(rdnewsNOW)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

dance, music, food, play

WATCH: 75th Red Deer Highland Games a celebration of Scottish culture

Jun 25, 2022 | 4:59 PM

The 75th Red Deer Highland Games made their grand return on Saturday, after two years off.

Taking place at the Harvard Business Park near Red Deer Airport in Springbrook, the event was very well-attended in the early going, with events planned into the evening.

A full schedule is here.

Event chair Janessa McCormack shared with rdnewsNOW her thoughts on the event reaching three quarters of a century.

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“The Highland Games represents a celebration of Scottish culture. Also, with all the history of these events that go on that started over there, such as the Highland Dance; originally, it was done before the guys would go out to battle. Pipers and drummers have also been involved going way, way back,” said McCormack, who has chaired the event for five years, and notes this event is one of, if not the longest-running cultural events in central Alberta.

“In Canada, we are known as a mosaic, not a melting pot, and every time you can celebrate a culture that brings new things to another country or another area, to me that’s really, really important.”

Ben Arthur, event vice-chair and athletics director, as well as heavy event competitor — meaning the sheaf toss, caber toss, stone put, hammer throw — also shared his love for the Games, noting that anyone who showed up Saturday could register to test their mettle.

The Games also included LARPing, sheepdogs herding ducks, and miniature golf, of course, with Scotland being the full sport’s birthplace. Organizers also recognized several lifetime society members, and read a land acknowledgement.

“What the Highland Games means to me as a Scot and new Canadian — recently a new citizen — is sharing my culture with people who wouldn’t have the opportunity to experience it by travel,” says Arthur, 31, and a Canadian resident for more than a decade.

“Maybe you won’t make it to Scotland or the U.K., but this is as close as we can get in a day, and for you to come down, whether you’re Scottish, Dutch, Canadian or Indigenous, it’s not about Scottish people coming together to enjoy the culture, it’s about us sharing our culture with everyone from all walks of life. All ages, all genders are welcome here, and we look forward to (continuing to) sharing it with everyone in our community.”

More information about the Red Deer Highland Games Society is at reddeerhighlandgames.com.