompanied by a piper and a highland
dancer. 5th Annual Pub Crawl!
People of Scottish background are invited to attend the ceremony wearing their tar-tan! This is a free event open to the gen-eral public. Any clans interested can ob-tain more info by contacting: Jim Maxwell at [email protected]
Van. Is. Scottish Country Dance Soc. Mini Socials
Thursdays, May 4-25, 7:30 – 9:30 pm
City Light Church Hall,
550 Obed Avenue
$5.00 per night
Blackthorn & Knacker’s Yard Ceilidh & The Victoria School of Irish Dance
Sunday, May 21 Doors: 7:00 pm - Bands: 7:30 pm
$15 in advance/$20 at the door.
Tickets at: ticketpeak.com/slainte
@ Victoria Event Center, 1415 Broad St.
154th Victoria Highland Games
& Celtic Festival 2017 May 20-22 at Topaz Park, Victoria
For schedule of activities go to www.victoriahighlandgames.com
Celtic Fest Kickoff Ceilidh Friday, May 19th
Knacker’s Yard plus
Old Black Rum and
Victoria School of Irish Dance.
Show 7:30 –11:00 pm
The Victoria Event Center,
1415 Broad St, Victoria.
$15 in advance/$20 at the door.
Parade starts from Centennial Square at 11:00 am and pro-
ceeds down Government St to Legislature Lawn. Wear your
tartan and walk in the parade! 2016 Photo: L. Scott
Annual Victoria Tartan Parade 11:00 am—Saturday, May 13, 2017
www.rmts.bc.ca/events/pops-6-2017-royal-theatre
Celtic Celebration with Ken Lavigne May 5, 8:00 pm & May 7, 2:00 pm
Royal Theatre, Victoria
Award winning tenor Ken Lavigne
joins the Victoria Symphony for an
evening of all things Celtic. Includes
a sing along for things like Danny
Boy, Loch Lomond, Molly Malone
and more. Tickets start at $32.
*Highland dancers are invited to gather at
the Highland Dance stage at the Highland
Games, 11:30 am on Saturday, May 20
to do 4 steps of the Highland Fling.
Contact Jim Maxwell at [email protected] for tickets.
For details: www.victoriahighlandgames.com/games/
schedule/pre-games-events/tilted-kilt-pub-crawl/
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June Events & Beyond:
Conversational Gaelic Immersion
Ceilidh—Brentwood Bay Centre Friday, June 2, 7-10 pm
Come join the Brentwood Scottish Coun-
try Dancers as we celebrate the comple-
tion of our 15th year at the Centre. The
dances will be easy and called. All ages
are welcome. The cost is $5 per person
or $10 per family. All money collected
goes to the Centre. Wear clothes (that
allow for movement) and light weight, flat soft soled
shoes. Come dance or watch and join in the fun! Refresh-
ments. A bagpiper will greet dancers as they arrive.
Contact: [email protected]
Highland Games… Continued
Both in attendance and numbers of bands
and dancers, the Glengarry Highland Games
are the largest in North America. This two
day event is held in the village of Maxville
(population 800), located midway between
Ottawa and Montreal in Glengarry County. The main draw
is its hosting of the North American Pipe Band Champion-
ship. With such large population centres nearby, Maxville
is currently able to draw 50,000 people and sixty pipe
bands on the Fri.-Saturday of the Civic long weekend in
August. Usually the Montreal Highland Games are held
next day (Sunday). I grew up in Maxville and first learned
to play the pipes there. I didn’t realize that the Games were
so special, until after I moved away in my teens.
The pre-eminent piping event internationally is the
World Pipe Band Championship in Glasgow, Scotland.
From August 11-12, 2016 there were 234 pipe bands from
15 countries; the crowd was 35,000 over two days, includ-
ing 8,000 competitors. Technically these are not Highland
Games as only pipe bands compete and there are no other
events involved. The World’s has been held at Glasgow
Green for the past thirty years but before that it was a com-
petition that rotated among different sites in the UK.
The largest actual Highland Games in Scotland is
the three day Cowal Gathering held in Dunoon, Argyll-
shire at the end of August; it has 3,500 competitors and
averages an attendance of around 23,000 people according
to their website. By way of comparison, our own Victoria
Highland Games and Celtic Festival has an attendance of
more than 20,000 people spread across three days., making
it the pre-eminent such event in Western Canada.
