Editor’s note: the following is from Sons of Scotland Kildonnan Camp 166.
On Saturday, the BC Indoor Highland Gathering will be held at Trinity United Church in Vernon. This informal piping and drumming competition has been held in Vernon for more than 20 years, with pipe band members from Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Vernon and Kelowna participating in this year’s event.
Solo pipers, drummers and pipe bands will be competing. The morning is dedicated to solo and duet events, while in the afternoon the pipe bands will compete, along with a display of highland dancing. Members of the community are very welcome to attend this event and cheer on the participants.
Members of the Sons of Scotland, a benevolent association that promotes the Scottish arts throughout the Okanagan valley and across Canada, will be on hand in various volunteer capacities. As well as broadening community awareness by assisting with behind-the-scenes work, the Sons of Scotland will be available to answer questions and participate in Tartan Day. This is a chance to wear a tartan to the gathering, so please feel free to display a love of all things Scottish. Scot or not, everyone is welcome at the gathering!
April 6 is celebrated as Tartan Day by Scots all across the globe. On this date in 1320, Scotland officially signed its declaration of independence from England. It is an occasion to celebrate Scottish heritage and recognize the contributions that Scots and their descendants have made to society. Officially proclaimed by many governments all across the world, in Canada it started as Tartan Day in Nova Scotia in April 1987, and by 2003, all provinces had proclaimed Tartan Day. The Maple Leaf Tartan has been declared the National Tartan of Canada.
For more information on the Sons of Scotland, call Terry Muir, Chief of Kildonnan Camp, at 250-542-0437.
