The Great Canadian Kilt Skate Vancouver February 18, 2023

(Organizer Ken Hollands)

The Great Canadian Kilt Skate (GCKS) celebrates the longstanding cultural relationship between the Scottish and Canadians dating back to eighteenth century and beyond. The GCKS is coordinated by the Scottish Society of and features 12 Canadian and one American city.

This year the United Scottish Cultural Society, aka ScotFestBC decided to jump into the Kilt Skate fun. The first annual Vancouver Kilt Skate was held at the Shipyards Rink in North Vancouver  February 18, 2023. And now the Great Canadian Kilt Skate is coast to coast from A to V: Antigonish to Vancouver.

The North Vancouver skate started in the evening as the skaters were welcomed on to the ice.  No Kilt Skate would be complete without the musical support of a piper.

(Organizer & Piper Mike Chisholm)

When even a single piper is great, how about a few more to build more excitement. Not to sure what clan the Pink Piper (not panther) belongs to? Impressive that he even has a pink sporran. The other pipers look mighty fine too.

And although there was no Highland dancing in this Kilt Skate edition there were dancers in evidence paving the way for future appearances. Pipers, dancers and skaters faced the hardship of forgoing the Tap and Barrel after the skate as it was under renovations. Everybody had a great time and found other options to relax, find sustenance and finish up a great evening.

Mike Chisholm, Exec. Director of ScotFestBC was happy with the inaugural skate in British Columbia. “It is great to launch an event in the winter that supports our Scottish heritage out here on the West coast. We have just scratched the surface of the Kilt Skate experience and we are looking forward to helping to spread this idea around British Columbia.”