Join the SSO for our 12th Annual Great Kilt Skate at Lansdowne Park outdoor skate rink. This year we will be partnering with the Ottawa Food Bank in support of our neighbours facing hunger.
Burns Supper & Ceilidh
Mark your calendars! Our beloved Robert Burns Supper & Ceilidh returns on January 24, 2026, hosted at the historic NDHQ Warrant Officers’ & Sergeants’ Mess 4 Queen Elizabeth Drive.
Though our Dinner is sold out you are still invited to attend our after dinner ceilidh with entertainment featuring the Pipes and Drums of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, Highland dance by the Reel Ottawa Dance Company, vocals by soloist John Young and our lively ceilidh band Atlantic Firth. Dance the night away or relax and connect with friends old and new in our SSO community.
A night of heritage, music, and Highland spirit awaits.
Dress is Semi-Formal
Slàinte mhath!
We like to thank our wonderful Sponsors: The Scottish Government, ScotDance Canada, Jewitt, McLuckie & Associates LLP, Glengarry Maple, Jacobsons Gourmet Concepts, Whisky Glass Canada, and The Hill Times newspaper.
Anna Ludlow, Bang on the Ear, OHDA Dancers, and Celtic Folk Night Group.
Join the Scottish Society of Ottawa as we hold our annual New Years Eve event: Hogmanay Ceilidh 2025 - From the Streets of Edinburgh! This years venue is smaller than years past. With a capacity of 350, we are looking to bring the energy of the streets of Edinburgh on Hogmanay to our brand new venue in downtown Ottawa.
This year’s entertainment features, multiple ECMA and Music Nova Scotia nominee and winner of the Ottawa Capital Music awards in 2020 for solo artist of the year: Anna Ludlow. And from Ontario’s Celtic heartland, Glengarry County: Bang on the Ear .
Early evening performances include dancers from the Ottawa Highland Dance Association (OHDA) and music by Celtic Folk Night Group (CFNG). They are a lively bunch of local entertainers led by Kevin Dooley - whistle, and include Charlie Gardner - guitar, Denis Lanctot - fiddle, Hazel Craig - fiddle, Greg Dauhns - fiddle, Brian Crowley - small pipes, Donald Macdonald - small pipes, Patrick and Dorothy Laplante - accordion and mandolin, and Cieran Dooley - bodhran.
Inspired by the festive energy of the original "Hogmanay" on the cobbled lanes of Edinburgh. This event will include an indoor street truck selling a hearty fare of haggis and other Scottish favorites at an additional reasonable price (Credit/debit only) to keep you dancing all night long. Don your tartan and join us for a ceilidh to remember!
Tickets on sale now.
Please note that this will be a cashless event. Debit and credit only!
Join the Scottish Society of Ottawa as we celebrate St. Andrew’s Day.
St Andrew is Scotland's patron saint and, on 30 November every year, Canadians celebrate St Andrew's Day along with the rest of the world. The Scottish Society of Ottawa and the St. Andrew’s Society of Ottawa will celebrate St. Andrew’s Day 2025 with a flag-raising ceremony at Ottawa City Hall.
Scottish Heritage Day received Royal Assent on June 30, 2021.
Following the Flag raising ceremony we’ll retire to Deacon Brodies and enjoy a reception with appetizers.
If you’d like to attend please RSVP: specialevents@ottscot.ca
Get ready, Ottawa! This summer from July 5-9, the nation’s top Highland dancers will descend upon our capital for the ScotDance Canada Championship Series 2025.
This week-long celebration of dance, music, and Scottish culture is like no other. With over 1,000 dancers expected from across Canada and beyond, this will be your chance to witness tradition, talent, and tartan as they take centre stage.
The prestigious five-day event at the Rogers Centre (formerly Shaw Centre) features:
• The Canadian Closed and ScotDance Canada Open Championships
• Competitions for all categories and age groups
• Exciting choreography showcases
Vibrant Opening Ceremonies will honour the roots of the Inter-Provincial Championships—first held in Ottawa in 1974. The week will include the highly anticipated Canada’s Capital Celebration Banquet & Gala, a highlight for dancers and families alike.
Join us in downtown Ottawa for an unforgettable celebration of Highland dance, heritage, and community — all under one roof at the Rogers Centre. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the magic!
Visit https://scotdance.ca/sdccs/ for full event details. Follow @sdccsottawa2025 on Instagram and Facebook for sneak peeks, announcements, and all things dance!
Celebrate Scottish heritage in Carleton Place! Save the date for June 22nd.
Perth's World Record Kilt Run is back for 2025! Nearly a decade ago, they smashed the world record for the largest kilted race with 3,670 kilted runners. Despite many challengers, their Guinness World Record still stands!
This event in in support of the SSO and LoveGives Non-Profits.
Join the SSO for our Tartan Day Trivia contest Sunday April 6th 2 - 4pm at the Royal Oak Centrepointe, 117 Centrepointe Dr. Unit 105, Ottawa, ON.
Test your knowledge of Scottish, and Scottish Canadian persons, places, and events. There will be prizes and free pub snacks.
Teams can be 2-6 highlanders, for individuals signing up, request to be put on a team.
Come up with a catchy team name or use that crazy one you used last year. Register your team today as the event fills up quickly.
We’d like to thank our sponsors: The Scottish Government and the The Royal Oak.
Fun will be on the button as the Scottish Society of Ottawa will be holding our 5th annual Kilt-up, Curl & Ceilidh Saturday March 22nd, 7 - 10pm at the Rideau Curling Club. We’ll rock the house as both new and experienced curlers can enjoy a funspiel evening of curling and includes pizza, drinks, and door prizes, including 4 free tickets to see the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, April 1st at the Meridian Theatre. After curling we’ll have a goo old fashioned music Ceilidh session.
