JULY-AUGUST 2005
www.celtic-connection.com
Page 15
BC Highland Games: A Showcase of Scottish Culture
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
COQUITLAM - The skirl of the pipes, Highland dancers, cotton candy, hot dogs, hamburgers, Scotch pies, haggis pies, a beer garden and tartan everywhere.. .that was the scene at the Coquitlam Town Centre Stadium on June 25, for the BC Highland Games. This annual event is a wonderful culmination of pipers, dancers and massed pipe bands, coming together to celebrate and showcase the culture and heritage of Scotland.
I arrived at the grounds at 8 AM and headed straight for breakfast at the Austin Gourmet tent - Ayrshire bacon on a fresh bun - and was it delicious! Every year it tastes better. It's nice to get around and see all the vendors' tents early in the day before it gets too busy and check out all the different Celtic merchandise and foods.
With the overcast weather in the morning, attendance was somewhat down to previous years, but the sun came out at noon, so the crowds arrived to enjoy the games.
When you see Highland dancers and pipers as they warm up in preparation to compete, you begin to realize the fierce discipline, dedication and practice required to attend these events. It can all be summed up in one word: professionalism.
Speaking of professionalism, the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band (SFU), World Pipe Band Champions, also performed at the games. I overheard a bystander watching their performance say, "I can see why they're world champions."
Not only has the SFU Pipe Band won the World Pipe Band Champions four times, but they have also earned many other awards and accolades and played and recorded in some of the world's best concert halls.
They have brought great honour to Simon Fraser University as well as Vancouver and have done us proud in international competitions. This year, the SFU Pipe Band is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and Simon Fraser University is celebrating its 4:0th anniversary.
The band will travel to Scotland again to attend the World Piping Competition in Glasgow on August 13, along with 150 other pipe bands from around the world. This time they plan to win the title of five-time World Pipe Band Champions.
Special recognition belongs to two brothers for their extraordinary contribution to Scottish culture and heritage. Pipe Major Terry Lee and Pipe Sargent Jack Lee have put their life energy and total dedication into ensuring the continued excellence and professionalism of the SFU Pipe Band. We wish them and the SFU Pipe Band every success in Glasgow at the World Piping Competition.
'An Excellent Display of Piping and Drumming'
By PAT CONNELL
VANCOUVER - On the first of three nights - "The Kiltless Night" -attended by some 400-plus folks at the SFU Theatre, the SFU Pipe Band were in top form. Master of Ceremonies Neil Dickie had the crowd in stitches right from the start with his usual banter, and the band went through their entire set, which they are recording for their new CD On Home Ground - Volume I.
The playing and the various sets with mostly new material were excellent. Some of it such as the Hourglass Suite - an incredible piece of piping and drumming - written by SFU Piper Andrew Douglas, will be sure to delight audiences around the world who purchase the new CD.
The drum solos - two in fact (one written by SFU drummer Steven McWhirtter) were indeed some of the most amazing drumming one can expect to hear from pipe band drummers. Steven McWhirtter placed eleventh in the World Solo Pipe Band drumming competitions last October in Scotland and hails from Ballymena, Northern Ireland.
The evening was a total success and the first of three nights for the live taping of the new CD. The crowd was very entertained as usual by the antics of Neil Dickie. He had everyone laughing and enjoying the evening despite the few minor setbacks and restarts, but that was to be expected due to the nature of the recording experience.
The SFU Pipe Band put on an excellent display of piping and drumming second to none, and it will definitely be reflected when the new CD hits the recording stands in the very near future.
Strachan Signs New Players
New Celtic manager Gordon Strachan knows that he has to recruit new players if he is to make a success of next season, not only in Scotland but in European competitions.
Last season Celtic were knocked out of the European Champions League and failed to win a consolation place in the UEFA Cup before Christmas. And in the Scottish Premier League, they lost six matches and drew two and were just pipped at the final whistle by Rangers to finish second in the SPL.
Fans will be expecting Strachan to do better than that in the coming season - but know that finances are tight. The new manager recently signed Guinean internationalist Mo Camara from Burnley, who plays in the Coca-Cola Football League Championship in England. Now it is reported that Strachan is on the verge of signing Maciej Zurawski from Krakow worth £2 million for the Polish internationalist.
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Aberdeen's New Stadium
Plans Rejected
Aberdeen City Council this week rejected the plans by Aberdeen Football Club to create a 20,000-seat stadium in the King's Link area of the city on the grounds that it might jeopardize proposals for a regional sports facility and may have a detrimental impact on the local golfing community. The club's proposals form part of a £60 million project to create a sporting centre on the beachfront. Despite the setback, the football club still plans to leave their present stadium at Pittodrie.
A Summer of Crime, Witchcraft, Executions and Bloody Battles
The Tolbooth in Aberdeen is one of the oldest buildings in the city and one of the best preserved Seventeenth Century Scottish jails, complete with atmospheric prison cells. Built between 1616 and 1629, the Wardhouse, which is now the Tolbooth Museum, was a prison for those standing trial in the adjacent court or awaiting punishment.
This summer, visitors can expect crime, witchcraft, executions and bloody battles at the museum. There is a packed program of exhibitions, re-enactment days and talks - all of which are completely free. The first exhibition of the summer will be "Aberdeen and the Jacobites: 1715 and 1745" -offering a rare chance to see Jacobite items in the city's collections, including healing "touch pieces " issued by the Old and Young Pretenders.
Celtic Heritage
SOCIETY OF CANADA
FIRST ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
at Green Acres Golf Club on No. 6 Road, Richmond, on Saturday, July 30
Dust off the golf clubs, put on some sun screen and join the "craic" on the golf course!
The cost of registration is $66 per person and includes golf, a snack, prizes and lots of fun! Registration is 9:30 a.m. - First tee off at 11:00 a.m.
The format is Texas scramble so foursomes are welcome to attend.
Your sponsorship of a Complete Hole $300, Half Hole $150 or Prize Donation will help to make this year's tournament fund raiser a great success
This is an important fundraiser for the CHSC
To sponsor or register contact:
George McDonnell - 604-270-2881 - crumlin@shaw.ca
or Tom O'Flynn - 604-879-3485 or Ivan Douglas 604-875-1018
Learn to play pipes and drums with the World Champions!
Interested? The SFU Pipe Band's world-famous teaching program for children starts immediately.
1 ; jp
Lots of fun • Great instruction
For information, call: (604) 942-5118