Tartan-Clad Mayors Back to Parade Haggis at SFU
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| THE NEW DISPLAY CASE containing trophies belonging to the St. Andrews and Caledonian Society, along with information concerning the work of the Centre for Scottish Studies, was funded by a generous donation by Ian and Billee Davidson. At the opening ceremonies (L-R) Dr. John Pierce, Dean of Arts, SFU; Robbie Dunlop, claymore bearer; His Worship Derek Corrigan, Mayor of Burnaby; Harry McGrath, Coordinator, Centre for Scottish Studies, SFU; Alex Galloway, SFU Pipeband; Frank Campbell, Learning and Instructional Development, SFU; Sylvia Detar, SFU Pipeband; Ian Davidson, donator of new display case; David Lunny, past president, St. Andrews and Caledonian Society of Vancouver; Lindsay McBlane, Highland Dancer and SFU Masters Student. |
BURNABY - A few Lower Mainland civic politicians had so much fun at last year's Robbie Burns Day celebrations at Simon Fraser University, they were back again to take up their positions as haggis bearers. Participating in this year's parade, led by members of SFU's world famous pipe bands, were Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum, Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, and, filling in for Vancouver's mayor, Councillor Anne Roberts.
For more than 20 years, SFU faculty, staff and students have been celebrating the university's ties to its namesake, a famous Scottish explorer, by parading around atop Burnaby Mountain on January 25. That is the birthday of Robbie Burns, Scotland's national bard. This year’s celebration included parading, addressing and dining on haggis at all three of SFU's campuses.
Another ceremony was held the same day in the lobby of SFU's WAC Bennett Library to celebrate the creation of a permanent home for eight highly coveted provincial piping competition trophies.
SFU project planner John Briggs designed and created the display case for SFU's centre for Scottish studies. The St. Andrews & Caledonian Society (SA&CS), Vancouver's oldest society, loaned the trophies, which are awarded annually to the centre for display on campus.
Ian Davidson, the chair of the centre's fundraising council and his wife Billee donated the funds to create the display case. SA&CS President Maureen Baird and other society directors were among the dignitaries at the dedication ceremony.
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