Donald MacDonald

Ciamar a tha sibh? (How are you?)

I hope you are well and interested in the great doings of the Scottish Society of Ottawa.  The SSO is a very friendly group promoting Scottish culture through many creative and festive activities.  A prime example is our New Year’s Eve Celebrations.  This year 2022 we reprise the Hogman-eh event at Lansdowne Park after two years of virtual celebrations.

As Director of Hogman-eh I am working hard to ensure an excellent experience for all our visitors both young and old.  I hope to see you there! 

About me:

A native of Ottawa, I have had a great career in public and private sectors as an architect and project manager.  Now retired, I enjoy helping groups bring joy to fellow citizens through events such as Hogman-eh.  I have been married to Kate for 37 years and have four children and two grandchildren.

I love to play the bagpipes in solo performances and with the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band to celebrate festive or commemorative occasions. (I am learning the fiddle too!)  I also do charity work through the Knights of Columbus at Saint Patrick Basilica Ottawa, an historic downtown church where we recognize our parish roots through annual ceilidhs in honour of Saint Andrew and Saint Patrick.

I am a seventh-generation descendant of highland settlers from the Jacobite areas of Lochaber and the Inner Hebrides who settled in what is now Prince Edward Island 250 years ago. A direct ancestor of mine, Angus Borrodale, welcomed and hosted Bonnie Prince Charlie many times during the ’45 rebellion and helped him escape – but the Clan paid the price and were persecuted for their religion and through economic difficulties.   My forebears endured many hardships in those pioneer times but through the years the pride in our highland origins has remained strong: 

From the lone shieling of the misty island
Mountains divide us, and the waste of seas-
Yet still the blood is strong, the heart is Highland,
And we in dreams behold the Hebrides:

Fair these broad meads – these hoary woods are grand;
But we are exiles from our fathers’ land.

From Canadian Boat-Song

Scottish anonymous

If you want to volunteer at Hogmaneh please email volunteer@ottscot.ca .  I wish you “one hundred thousand welcomes!”  Ceud mìle fàilte