Fiona Lee: Worthy of a Hero's Reception
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FIONA LEE (centre), winner of the World Junior Highland Dancing Championship, at her surprise celebration, along with (L-R) her mother Nancy Lee, her father Terry Lee, and her Highland dance teacher, Heather Jolley.
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By CATHOLINE BUTLER
COQUITLAM- Canadians can be very low key when it comes to giving credit or recognition, especially to our fellow Canadians who bring us honour and prestige through their achievements.
This fact was brought home to me recently when I was invited to Coquitlam for a surprise celebration for 17-year old Fiona Lee.
This past August, Fiona won the World Junior Highland Dancing Championship in Scotland.
Here would have been the ideal opportunity for say the City of Coquitlam to have given Fiona a hero's welcome for the returning champion that she is.
The celebration was held in the St. Laurence Church Hall for family and friends of Fiona and it was a very touching event.
Heather Jolley, who has been teaching Highland dancing for over 40 years, spoke about Fiona's accomplishments and her dedication which have brought her to where she is today. She said that Fiona was looked up to by younger dancers as an inspiration for how far hard work and dedication will take you.
A slide show presentation showed Fiona in her earlier years and at some of the previous competitions where she has participated. Afterwards guests enjoyed coffee and a large cake to help celebrate her win.
It must be said though that Fiona comes by her talent honestly as her family is no stranger to championship wins in Scotland.
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CHERYL RAFTER, President of Scot Dance with Fiona Lee.
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Fiona's father is Pipe Major Terry Lee of the world-famous Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, which has earned number one status in the world an astounding four times.
Her uncle, Jack Lee, is Pipe Sergeant with the SFU Pipe Band and won the Silver Star Medal this year in Scotland for his solo piping of the double MSR (March, Stratspey and Reel).
Fiona's brother, Alister, who is with the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band, also won a gold medal for his solo performance in the MSR in Scotland.
All-in-all, Fiona has five cousins in the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band.
The SFU Pipe Band and the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band all came in second at the World Championship Piping competitions in Scotland this year.
Terry Lee and Heather Jolley are owners of the popular Tartantown. This shop is a little Scottish oasis in Coquitlam, specializing in bagpipes, pipe band supplies, Highland dance shoes and costumes, along with Scottish imports and Celtic jewellery. They also rent and sell full Scottish kilt sets for all those special occasions.
Come to think of it, the City of Coquitlam could give a hero's welcome to the whole Lee family for their championship wins.
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PROUD GRANDPARENTS Wallace and Annabelle Lee with Fiona
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