SSO Summer fun 2023: From Games to Gaelic
Unless you have grown up in a Scottish community or family, you may not have heard of the wonderful Highland games held around Ottawa and in other parts of Canada. The events are an absolute whirl of activity from massed pipers to highland dancers to Celtic music and sporting games.
The Scottish Society of Ottawa attended the Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville, the North Lanark Highland Games in Almonte, and the New Edinburgh Street Fest in Ottawa (see links below for more). Along the way, we recruited 23 new members, made new friends, and enjoyed sharing Scottish culture with our local communities.
Although there are several games in or near Ottawa, the Glengarry Highland Games is certainly the biggest and oldest held in early August. As you arrive at Glengarry you hear the pipes and are drawn in by all the sights and sounds. It is hard to describe. You have to experience it. The SSO is always there with a booth in the Clan tent, where you can find lots of history about different clans. It also serves as the massing area for the clans marching into the grandstand. If you come by the SSO booth, you can take a picture with cutouts of Jamie and Claire from Outlander and have a wee blether. We love meeting people and it’s also a time when people can find out what’s coming in the fall.
This year a few SSO members including baritone John Young and piper Donald Macdonald, held a Ceilidh at the end of the main event day at Glengarry, outside the Clan tent. We played a mix of traditional and contemporary Celtic songs with a variety of uncommon instruments including a whistle, concertina, and of course a bagpiper. Music is one of the things that really connects Scottish and Canadian culture, and is enjoyed by musicians and listeners alike among SSO members. Whether enjoying the magical lyrics and music of Robbie Burn’s McPherson’s Lament or singing along to the toe-tapping Wagon Wheel - a favorite tune in the Western Highlands – Glengarry is a fun place to be during the summer.
Other great Scottish events attended by the SSO included the North Lanark Highland Games in August and the Edinburgh Street Fest in September. Music was at the forefront at Street Fest, with a wide variety of groups playing on the front porch of heritage homes in the area. The festival ended with a Celtic music circle of more than 10 players led by SSO volunteers Ron Roach and Skye McDermid. The instrumentation was even more eclectic including bodhran, fiddle, a couple of concertina, and even a harp. An audience of about 40 surrounded us, soaking up the music and beautiful early fall weather. There were jigs and reels, beautiful classical Scottish ballads and we still played Wagon Wheel. A truly wonderful day!
Over the summer we also continued our series of online Gaelic classes conducted by Randaidh (Gil) Waugh, who is a part-time professor of Gàidhlig, University of Ottawa; a PDQB-Certified Bagpipe Tutor at the Westend Bagpiping Studio; a musician and Composer at Fiùran, and a novelist. We are pleased to continue to offer classes this fall with both Level 1 and Level 2 sessions available. (See link below).
Links and wrap-ups written and contributed by SSO Director of Volunteers, Dave Johnston:
Join other SSO members and enjoy participating in summer games, festivals, and events. We look forward to seeing you!
Traditional Highland games include the caber toss, tug o' war, and hammer throw.