St. andrew’s day activities
By Nujma Bond
St. Andrew’s Day on November 30 is a time to remember Scottish history and culture. It’s also an important day for all Scottish Highland Regiments. In Ottawa, Scottish Society of Ottawa members took part in two significant events.
On the evening of November 27, the SSO joined other guests at a memorable gathering hosted by David Prodger, British Deputy High Commissioner to Canada. He spoke about the historic and modern bonds that tie Scotland and Canada, and after his presentation, expanded further upon how meaningful those ties are.
“We think that about a third of Canadians have some sort of link back to the UK,” he told me, also pointing to our military ties. “We’ve struggled together, we’ve grown together, and we now stand side by side together trying to make the world a better place. I think that’s what really unites us.”
As for the importance of hosting the evening in Ottawa, he expressed that “we are blended as nations.” And that while our countries may hold different views and may express themselves in different ways, our values align.
“Our values, and that’s what really defines us, are very similar and so we come together around that,” he said. “And I think that’s what we find in the UK, we are four nations, we are British and we are English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh - similar in Canada, we have many identities that we live but we share that concept of values.”
During the evening’s presentation, John Devine, the Head of Scotland’s Canada office, also spoke of the friendship and similarities between Scotland and Canada. He recognized the presence of political guests at the event including representatives like Senator Marilou McPhedran from Manitoba, and Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet from Quebec. “One of the strongest bonds between Scotland and Canada is between our parliaments and assemblies,” he said. He described other notable connections he has recently experienced, one example being when recently speaking to the former Commanding Officer of the Royal Highland Regiment, the Canadian Black Watch, while at the St. Andrew’s Ball in Montreal. He recounted how he learned the officer had known little about Scotland when he first enlisted, yet as he stood next to Devine in his kilt, he was visibly moved by the sound of the Pipes and Drums.
Another example pertained to an event in British Columbia where Devine learned more about efforts being made by academics to discuss the relationship between early Scottish migrants and Canada’s First Nations and Indigenous peoples, some of whom were supplanted. He described the education happening to help The Scottish Government write “a new much better chapter” with these groups.
He also spoke about having attended the Canmore Highland Games over the summer in Alberta, against the stunning backdrop of the Rockies and how it could easily have been a scene from the Scottish Highlands, “except, the sun was shining brightly!” he joked.
Having experienced parts of the world facing much division, Devine expressed his feeling that “the world needs more Canada.” And he ended with a sincere toast to “Scotland and Canada.”
A few days later on the 30th a flag-raising ceremony was held at Ottawa’s City Hall, where SSO Chair John McLuckie and other attendees took part in this visual ode to Scotland, alongside dignitaries such as the previously mentioned John Devine from the Scottish Government, and local Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre Yasir Naqvi. Piping music from the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa and singing by Doreen Taylor Claxton of the unofficial Scottish Anthem Flower of Scotland from added nicely to the Scottish atmosphere.
This symbolic gesture to mark St. Andrew’s Day 2024 was followed by a social gathering at Deacon Brodies Pub for refreshments and camaraderie – truly another Scottish tradition!