And there you have a digital tour of some notable
Highland Games. Each one has its own character and set-
ting. Our local organizers are to be congratulated on put-
ting on such a ―world class‖ event. See you at the Games!
Larry Scott - Editor
Irish Pilgrimage Tour October 17—November 6, 2017
June 5-9, 2017
Edelweiss Club Hall, Victoria
$350 per person.
Pamphlet sent with April newsletter.
Or contact [email protected]
BC Highland Games & Scottish Festival Saturday, June 17, 2017
Percy Perry Stadium
Town Centre Park
1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
www.bchighlandgames.com
Take the Skytrain to the end of the
Evergreen Line. You’re there!
Contact Vanessa Hammond
250.415.9272
Pamphlet explaining trip is
available on request.
Canada Day at Craigflower Manor Saturday, July 1, 2017
Sponsored by Victoria
Highland Games Association &
Town of View Royal.
More details to follow in June.
Members of Vancouver Island Caledonia Pipe Band opening
the Tartan Day Celebration, April 8, 2017 at Centennial
Square. Pipe Major Cole Griffiths on far right. Photo: L. Scott
Bellingham Highland Games June 7-10, 2017 CANCELLED
This event has been cancelled due to lack of
funding and a shortage of active participants
to put it on. The hope is to resume in 2018.
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Scottish Culture:
Saltire Society of Victoria: Contact is the Provost, Bob
Williamson 250-655-1270 or the society’s Scrivener,
Gordon Robinson 250-477-8317.
Sons of Scotland Benevolent Association: www.sonsofscotland.com For inquiries, Grand Chief is
Keith Feir. Contact 250 652-5773 or [email protected]
Victoria Gaelic Choir: The group sings in both Gaelic
and English. www.victoriagaelicchoir.com
Victoria Highland Games Association: President is Jim
Maxwell. Many volunteer opportunities exist. For info
see www.victoriahighlandgames.com
The Celtic Connection: Burnaby based tabloid publish-
ing since 1991. www.celtic-connection.com
Websites About Scotland:
Scottish Review is edited by journalist Kenneth Roy,
giving a weekly sampling of current news stories in Scot-
land. You can sign up for free. www.scottishreview.net
Rampant Scotland is a site begun in 1996 and written by
Alan Scott, a Glasgow-area resident who has lived in
Scotland all his life. He collects both news items and a
variety of photos of all things Scottish. Visit his site at
www.RampantScotland.com/letter.htm
Dance Instruction:
Brentwood Scottish Country Dancers: contact
[email protected] for more detailed informa-
tion. Classes happen at Brentwood Centre.
Vancouver Island Scottish Country Dance Society: www.viscds.ca Weekly classes for various levels of
ability. Further information may be had from Dora
Dempster, [email protected]
Bon Accord Highland Dancers: Lynne Griffith
Tel. 250 479-7804 [email protected]
Glengarry Highland Dancers: Carolyn Phillips-Cusson.
Tel. 250 758-0208 or email for information to
Kathleen Laurie School of Highland Dance:
Tel. 250 213-9627 [email protected]
Katie Dean School of Highland Dance:
H 250-920-3513 cell 250-514-8110 [email protected]
O’Connor – O’Brien School of Irish Dancing website
at www.obrienirishdance.com
Victoria School of Irish Dance: www.victoriairishdancers.com Contact Alison Paladini
Tel. 250 888-9421 or [email protected]
Victoria Area Pipe Bands:
BC Pipers` Association. This is a volunteer driven or-
ganization serving solo Highland Bagpipers, Scottish
Drummers and Pipe Bands in British Columbia, Wash-
ington, and Oregon. www.bcpipers.org
Castle Cary Pipes and Drums.
www.castlecarypipesanddrums.ca/
443 Squadron RCAF Pipe Band. P/M Stephen Kelly
[email protected] or [email protected]
Greater Victoria Police Pipe Band. www.gvppb.com
Pipe Band of the Canadian Scottish Regiment
(Princess Mary’s). Drum Major Glen Ereaut, contact at
Saanich Peninsula Pipe Band.
www.saanichpeninsulapipeband.blogspot.ca
78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band.
www.78fraservictoria.ca/ P/M Steve Kelly Sr.
