Great Canadian Kilt Skate 2025: International interest grows
By Andy MacCulloch
Believe it or not, this is the 11th season of the Great Canadian Kilt Skate (GCKS)! It started in Ottawa in 2015 with the participation of the Scottish Society of Ottawa (SSO), the St. Andrew’s Societies in Montreal and Winnipeg, and the Optimist Club in Calgary.
Since then, as many as 30 different communities across Canada have participated, as well as two in the US (including NYC) and one in Dublin, Ireland. The size of kilt skate communities varies, as do the format and festivities. The common denominator is winter fun Scottish-style with kilts, bagpipes and Highland dancers – and skates! Even during the pandemic, enthusiasts skated at home or took to the ice in safe public settings.
We are really excited about the 2025 GCKS season. So far, we have thirteen Canadian communities participating on various dates from coast to coast: Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Fergus, Toronto, Orillia, Petawawa, Ottawa, North Glengarry, Montreal, Fredericton, Antigonish, and Halifax, with other locations still finalizing plans.
There are many new developments this year, but perhaps the most unique this year is the idea of SSO Membership Director and Great Canadian kilt skater, Whitney Brooks who is organizing a Kilt Skate in both Renfrew County, Ontario and Renfrewshire, Scotland. Through discussions with the Lord Provost, Renfrewshire and the Glasgow Clan hockey club, we have agreed on February 7-9, 2025, as the official “Kilt Skate Day.” In addition to Scotland, so far, we have five Canadian communities holding kilt skate events that same weekend: Calgary, Petawawa, Orillia, Ottawa, North Glengarry, Halifax as well as Hooksett, New Hampshire - making this a three-country international celebration and involving fifteen communities!
The Scottish Kilt Skate will be held before the hockey game between the Glasgow Clan and rival Fife Flyers. The communities of Ottawa, Petawawa (Renfrew County) and other Canadian kilt skates will share videos and perhaps even live kilt skating coverage, and if that happens, we would try to share live remarks from dignitaries, perhaps including from Renfrewshire’s Lord Provost, and the mayor of Ottawa, as well as from the Head of the Scottish Government in Canada (at 6:30 pm GMT, 1:30 pm EST).
The GCKS sparks initiative, ingenuity and spirit in the participating communities. The annual naming of the GCKS Capital by the SSO, also recognizes communities’ efforts and prompts friendly competition. Past winners have included Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg and the townships of North and South Glengarry. In 2024, Fergus, Ontario was the GCKS Capital.
Once again, the Scottish Society of Ottawa will work with all communities this year to have a fun and colourful kilt skate, embracing and celebrating the special bonds between Canada and Scotland. The skate in Ottawa itself will take place on February 8 from 1:00-3:00 pm at Lansdowne Park.
Hope to see you on the ice!