The 11th edition the Ottawa Great Canadian Kilt Skate is being held Saturday February 8th, 1-3pm at the outdoor skate rink at Lansdowne Park. The event will be attended by City Councillor Laura Dudas, MPP John Fraser, and Scottish Government Representative in Canada John Devine.
Saturday, January 25, 2025
NDHQ Warrant Officers' & Sergeants' Mess
4 Queen Elizabeth Dr., Ottawa, ON K2P 2H9
Join us for an unforgettable Robbie Burns Supper as we honor the life and legacy of Scotland’s beloved poet, Robert Burns. This special evening promises a celebration filled with traditional Scottish food, live entertainment, and dancing with friends, family, and fellow Scots right in the heart of Ottawa.
The party of the year is going ahead!
We’re excited to announce our new location.
It’s beautiful, and spacious, and while it is not downtown, it is served by four major bus routes (which all connect to LRT stations). It’s near four hotels too if you decide to stay the night!
And it does offer something Lansdowne Park did not: lots of free parking in the area.
Can’t wait to welcome you there for a fun celebration!
Come out on November 30 to celebrate St. Andrew’s Day and your Scottish heritage! St. Andrew is Scotland's patron saint and on this day, Canadians celebrate this day each year along with the rest of the world.
We will be welcoming you again to a flag-raising ceremony at Ottawa City Hall on Saturday, November 30th at noon. In the event of unbearable weather - even for Scottish-Canadians! - the event will be moved inside to the main floor of City Hall with appropriate signage to direct you.
Come join us once again for an afternoon of learning about kilt-making from master kilt-maker Shirley Stapley and her assistant Julie Ricard from Marshall Bespoke Kilts. It’s a fun get-together, learning about the history of kilts and the artistry of making kilts. The noun kilt comes from the Scots verb kilt meaning to tuck up the clothes around the body. The Scots word derives from the Old Norse kjalta (meaning; laps and fold of a gathered skirt).
For extra warmth on this November day of kilt-making, Dhruvees café is licenced, and has a great selection of teas and coffees. You’ll also be able to sample the café’s menu – an extensive array of the familiar and the exotic, all moderately priced. Dhruvees owner, Donald Wingell, is half Scottish and half Indian he’s proud to have his menu reflect this, from meat pies to samosas!
This year we’re meeting at the cozy Café by Dhruvees in New Edinburgh. Unit 101, at 18 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, on Sunday November 17th from 2-4 pm.
Parking: Free parking behind the restaurant and street parking on Landry Street.
Tickets & Registration: Advance tickets are only $10 ($15 at the door). Tickets are available this week through the SSO website and we encourage you to get them quickly as space is limited to 35!
Listen to this fun CBC radio interview about pre-last year’s (2023) kilt-making event with “In Town and Out’s” CBC’s Giacomo Panico.
This Scottish band is highly popular for a reason! Check them out when they play Ottawa in October.
July 6th
TD Place
What are you doing on Saturday July 6th?
If your answer is anything other than watching the Canadian Men take on heavyweight Scotland in the World Cup of Rugby, you should reconsider!
While Scotland is currently ranked #6 in the world, Canada comes in at #21- but we've never let that stop us before! Come out to the game and cheer on the boys at this fun & exciting tour-opening game.
PAID MEMBERS - watch your inbox for an exclusive promo code that will give you access to a VIP experience at the game. Not a Paid member? Sign up now to get access to this and other great benefits throughout the year.
Mark your calendars for the SSO Scottish Breakfast and AGM Saturday June 22nd. While all members are welcome to attend only Paid Members can vote so become one today!
Mark your calendars for a June 9th whisky tasting event. Sign up soon as this event usually sells out fast. Paid members enjoy first access so become one today! We are delighted once again to have Davin de Kergommeaux as our guest presenter. Davin recently was inducted into Whisky Magazine’s Whisky Hall of Fame
The Gladstone Theatre, 910 Gladstone Ave (at Preston)
Date: Friday June 7th 7:30-9:30 pm
Bruce Fummey brings stories of Scotland to Ontario, wrapping Scottish history and comedy into one hilarious and informative package. Bruce has spent fifteen years performing stand-up and creating Scottish history-themed shows for festivals around the world.
Join the LoveGives Non-Profit in support of Breast Cancer Research for their final Euchre tournament of the season.
Pinehill Estates Community Centre, 64 Goldfinch Driev, Kanata, ON
Date: Saturday May 25th 7:30-9:30 pm
Join Ouidram whisky Ambassador Brian McQueenie as he hosts a whisky tasting fundraiser featuring 4 high end whisky, haggis and nibbles.
Tickets are $75 contact Roger Laplante treasurer@camerons.ca
Join us for an evening of Celtic music celebrating the voices of women! The Ottawa Celtic Choir presents "Celtic Voices: Celtic Women in Song," featuring special guests Atlantic Voices.
Scottish multi-instrumentalist and composer Fred Morrison is bringing his lively and adventurous musical style to Ottawa on May 9th! Though born and raised near Glasgow it is the celebrated Gaelic piping tradition of his father’s native South Uist in the outer Hebrides that forms the bedrock of Fred’s intensely expressive, and uniquely adventurous style.
All funds raised will be distributed between the SSO and the Love Gives Network, a non profit that is committed to assisting chosen groups to further their support of disadvantaged individuals or other admiral causes.
The celebration begins on Saturday with the Tartan Day Expo at the Mosaic Convention Centre. from 12:00 - 3:00 PM. Vendors, performances, door prizes, free entry, and free parking! Return to Parliament Hill on Sunday to join in the Pipes, Drums, Song & Dance from 12:00 - 1:30.
