The Founders
More than 5 million Canadians claim Scottish heritage in this country. Scots helped settle eastern Canada and built vibrant communities named after places they had left behind such as - Glengarry County, Perth and Renfrew. But the waves of immigration crested in the 60s and 70s – immigrants who brought their love of Scottish music, dance, sport and literature were growing fewer and thus began the fade of the Celtic connection.
By Nancy Dupuis
Incorporated as a registered not-for-profit organization in September 2012 to revive and rejuvenate the historic ties between Scotland and Canada, to not only be about the pipes & drums but also with a focus on modern day Scotland, the Scottish Society of Ottawa had an illustrious group at the front – these founders, movers and shakers that they were, included the following as members of the first Executive Board:
Senator Doug Finley (1946-2013), co-founder
Kevin MacLeod, first Chair
Emmett Hossack, first Vice-Chair
John Ivison, first Executive Director
Andrew Balfour, first Treasurer and,
Heather Theoret, first Secretary and current Vice-Chair
Bethany Bisaillion – Pipe Major, the Sons of Scotland, also attended these first meetings but left to further other interests. Others who also attended first meetings and had a significant impact on the establishment and development of the Society, many of them first generation Scottish-Canadians, include Derek (Degs) Dobson, Bobby Watt, Sally and Kenny Douglas, Stuart Jardin, Brian Lyall and Richard Fleming to mention a few.
In a conversation with Diane Finley, herself an MP in the Conservative Government for almost 17 years - first elected in June 2004, the late Senator’s wife mentioned the meeting of her late husband and these folk, of which most were avid soccer enthusiasts, and of the passion they each shared for Scotland. It was this passion that sent them into a huddle on March 12, 2012 to actively promote their heritage. She distinctly remembers the table in the old office of Sir John A. Macdonald and the whisky cabinet as two of the pieces of notable furniture in that room, depicting images of yesteryear on the Hill.
It is at this point in the story of the Founders, I introduce Heather Theoret. Heather had been invited to join the Grand Committee who were planning the first Ottawa Hogmanay celebration one evening in December 2012, and as she stood at a street corner on Wellington Street waiting for the light to change, she looked up at Parliament Hill and asked herself “What am I doing?” possibly with a few superlative words. But in true Heather fashion, she marched up that hill and walked into the meeting, graciously accepting a dram of whisky on an empty stomach, no supper yet that evening, and the rest is history. Heather is currently Vice Chair of the Scottish Society of Ottawa and is currently filling the Chair’s spot for the next few weeks while Jane Torrance is on a leave of absence. Heather has been with us from the get-go except for a brief period in the middle years and there isn’t a person who I have interviewed these past few months, who have had anything but the highest of praise for Heather Theoret, not only for the vibrancy she brings to the Society but also for her dedication. In my conversation with Heather, she mentioned that initially the idea of building the organization and increasing the awareness of Scottish heritage in the nation’s capital most excited her. We are so glad it did, Heather and we wholeheartedly thank you for your continued service.
Although leaving a few years later, as life took other turns or they just got busy with other life priorities, the following were also instrumental in the start-up of the Scottish Society of Ottawa; John Ivison, a Scottish Canadian journalist and author, and an Ottawa based political columnist for the National Post and Ottawa Bureau Chief, who, with his extensive political and business Rolodex, was able to heighten the reputation and fundraising efforts of the Society over the first few years, not without saying though that initial dumps of funds into the organization came from those first involved. (The TD Bank and Bell, with Bell continuing to support to this day, were also major contributors in those initial years, especially in the funding of the Hogmanay events); Kevin MacLeod, Canadian Secretary to the Queen at the time and appointed Usher of the Black Rod, Senate of Canada on March 27, 2013 wrote the first Mission Statement for the Society and chaired meetings and spoke on behalf of the SSO at several St. Andrew’s Day celebrations hosted by the British High Commissioner at Earnscliffe; Andrew Balfour, a lobbyist advising MPs, Senators, and leaders of the opposition based in Ottawa, spoke of significant amounts of money being raised those first few years, thanks to the influence and drive of those on the Board to make this happen. Emmett Hossack, SSO’s first Vice Chair, consistently offered sage advice, helping to guide the society in organizational structure, and continues to lead the organization’s successful and ever popular whisky tasting events.
Those first few years were challenging and stressful at times, but the camaraderie, banter, humour, and Scottish pride and fortitude prevailed. More builders quickly followed, growing the Society and its brand, leading to the current OttScot Festival. Stay tuned for our next part of this series with great stories of the days of building the Society.