ABOUT US
This year, the Scottish Society of Ottawa celebrates its 11th anniversary. Please join us in celebrating our shared interest in Scottish culture.
Mission
The Scottish Society of Ottawa, an incorporated not-for-profit organisation, connects, preserves, and promotes Scottish culture and heritage regionally, nationally, and internationally through events, communication and education.
Vision
We celebrate Scottish culture.
Values
We are inclusive, passionate, creative, resilient, and work with integrity. Above all, we are fun!
THE ROLE OF THE SOCIETY
More than five million Canadians (15%) claim Scottish heritage, representing the third largest ethnic group in Canada. In the early 1800s, Scots helped settle Eastern Ontario and build vibrant communities named after the places they left behind – Glengarry County, Perth, Renfrew. Ottawa-Scottish heritage traces its roots back over 180 years, with the first mention of a St. Andrew’s Day celebration in 1838. It’s estimated that 20% of communities and neighbourhoods in the National Capital Region are founded on place names in Scotland or based on Scottish or Ulster Scots family names. Emigrants brought their love of Scottish music, dance, history, sport, cuisine, language and literature. Scots have made a unique contribution to Eastern Ontario’s social, infrastructure, political and economic history. Scottish-Canadian descendants have provided many of Canada’s leading justices, statespersons, clergy, business and scholars. A walk through Ottawa’s Beechwood Cemetery reveals this enduring legacy. The Scottish Society of Ottawa (SSO) was founded in 2012 to revive, rejuvenate and sustain those historic links. Through special events and educational programs, the SSO wants to expose more Canadians to our shared history, connections and promote the story of Scotland in the 21st century – a modern nation state.
The Society’s inaugural event took place on New Year’s Eve 2012 – a Hogmanay street party at Ottawa City Hall. It was aimed to replicate the excitement of Edinburgh’s world-famous party as the clock struck midnight and we entered a new year. The evening celebration is a family-friendly mix of traditional and contemporary Scottish music, Highland dancing, Scotch tasting sessions, enlivened by Scottish food and drink. This event has grown to become an Ottawa institution, attracting between 6,000 and 7,000 people of all ages and backgrounds.
Our goal is to create and support events of interest to many areas of the Celtic arts which are supported by a suite of activities, executed thanks solely to the dedication of our volunteer committees, and includes the Great Canadian Kilt Skate, the Gala Burns Supper & Ceilidh, packaged into the OttScot Festival.
BYLAWS
We are pleased to share our bylaws and policies.