FROM THE CHAIR - NOVEMBER 2026

Greetings!

I hope All Hollows’ Eve was good for you and all the kids in your neighbourhood as we celebrated the threshold of All Saints’, All Souls’ Day and Samhain, Gaelic for “summer’s end”, and our transition into the darker days. This is indeed the “thinner time” of the year when spirits, fairies and ancestors can cross over to the human realm, and bonfires, feasts and disguises are the tools to either welcome or fool these spirits.

Speaking of spirits, the Whisky and Verse event on Nov. 29th will provide the Blàth agus clyth (warmth and coziness) of whiskies curated by our Whisky Ambassador Emmett Hossack. He will be accompanied by the effervescent wit of our two pub poets, Christopher Brown and Brunty (Brunton) Craig. Enjoy the superb culinary treats served up by the Lexington Restaurant (and a free signed copy of Brunty’s poems).

Join us at City Hall on Nov. 30th at 11 am for the St Andrew’s Day/ Scottish Heritage Day Flag Raising. I will be joined by St. Andrew’s Society president Alan James, other dignitaries, and the Ottawa Celtic Choir to celebrate this day that also marks the start of our Ottscot Festival (our annual 3-month celebration of Scottish culture, history, and folklore). After this job is done, we usually go to warm up at Deacon Brodies pub for a glass of cheer.

After your Nollaig Chridheil (your warm-hearted Christmas) or happy holiday celebration, please join us in anticipation of Hogmanay for our Hogmanay Holiday Concert on December 27th, 7 pm at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. This reasonably priced show will be a blockbuster of a concert to celebrate the festive season and welcome the coming Hogmanay with high octane Scottish and Celtic music.

Headliners include the Atlantic Firth Scottish dance band who will be joined by the great Anna Ludlow with keyboardist John Mitchell, highland and uillean piper Ross Davison, the ever-popular tenor John Young accompanied by Dr. James Wright on piano. The Ottawa Celtic Choir will deliver some of the most beautiful Gaelic sounds of the season. Proceeds will go to the Out of the Cold supper program that provides hot meals to the less fortunate.

Our traditional and classic Burns Supper will be offered on Jan. 30th, 2027 at the NDHQ WO’s & Sgt’s Mess on Cartier Square. Fine dining and wildly entertaining speeches await you.

Our tickets for all the Whisky/Verse, Hogmanay Holiday Concert and Burns Supper events will go on sale in early November. Get yours and buy a few for your friends! These events sell out fast!

We hope you enjoy the new section in this issue of the newsletter, “Celebrating our Clans!” Our first entry is from our former Chair, Heather Theoret, née MacLeod. You’ll see she’s thrown down a challenge for someone associated with the MacDonald clan to submit their story… I might know one of these. Or submit your story to: communications@ottscot.ca

Remember to join our Society for a greater sense of Scottish solidarity and pride, discounts, and friendships. There are lots of great volunteer opportunities with us as well. We urgently need a Development (Fundraising) Director and a Secretary, please contact me at chair@ottscot.ca if you have any suggestions.

As the darker time of year gives way to the dawning light of the winter solstice and Hogmanay, let us prepare for some Blàth agus clyth celebrations!

Slàinte,

Donald Macdonald