Greetings fellow Ottscots!
Spring is almost upon us, and The Scottish Society of Ottawa is looking forward to fresh plans as our traditional Ottscot festival events come to a close for the 2025-2026 season.
We were so pleased to host the St. Andrew’s Day Flag Raising and Whisky Tasting, our Hogmanay Ceilidh, the annual Burns Supper and the always fun Great Canadian Kilt Skate, our 12th edition. An SSO Scottish contingent also joined our Irish cousins on March 7 as we helped celebrate an early St. Patrick’s day in Ottawa. Read more about the return of their parade in this issue.
There is lots more to come! Don’t miss the new play in honour of Ottawa’s Bicentennial called “The Lairds of the Locks – the Scots of Bytown” which will be featured on March 21, at 2 pm at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Thanks to the generous support of the Scottish Connections Fund, the SSO teamed up with Pierre Brault of 2Be Studio for this fascinating one-man theatre interpretation showing the colour, challenges and drama of early Bytown. Among others, the play features the life of Scottish immigrant Thomas McKay. As the master stone mason of the Rideau Canal, he also built many of the city’s oldest, most beautiful, and important buildings - including those in the New Edinburgh neighbourhood which is now designated a Heritage Conservation District.
As an extra perk when you join our society, you’ll get a great discount on this play and on many of our major events. Membership also allows you to join discussions in our new “Members Only” Facebook group. Or get to know other Ottscots in person at one of our regular friendly gatherings. Our April social will include our annual Tartan Trivia to help celebrate Tartan Day, which marks Scotland’s independence in 1320. This is just a taste of what we’re all about.
Join our friendly and dynamic team – and be part of the many fun and interesting projects we’ll take on in 2026 and beyond!
Donald Macdonald
