Partners & Community Events

By Allison Jerome

28th Ottawa Scout Group

OTTAWA SCOUTS PREPARE FOR A TRIP TO SCOTLAND - 2026

The 28th Ottawa Scouts — based in the Alta Vista neighbourhood — are preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Scotland next summer.

Our group of 13 youth, ages 14–17, along with their leaders, will take part in a stay at a local Scottish scout camp, a four-day trek along the famous West Highland Way, and complete a climb up Ben Nevis: the tallest mountain in the UK. The trip will also include time for sightseeing around Edinburgh and Stirling. Our itinerary was carefully designed to reflect the values at the heart of scouting including being prepared, embracing challenge, seeking adventure, building international friendships, and learning through history and culture.

Scottish Scouts visit Ottawa.

This won’t be our first international adventure. Over the years, the 28th Ottawa Scouts have traveled internationally to many places including Switzerland, England, Peru, and around the United States such as Utah, New Mexico and West Virginia. In 2019, we also had the privilege of hosting a visiting group from Scotland who stopped by our nation’s capital after attending the U.S. National Jamboree. They stayed in our church hall, and together we shared adventures around the city, including a trip to Gatineau Park, a visit to the Canadian Museum of History, a canoe paddle down the Rideau Canal, and a lively joint campfire at Vincent Massey Park, complete with bagpipes and kilts, of course. Now we’re thrilled to be visiting their corner of the world and look forward to reconnecting with a few familiar faces along the way.

Fundraising plays a huge role in making these opportunities possible. Not only does it help bring costs down, but it also fosters teamwork and community spirit as every family works together toward a common goal. You may see us around town running a BBQ at a farmers’ market, selling baked goods at a community garage sale, or going door-to-door with leaf bags and bottle drive flyers, just to name a few.

We are grateful for the support of the Scottish Society of Ottawa and look forward to meeting some of you at upcoming events. We can’t wait to share updates as we prepare and, of course, report back on our incredible Scottish adventure when we return in August 2026.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to our trip co-leads, Alison (alison.jerome@live.com) or Kim (kimmberleigh05@gmail.com). We’d love to hear from you.

If you'd like to donate you can do so by:

Direct Donation (no tax receipt):

  1. Send an Interac eTransfer to 28thscoutspayments@gmail.com. Please write "Donation for 28th Ottawa Scouts 2026 Scotland Trip" in the message.

  2. Tax-Receiptable Donation via Scouts Canada:

  3. Visit the Scouts Canada Donate Page and select Donate to a specific Scout Group. When prompted, type 28th Ottawa Group as the Scout Group. Please also email us at 28thscoutspayments@gmail.com to let us know the date, amount and that it's for the 2026 Scotland trip. Note - Scouts Canada will issue a tax receipt for a donation of $20 or more.

  4. Donate by card by using the following link https://square.link/u/G8fOKGj3 or by scanning the following QR Code:

EVENTS

Traditional Fare play for a contra dance in Ottawa at Churchill Seniors Centre: Saturday 17th January…Ottawa Contra Dance - Social! | Facebook

Free community concert at Dominion-Chalmers: Celtic Harmonies: A concert with Celtic music on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at 1:00 PM. More details and tickets can be found on Eventbrite.

An Irish Céilídh (Social Dance): Ottawa Irish Arts is hosting a céilídh on Sunday, January 19, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Brigid's Well Pub. The event will feature live music and dancing, with no prior experience needed.

Traditional Fare play for a Burns Supper, in Chalk River, ON  - Chalk River Lions Club - Burns Supper | VHR with proceeds going to Deep River & District Hospital.

Atlantic Firth play for a Burns Supper, the SSO version of the event in Ottawa - Burns Supper — The Scottish Society of Ottawa.

Atlantic Firth play in Red Bird Live on Wednesday 28th January – Celtic Night Celebration - Red Bird Live Music

Atlantic Firth play in Horton Community Centre, 31st January – Renfrew Area Seniors beneficiary concert - Renfrew and Area Seniors' Home Support | People Helping People at Home and in our Community

Atlantic Firth Trio with Ian Clark on guitar play at Whitewater Inn, Beachburg – also a fundraiser for the Ottawa Valley Food Bank - FEB 1 MIDWINTER CONCERT & FEAST — OTGP

Atlantic Firth play for a Scottish Country Dance for Ardbrae Dancers Annual Ball, Saturday 7th February - 2026 Ball

David Johnston