It takes a certain twisted determination to do something as impractical as skating with bare knees when the thermometer tells you it’s 25-below, but with the wind chill, it feels like 40-below. The Scots have a word for it: THRAWN!

There’s no shortage of thrawn in Manitoba — certainly not among the St. Andrew’s Society of Winnipeg, which organized the local community event of the Great Canadian Kilt Skate. Back in 2015 “The Peg” was among the four cities to host a Great Canadian Kilt Skate in its inaugural year. Anyone who participated that January day — whether in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary or Ottawa — will recall the whether across Canada was exceptionally cold.

There are so many thrawn individuals in Winnipeg that, last year, it won the title of Kilt Skate Capital of Canada. This year, on Family Day in Manitoba, Winnipeggers came out once again to defy the elements and show their true Scottish spirit.

Among the proud Scots and Scots-at-heart were members of the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders.

The youngest skater was four years old. He’s been participating in the Great Canadian Kilt Skate ifor half his life!

He’s got his loved ones to keep him warm.

The temperature proved too cold for bagpipes, but harmonicas can still function at 40-below — provided your lips don’t freeze to the metal. Here’s renowned children’s entertainer and proud Winnipeger Al Simmons inspiring the troops with his lively rendition of “Scotland the Brave.”

Over the years, Winnipeg has held the Great Canadian Kilt Skate at different venues, including indoor hockey arenas and outdoor duck ponds. This year, the event returned to The Forks — the outdoor recreation area where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet.

Winnipeg likes to boast that The Forks of the Red and Assiniboine is the centre-point of the longest naturally frozen skating path in the world. The people of Ottawa disagree, claiming that the Rideau Canal Skateway is larger. They’ll continue to debate the merits of their respective ice, but the important thing is that people get out and enjoy the winter.

You don’t need a kilt to attend a kilt skate. A swash of tartan will do.

But of course there will always be the determinedly thrawn kilt skaters who will do the “full Brigadoon.” Fair play to ya!

So come on, Winnipeg! There are still a few days left in the competition to be named the 2022 Kilt Skate Capital of Canada. Get out there at the Forks or on your community rink or the ice in your back yard. Take pictures and post to #kiltskate2022WPG #TartanUp #ScotlandIsNow #ottscot. Or email to kiltskatemedia@ottscot.ca.