Kilt Skate Coast to Coast -- Part 3 The West

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Wow we have to go right around the great lakes 2173 kms to reach our next kilt skate community in Winnipeg. Canada is a big place! And Winnipeg is a big kilt skate town and a founding community of Great Canadian Kilt Skate in 2015.  It was a relatively balmy day  sunny day at Riley Duck Pond in Assimiboine Park and 80 skaters mostly in Kilts and tartan came out. The venerable Queens Own Cameron Highlanders came out in outfits looking more like a hockey team that you would be afraid to play against. They did play pipes that is. Everybody had a great time with hot chocolate too. A wonderful kilt skate on beautiful pond. You can’t ask for more.

Lumsden, Saskatchewan

Leaving Winnipeg it is 607 kms past Regina to Lumsden Saskatchewan. At the other end of the spectrum J-P Bautista-Hunter took his experience kilt skating in the Home Edition and brought it to the community on Robbie Burns Day. Lots of fun and learning. He’s already thinking about next year. This is how many kilt skates start and it is a testimony to our Scottish entrepreneurial culture to want to build something

Calgary, Alberta

Continuing along the Trans Canada highway 761 kms we reach Calgary, another founding Kilt Skate community. Calgary’s kilt skate was part of the Chinook Blast Winter Festival. And they got it right. Warm Chinook weather blessed the event which is unique in being right downtown amongst the office towers. It was well attended by kilt skaters young and old and blessed with music by multiple pipers. There was also Highland dancing and live music. Over 200 cups of hot chocolate was served.

Vancouver, British Columbia

 We finish our journey traversing over the rockies 777 kms to Vancouver. Although this was their inaugural year, Vancouver has a strong Scottish heritage fosterd by the United Scottish Cultural Society and the BCScotfest Highland games. It was another innovative event held in the new Shipyards skating rink in North Vancouver. They had fun with “literally’ colourful piping and flag waving. And as if to complete the circle the President of the games and organizer of the event Mike Chisolm was raised in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

 Its been a great kilt skate journey in 2023. We will be announcing the Kilt Skate Capital of Canada shortly. We look forward to more fun and more communities joining us next year. Have a good summer.