Kilt Skate Capital has Deep Scottish Roots

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** Published in The Scottish Banner, Volume 43, Number 7

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Once again, to celebrate Scotland’s contribution to Canada’s multicultural heritage, skaters across Canada are taking to the ice kilts, tartans and other Scottish regalia.  As of early-December, seven cities have named a 2020 date for a kilt skate:

  • Ottawa, January 18;

  • Winnipeg, January 19

  • Montreal, January 25

  • New York City, February 1

  • Lethbridge, February 1

  • Saskatoon, February 8

  • Calgary, February 9.

Note the inclusion of New York City.  Elsewhere in The Scottish Banner, readers will learn how the Canadian kilt skate phenomenon has spread south of the border. Toronto and Glengarry will soon set their dates for their 2020 kilt skates.

As in past years, the Scottish Government is supporting the kilt skates through funding coordinated by the Scottish Society of Ottawa. This year, the kilt skates will help celebrate Scotland as a forward-thinking country – not just a place to visit, but a place to work and invest in.  The theme is “Scotland is Now.”

Across Canada, communities will vie for the title of “Kilt Skate Capital of Canada” awarded by the website www.kiltskate.com.  Last year, the laurels went to Glengarry – two townships in Eastern Ontario that worked together to host a skate in the village of Maxville.  In the summer, that town is noted for its annual Highland Games and North American Pipe Band Championships, estimated to be one of the largest Highland games in the world.

The Scottish heritage runs deep in the Glengarry townships.  They were first settled in the late 18th and early 19th century by retired soldiers, United Empire Loyalists and refugees from the Clearances and the closure of the woolen mills. Glengarry also became a home for many of the Scots who retired from Canada’s early fur trade, and it provided soldiers who served with distinction, turning back the American invasions in the War of 1812.

Right from the outset, people in Glengarry were enthusiastic supporters of celebrating Scottish heritage by skating in their kilts.  They drove an hour or more up Highway 417 where the Scottish Society of Ottawa had organized its first kilt skate in 2015 to mark the bicentennial of the birth of Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald.

Ottawa organizers joked that, with so many Glengarry skaters, a bus could be chartered to bring them to the city.  But Glengarry had a different idea.  In fact, they introduced a few new ideas. In 2018 they decided to host their own event on a local mill pond.  When a January thaw weakened the pond ice, they quickly organized the first-ever indoor kilt skate in a nearby hockey arena.  This enabled Glengarry to combine a kilt skate with an old-fashioned social, with live music, dancing, and refreshments, all in the warm comfort of the arena hall. After years in which they’ve had to reschedule or postpone events because of weather, Montreal er, Montreal and Winnipeg will follow Glengarry’s lead and will hold their kilt skates indoors this year.

What made Glengarry the Kilt Skate Capital of Canada for 2019?  For one thing, a video on Facebook went viral showing kilted army cadets skating in march tempo to the skirl of the pipes. A costume contest brought out many of the quirks of the Scottish character. Upstairs in the arena hall, the pipers piped and the dancers danced and there was cake and refreshments for all.  An estimated 150 people attended the Glengarry event, and we’re sure that they be back with more friends and relatives for 2020.

With last year’s introduction of New York City as a kilt skate centre, perhaps Glengarry should now hold the title of “Kilt Skate Capital of North America”! Maybe it’s time to bring kilt skates across the Atlantic.  Tentative plans are in place to celebrate Sir John A. Macdonald’s birthday with a kilt skate in Dublin, Ireland.  Go to www.kiltskate.com for up-to-date information on this and other kilt skates in 2020.