First-ever Kilt Skate in Halifax

For 10 years — ever since the first kilt skates to celebrate Sir John A. Macdonald’s bicentennial — the organizers at the Scottish Society of Ottawa have tried hard to find someone in Halifax to bring this proudly Scottish city — capital of “New Scotland” — into the national kilt skate family. This year Halifax made its debut with pizazz!

On a sunny Saturday afternoon on February 8, 2025, the inaugural Halifax Great Canadian Kilt Skate was held at the Emera Skating Oval.

Alex MacCulloch organized the event with support from “The Scots,” the local Scottish cultural society, “We began in grand style with opening ceremonies. At 4 pm the piper, Heather MacDonald in full and proper attire, piped in the Halifax Town Crier, Greg Fenwick, dressed in his full regalia and sporting great pork chop sideburns.”

Oyez, oyez, oyez. The Town Crier proclaimed the official opening of Halifax’s first ever Great Canadian Kilt Skate. And highlighted that kilt skates were being held in 13 Canadian communities as well as one in Scotland and another in New Hampshire.

The proclamation was followed by dancers from The Higgins School of Highland Dance accompanied by Heather on the pipes.

Official ceremonies completed, let the skating begin! The skaters laced up.

They took to the ice.

Haligonians dress up for the occasion.

Unlike hockey arenas and outdoor boarded rinks, the Emera Oval is ideal for speed skating, and the Halifax kilt skate catered to long blades that you don’t often see at other events.

They raised their colours. Nova Scotia…

And Auld Scotland.

They showed their university colours.

And some showed off their hockey colours.

A kilt itself is a way to express your family and clan affiliations.

The Virgin Radio Chill Squad was on hand to broadcast live from the kilt skate event, as well as posting live to their social media.

“Understanding the selfie craze,” Alex reports, “and knowing an event did not happen if there was no photos of it on Facebook and Instagram, we erected a large 3 x 6 foot sign as a photo op, and it proved to be a sensation throughout the day.

“I think it will serve as excellent promotion for a second Great Canadian Kilt Skate next year.”

“We estimate approximately 125-150 skaters in all,” says Alex. “About 60-75 of them wore kilts and many others sported various types of tartan. “

“And after the skate, many of the skaters repaired to The Brewery by Quinns. The pub was more than pleased to welcome the post-skate revelers, and they hope to be involved again next year.”

An outstanding inaugural kilt skate. Well done Halifax!