Founders, builders and those continuing the legacy of the SSO into the 2nd decade.

By Nancy Dupuis

The Founders, the Builders and those continuing the legacy; all have played a significant role in how the Scottish Society of Ottawa is regarded in 2022, ten years later.

SSO Grand Committee Meeting, June 17, 2013, Sir John A. Macdonald office, East Block, Parliament Hill. At the time of this photo, this was the office of Senator Doug Finley, SSO co-founder. L to R: Senator Finley’s assistant, Andrew Balfour (Treasurer), Kevin MacLeod (Chair), Heather Theoret (Board Secretary), John Ivison (Executive Director), Richard Fleming (Committee member, Logistics), Emmett Hossack (Vice Chair and whisky enthusiast), Stuart Jardin (committee member), Tracy Cook (committee member, Hogmanay and Great Canadian Kilt Skate), Andrew Cook (Committee member who would become first Membership Director).

What follows are excerpts of conversations I have had with several the folks who were heavily involved with the Society over the last 10 years; some still to this day as they continue to fill positions on the Board or as a volunteer helping in whatever way they can. New people have come on board this past season as well and we are grateful for the time and effort they are putting towards the next ten years and more. My conversations are in no specific order, just great old chin wags with folks proud to tell their part in the last ten years.

Let’s begin.

Andrew Balfour was the first treasurer of the SSO and stated that “Fundraising was successful in the early days mostly due to Senator Findlay and John Ivison reaching out to their contacts. Lawyers were coaxed into completing the incorporation and accountants also offered their services for free.” Andrew mentioned that Brian Lyall, a Scot from Jedburgh, was also an integral part of the organization back in the early days.

The late Richard Fleming spoke with great passion about his time with the SSO. Richard was the logistics man. Myself being an event organizer with the Canada Revenue Agency the last number of years before my retirement, I listened with big ears to the challenges and successes the SSO experienced in the early days, especially setting up Hogmanay. When Hogmanay was first discussed, Sparks Street came up as a possible venue, however upon further investigation it was just deemed to be too expensive a location. Then, City Hall came into the picture, but not without its challenges as well. As there was a problem with the irrigation system under the grass, alternatives for tents that needed spikes on the grass area needed to be sought. Mobile stages were needed, and a supplier was found out of Montreal. Outdoor heaters would be needed. Propane heaters blew 500,000 BTUs from three heaters, but this was still not enough to keep the musicians warm at the second Hogmanay celebration in December 2013. Moving on to the Aberdeen Pavilion a few years later when the City Hall venue was outgrown was unbelievable in Richard’s words. There was a steady stream of people, choirs and marching pipe bands weaving throughout the crowds; a comic emcee one year out of Kingston; a hired actor impersonating Sir John A Macdonald on another. Richard recall that the single biggest cost was the entertainment. Setup and teardown were huge for this event, so several volunteers were heavily involved. He mentioned the idea of a month-long festival being born with the result now of the OttScot Festival spanning two months and including St. Andrews Day, Hogman-eh!, the Burns Supper and the Great Canadian Kilt Skate. Richard enjoyed working with John Ivison, calling him just an amazing guy! 

On a very personal note, Richard spoke of his dad, a Director of Music for the National Film Board and his dad’s work with a woman from Nova Scotia as they collaborated on music pieces originating on the East Coast of Canada. He spoke with such pride of this period in his dad’s life.

Bobby Watt, of the band Ecosse, was instrumental in those early years as he knew of and understood the musicians and their needs and was able to negotiate their contracts with ease.

Sally Douglas, SSO’s first Marketing Director, commented “it takes a village to get stuff done” – it sure does. Her role in the early days had been to look after communications and marketing for the events. Having had to step down for personal reasons, she will always be a staunch supporter of the Society.

Other names such as Charlie Inglis, Michael Cox, and Ross May have come up in conversations with others. Former British High Commissioner Howard Drake was also very supportive. Obviously, it took a whole lot of people to get to where we are today.

I had a great in person visit with Stuart Jardine and his wife, Wilma, and learned all about the St. Andrews Society of Ottawa, and was even privy to a reading from the book, The Political Works of Robert Burns. With each of these conversations I have sensed a great deal of pride in where we all came from and how we bring that forth now. The wanting to share the information is evident.

Elizabeth MacLeod, Director in charge of membership ensures the database is current and up to date. Hoping that the virtual events of the last couple of years continue in the future alongside the real-time ones allowing additional to participate, she also expressed the thought that the Board must be “open” always. She would like to further the need to attract a new dynamic, that of the 35-50 years of age crowd.

Don Cummer spoke of the first Great Canadian Kilt Skate on January 31st 2015 - 200 people showed up that first day in kilts and tartans skating on the Rideau Canal from 5th Avenue to Confederation Park. The next year it was raining so the event was moved to Lansdowne Park on the spur of the moment – Don was always the voice on radio, reminding everyone – “don’t want to get frozen, but we are a pragmatic people”! Success! Tracy Cook, Heather Theoret and others were sure go-getters in those days, working hard according to Don. Great Canadian Kilt Skates have happened every year, with Don Cummer at the helm as Director for many of those years. By Nanc“2022 – it was a curious kilt skate season! On the one hand, the kilt skate family expanded more than ever; this year it grew to 14 Canadian and two American cities. On the other hand, the rise of the Omicron Covid virus forced the cancellation of community kilt skates in 10 of those cities. But individuals and families carried on, holding their own socially distanced “Home Edition” kilt skates.” The message was clear - get yourself out and have a skate in your kilt! Keep socially distanced and safe and don’t forget to send us a picture (didn’t need anyone to organize). The momentum was there!

Other current and former Board member recollections…

Dave Johnston currently leads the event volunteers and joined the SSO volunteer leadership in 2018. He sat next to Jane Torrance, a member at that time at the Annual General Meeting, and now former Chair. He was so impressed with Jane and Heather Theoret’s enthusiasm that day that it didn’t take him long to jump into the Volunteer Director position, taking over from Izzy Adams who he mentioned had done a great job and provided him with an excellent handover.

As with any organization, there are always a few trials and tribulations but, as Dave recounts, “Remembering our volunteers is important, and with this in mind, keeping their enthusiasm intact and showing appreciation for their efforts is top of mind. At my first Hogman-eh!, we were short staffed, and one volunteer in particular stayed on the door the entire evening.”

Good and bad - what do we do well and what could we improve upon? “The Scottish Society of Ottawa Board of Directors are dedicated and bring a lot of experience to running the organization. We should encourage and empower volunteers to take on more roles to lessen the burden on the Directors.”

Your hopes for the immediate future and hopefully even ten years down the road? “I hope the Society continues to survive and thrive and keep the flame of the Scottish diaspora in the Ottawa area alive and well.”

During my many conversations with these people both on the phone and in person, I kept hearing over and over of the passion and drive of Heather Theoret – may her guiding light continue to thrive; we are so appreciative, Heather as you continue to take us forward into the future, but always remembering our past.