The actual date for Robbie Burns Day (Monday, January 25) launched the fourth week of the Home Edition of the Great Canadian Kilt Skate. In addition to poetry, haggis and whisky, many Scots and Scots-at-heart across Canada marked the day by skating in their kilts. In Toronto’s East York community, Kelly Pollock sent us a picture from Dieppe Park of her skating friend Peg, who has been skating for over 40 years. Kelly and Peg regard January 25 as “National Kilt Skate Day.” Hmm. Not a bad idea. Let see if it catches on.

Elsewhere across Canada, skaters have marked the birthday of Scotland’s national poet in a way that is undeniably Scottish and definitively Canadian. In Winnipeg, for example, the Member of the Legislative Assembly for St. Boniface, Dougald Lamont, had his Robbie Burns kilt skate captured on video. Well done, Dougald! The challenge has gone out to community leaders everywhere to match his efforts and enthusiasm.

Thanks to the unceasing efforts of the St. Andrew’s Society’s Cathy Laver-Wright, Winnipeg had the biggest media presence of all the kilt skate cities leading up to Burns Day. She was interviewed by the Winnipeg Free Press, where she said, “So far, the home edition has been so much fun. It’s great that families can get out and skate together, especially as so many people have built backyard rinks.” On Sunday morning she was interviewed by Nadia Kidwai on CBC Radio. Cathy explained to Nadia how she got involved with Manitoba’s vibrant Scottish heritage after moving there from Ontario. She got involved with the St. Andrew’s Society of Winnipeg because she was intrigued by their annual kilt skate. Now she organizes the kilt skate on the Society’s behalf. “I’m encouraging all Winnipeggers —you don’t have to be Scottish but if you’ve got a bit of tartan or plaid, that’s fine — and get out on the ice!”

On Robbie Burns Day day itself, Cathy was interviewed by CTV Television under the title “How You can help Winnipeg become Canada’s Kilt Skate Capital.” Cathy again emphasizes that you don’t have to be Scottish to participate in the kilt skate. “You only have to have Scottish spirit, which all of us have inside us.” She was also asked whether it’s ok to wear longjohns under the kilt. Some may dispute her answer, but let me point out that Cathy has been skating daily throughout a very cold Winnipeg winter. And that “Scottish spirit”” she talks about includes a healthy dose of pragmatism.

On Friday Cathy reported that, “The Red River portion of the Centennial River Trail has opened to Churchill Drive and I've been itching to get out on it. Best. Skate. Yet.“

She added, “Winnipeg just gives us the best it has season to season.”

“As my husband left for work this morning he asked 'you going back out on the Red tonight?'. Heck ya!”

This week in Ottawa, the 7.8 km long Rideau Canal Skateway opened for the season on Thursday — one of the latest openings in years.

The canal skating season will likely be short but intense, and we’re looking forward to receiving lots of photos and video clips. In the meantime, Izzy Adams took advantage of local ice.

Half way through the two-month-long Home Edition, the competition to be named the Kilt Skate Capital of Canada is pretty tight with skaters in different cities sending their photos and videos. Glengarry got off to an early start with newspaper coverage. But in Week 4, the undisputed leader for media attention is Winnipeg, with a trifecta of interviews: Winnipeg Free Press, CBC Radio, and CTV. Add to that a professionally done video from a local MLA.

Winnipeg has set a high bar for others to follow in the weeks to come, but we know that other cities are making their plans. This coming week may see new developments and announcements. In the final analysis, though, we’re looking for pictures and videos. Lots of them. Send them to us, or tag them on your social media posts: :

• #kiltskate2021YOURCITY

• #ottscot

• #ScotlandIsNow..