2136 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps Pipes and
Drums. www.2136cadets.ca
Vancouver Island Caledonia Pipe Band.
www.vanislecaledonia.com
Local Businesses With Celtic Flavour:
Bard and Banker Scottish Pub, 1022 Government St,
Victoria www.bardandbanker.com
Fraser Orr’s Butcher and Deli, 108-1931 Mt Newton
Cross Rd, Saanichton. Haggis, Scotch pies, etc.
www.fraserorrsbutcher.com
Freedom Kilts, 1919 Fernwood Rd, Victoria
www.freedomkilts.com
Irish Linen Stores, 1019 Government St, Victoria
www.irishlinenvictoria.com
Irish Times Pub, 1200 Government St, Victoria
www.irishtimespub.ca
Island Bagpipe, 5775 Alder Way, Nanaimo
www.islandbagpipe.com Bagpipes and much more.
Lion Rampant Scottish Pub, 6777 Beaumont Ave.,
Duncan. www.lionrampant.ca
North of Hadrian’s Kilts and Celtic Clothing,
264 Island Highway, Victoria www.northofhadrians.com
Out of Ireland Irish Importers, 1000 Government St.,
Victoria: www.outofireland.ca
Photo of the rare
Humming Haggis
Bird.
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Scottish Newsletter: Q&A 2017
How long has the Scottish Newsletter been going?
Since January 2016. The Victoria Joint Scottish Council
used to publish a newsletter that provided a calendar of
upcoming events. That organization ceased about four
years ago and with it the newsletter. The present Scot-
tish Newsletter does not derive from the former Council.
Who determines the content?
The editor is Larry Scott. He determines the content by
informally consulting with the main organizations in the
Scottish community in and around Victoria. There is no
editorial board as there might be in a newspaper.
Who sponsors or funds the newsletter?
There is no sponsoring organization, which makes for a
neutral perspective editorially. Because there is no print
distribution and no overhead, the newsletter can func-
tion as a volunteer community effort. Irene Feir acts as a
proof reader and various community members contrib-
ute the content that is not written by the editor. No ad-
vertising revenue is required and the directory of Scot-
tish related businesses, dance teaching, etc is a commu-
nity service rather than paid advertising. Listing the
businesses does not imply any particular endorsement.
Is there a connection between the Scottish Newsletter
and the Victoria Highland Games Association?
While the newsletter publicises many events sponsored
by the Victoria Highland Games Association, there is no
formal relationship with that group. The latter is inter-
ested in the promotion of Scottish culture and in that
sense the newsletter has a similar purpose, but the two
entities are separate. In general the largest groups in the
community advertise the most activities—eg. Highland
Games sponsored events and Scottish Country Dancing.
You don’t usually have much about Scotland in the
newsletter. Is there a reason for that?
The focus of the Scottish Newsletter is providing a cal-
endar of upcoming local events in the Scottish commu-
nity in and around Victoria. There are other publica-
tions, online and in print, that are produced in Scotland
and are easily available, for those wanting current Scot-
tish information. A couple such websites are regularly
listed on p. 4 of the newsletter. A secondary focus is to
sometimes have articles on Celtic culture and history,
which do allude to Scotland and beyond. Many readers
have indicated that they like this content and that’s why
the newsletter has expanded its scope in that direction.
If you would like to be on the email mailing list to re-
ceive the Scottish Newsletter, please advise Larry Scott
by email at [email protected] Your email ad-
dress will not be shared. Distribution is by email only
and is free of charge.
Piper Roger Hind, Rev. Cheryl Black, Grand Chief
Keith Feir—Sons of Scotland. Kirkin’ of the Tartan,
St Aidan’s United Church, April 2, 2017. Photo: L. Scott
Gaelic Choir, Kirkin’ of the Tartan Service, April 2, 2017.
Choir Director is Jan Beckett. Photo: L. Scott
Part of Pacific Gaels Pipes & Drums Youth Band at Victoria
Piper’s Club, April 1, 2017. Pipe Major Tamara Cameron
gathers youth from Vancouver Island pipe bands for Sunday
afternoon practices in Nanaimo. Photo: René Cusson
