8th Annual Great Canadian Kilt Skate™
Since 2015, the Scottish Society of Ottawa (SSO) has helped Canadian cities celebrate Scottish heritage in a way that is uniquely Scottish, and undeniably Canadian. We take to the ice in kilts! This year, some 12 communities across Canada will join in the Great Canadian Kilt Skate.
Home Edition, December 31, 2021-February 28, 2022
Halifax
Moncton
Montreal
South Glengarry, February 27, 2022
Ottawa
Toronto
Fergus
Midland
Winnipeg
Saskatoon
Lethbridge
Calgary
In recent years, the kilt skate phenomenon has moved beyond Canada’s borders:
New York City
Dublin
The “Home Edition” Returns
You don’t have to go to an organized community event to be a kilt skater. In 2021, when the COVID protocols prohibited large gatherings, we introduced the Home Edition: individuals, families and small groups sent us photos of their own, socially-distanced kilt skate. Thank you to the hundreds of skaters who took to the ice and used their creativity skating on ponds, community rinks, lakes, canals, creeks and even frozen roads. The Home Edition will remain a feature of the Great Canadian Kilt Skate for years to come.
We also saw first time participation from new areas in Canada including Orillia, Mauricie, Victoria Harbour and Regina to mention a few.
So come on, Canada! It’s time to #tartanup for the 2022 kilt skate season.
Congratulations to the 2021 Kilt Skate Capital of Canada
Special thanks and congratulations to the St. Andrew’s Society of Winnipeg for earning the title of the Kilt Skate Capital of Canada for 2021! Winnipegers sent us the most photos and videos. The St. Andrew’s Society reported 55 to 60 participants, with 15 to 20 who had never kilt skated before. In the local media, Cathy Laver-Wright, Winnipeg’s 2021 event organizer, was an excellent ambassador for the Great Canadian Kilt Skate. She was interviewed by the Winnipeg Free Press and by Nadia Kidwai on CBC Radio. On Robbie Burns Day, Cathy was interviewed by CTV Television under the title “How You can help Winnipeg become Canada’s Kilt Skate Capital.” Well done Cathy!
Who will Be the 2022 GREAT CANADIAN Kilt Skate™ Capital of Canada
Individuals and families across Canada are encouraged to join us again in January 2022. We’re looking forward to the next kilt skate season and determining who will be proclaimed the 2022 Great Canadian Kilt Skate Capital of Canada!
#ScotlandIsNow #kiltskate2022 #OttScot #tartanup
The 2021 Home Edition Gallery
Winnipeg
Mauricie
Glengarry
Ottawa
Toronto
Montreal
Victoria Harbour
Regina
Calgary
Orillia
Saskatoon
History of the Great Canadian Kilt Skate™
In 2015, to celebrate the bicentennial birthday of Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, the Scottish Society of Ottawa launched the first Kilt Skate event on January 31, 2015. Other cities joined Ottawa in the celebration, including Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary and Saskatoon. The Kilt Skate phenomenon is now spreading across Canada and into the United States. The Great Canadian Kilt Skate is indelibly Scottish and undeniably Canadian. It speaks to the Scottish contribution to Canada’s multicultural heritage.
The event is a chance to nurture your inner Scot, come to a skating party with a spirit of Scottish fun and fortitude wearing tartans and kilts.
The Kilt Skate phenomenon has been internationally recognized as a unique way to celebrate Scotland’s contribution to Canada’s multicultural heritage. We’ve been covered in the media from Scotland to Australia!
View the kiltskate.com blog page for other details about the Great Canadian Kilt Skate.
2021 Events
You can also view the list of events in our event calendar.
ottawa, ontario
Use the #kiltskate2021 #OttScot #kiltskate2021OTT and share your photos or videos on social media to ensure that Ottawa is counted in the competition!
Home Edition: Thursday, December 31, 2020 - Sunday, February 28, 2021
In person event date to be confirmed, possibly in February, depending on local public health restrictions
When confirmed, the location will be at the Skating Court, Lansdowne Park, 452 Queen Elizabeth Drive, Ottawa (Underground paid parking is available.)
Organizers: The Scottish Society of Ottawa, our 7th annual kilt skate
Contact: Carol MacPherson at MacphersonC@ottawapolice.ca
Winnipeg, manitoba
Use #kiltskate2021 #OttScot #kiltskate2021WPG #ScotlandIsNow
Home Edition: Thursday, December 31, 2020 - Sunday, February 28, 2021
Organized by The St. Andrew's Society of Winnipeg, their 6th annual kilt skate
Contact: Evelyn Mitchell at emitchell54@shaw.ca or 204-960-1612 Listen to Cathy Laver-Wright’s CTV interview
Montreal, quebec
Use the following hashtags: #kiltskate2021MTL #OttScot #ScotlandIsNow
Home Edition: Thursday, December 31, 2020 - Sunday February 28, 2021
Organized by the St. Andrew's Society of Montreal, their 6th annual kilt skate
Contact: Dr. Gillian Leitch at gilliandoctor@gmail.com or 514-570-0491
Toronto, ontario
Use the following hashtags: #Kiltskate2021GTA #OttScot #ScotlandIsNow
Home Edition: Thursday, December 31, 2020 - Sunday February 28, 2021
If public health protocols permit, a kilt skate will be hosted on February 27.
Organized by Clans and Scottish Societies of Canada, St, Andrew’s Society of Toronto
Contact: Kim Henwood at kimberleyhenwood@yahoo.ca or 647-569-6005
Saskatoon, saskatchewan
Use the following hashtags: #Kiltskate2021YXE #OttScot #ScotlandIsNow to ensure Saskatoon is counted in the competition
Home Edition: Thursday, December 31, 2020 - Sunday February 28, 2021
It’s different this year. The public health protocols make it impossible for us to host our usually community event. But the kilt skate must go on!
Organized by the Saskatoon Highland Dancing Association, their 6th annual kilt skate
Contact: Rachelle Lockwood at rhollman79@hotmail.com
Use the following hashtags: #kiltskate2021YXE #OttScot #ScotlandIsNow
Calgary, alberta
Use #OttScot #ScotlandIsNow #kiltskate2021CGY to ensure Calgary is counted in the competition
Home Edition: Thursday, December 31, 2020 - Sunday February 28, 2021
Organized by St Andrew-Caledonian Society of Calgary
Contact: David Aftergood at da@nahi.ca or 403-975-8902
Use the following hashtags: #Kiltskate2021CGY #OttScot #ScotlandIsNow
Fergus, ontario
Home Edition: suspended participation for 2021, but will pull out all the stops to be the kilt skate capital of Canada in 2022!
Community event cancelled, only to be rescheduled should public health protocols permit an event
Kilt skate partner: Fergus Scottish Festival
Contact: Elizabeth Bender info@fergusscottishfestival.com
GLENGARRY COUNTY, ontario - the 2020 Kilt Skate capital of canada
Use the following hashtags: #kiltskate2021GLEN #OttScot #ScotlandIsNow
Home Edition: Thursday, December 31, 2020 - Sunday, February 28, 2021
Organized by the Township of North Glengarry
Glengarry’s 4th annual kilt skate
Contact: Tara Kirkpatrick 613-525-1313 Cell: 613-363-0819 tara@northglengarry.ca
Past years
