OttScot Festival
By Andy MacCulloch
Robert Burns and his spirit play a huge part in our efforts as you’ll see when you read more about that great upcoming event featured in our December newsletter. But the Robbie Burns Supper is only one of the key events that make up the “OttScot Festival” which runs from November 30 until mid-March. As you may have read, it kicked off with a flag-raising of the “Saltire” at Ottawa’s City Hall on St. Andrew’s Day.
Hogman-EH!
Canadians love to say ”EH” so we call our signature event “Hogman-EH! New Year’s Eve Scottish Style”. We dare to say it is probably the biggest New Year’s Eve party in Ottawa and perhaps the largest Hogmanay celebration outside of Scotland! Last year’s event had 1500 in attendance. This year’s event on December 31 takes place at the Infinity Centre in Ottawa. Read more in this December issue of our newsletter.
Great Canadian Kilt Skate
The Great Canadian Kilt Skate regularly held in February is a fun outdoor or indoor ice rink activity. It features skaters wearing kilts or something “tartan” along with bagpipers, Celtic bands, highland dancers and usually hot chocolate…but maybe something stronger too. It can be chilly especially in a kilt!
Kilt Skate has become a tradition for the SSO and up to 15 other communities across Canada and sometimes even into the United States. This year SSO Membership Director, Whitney Brooks, and the community from Renfrew County, ON, reached out to Renfrewshire, Scotland to hold a joint Kilt skate.
We are excited to see the spread of The Great Canadian Kilt Skate to our Scottish and American friends.
Loads of other fun
Beyond these activities numerous other grassroots events help build our Scottish Canadian community. We host and participate in events such as:
We have also worked to build awareness of touring Scottish bands like Braebach and Talisk at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre. Some of our members have even formed a Celtic music informal session circle that holds sing-a longs and plays lively familiar Scottish songs and music.
At our brilliant SSO Burns Supper event in January, we honour all the traditions, toasts and addresses. In fact, the Address to the Haggis is famously delivered by our former Burns Director, Jen Hill who wields the dagger and the prose fearfully, and has earned her the name of “haggis-slayer” around town! Burns traditions are well-cherished by the Scottish Society of Ottawa.
We think the Bard would approve of our Ottawa supper each January 25th, and would love how we have put a Scottish sense of fun and creativity into so many varied activities, all with a Canadian spin.
We are a small volunteer not-for-profit society but as you can tell, we like to have a great time. Join us at any of our events, and, consider becoming a member or volunteering!
Sláinte!