A heavy dump of snow and a severe cold front has hit most of Canada. But that hasn’t stopped people from donning their kilts and strapping on the skates. Note that the Scots are a pragmatic people, innovative and adaptable. Don’t let the threat of frostbite interfere with winter fun: dress accordingly! If you need to, wear your longjohns or your leggings under your kilt.

The pragmatism of the Scots, in the face of the rising Omicron virus infections, has also led to the cancellation of three community kilt skate events scheduled for January. The first of the season was scheduled for Ottawa on January 8. Another would have been the first community kilt skate to be held in Canada’s Maritime provinces, organized in Moncton, New Brunswick. The third was to be held in Lethbridge, Alberta, and would have included an evening ceilidh.

Ottawa, Moncton and Lethbridge each cancelled community events in favour of supporting the Great Canadian Kilt Skate “Home Edition” where individuals, families and friends are encouraged to organize their own safe, socially-distanced kilt skate in their own neighbourhood.

In the anticipation that public health protocols may loosen in the coming week, community kilt skate events are still scheduled in:

• Saskatoon, SK, February 13, organized by the Saskatoon Highland Dancing Association;

• Fergus, ON, February 20 organized by the Fergus Scottish Festival;

• South Glengarry, ON, February 27 organized by the Township of South Glengarry; and

• At a date to be determined, a community kilt skate in Glenaladale, PEI, organized by the Glenaladale Heritage Trust to mark the 250th anniversary of the arrival of a large contingent of Scottish settlers to Prince Edward Island.

In the United States, where the Covid protocols are often less restrictive, plans are underway for two community events next month:

• On February 6, the New Hampshire Scots join the North American kilt skate family with its first-ever Tartan Kilt Skate NH in Concord, New Hampshire;

• On February 10, the American Scottish Foundation in New York City will host the Fifth Annual Tartan Kilt Skate NYC.

We’ll have reports in the coming weeks from each of these community events. In the meantime, we encourage everyone to send us photos from their individual “Home Edition” kilt skates.

The Scottish Society of Ottawa will post them on its Home Edition Gallery. The number of photos sent in from your community could help you be declared the Kilt Skate Capital of Canada.

Email your photos to kiltskatemedia@ottscot.ca or post them to:

• #TartanUp

• #kiltskate2022

• #kiltskate2022[[plus the NAME OF YOUR CITY]]

• #ottscot

• #ScotlandIsNow

See you on the ice!