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April has finally arrived bringing with it the promise of Spring. It has been a very dark and difficult winter for many this year. Between economic hardships and unrelenting cold and snow, it's a blessed relief to feel the approach of sunnier days and the re-birth of Mother Nature.
Last month the feast of the patron saint of Ireland was marked with St. Patrick's celebrations and parades in towns and cities around the world.
Here in Vancouver, the sixth annual Edgewater Casino CelticFest brought Celtic to the forefront of downtown Vancouver with hundreds of performing artists from Canada, the U.S. and Ireland appearing in over 60 events.
The highlight of the festival is the hugely popular St. Patrick's Day parade which was held on March 15. In the early hours it was fascinating to watch the diverse and multi-cultural array of characters lining up in preparation for the parade.
There were ancient Celtic warriors, knights in shining armour, fairies, princesses, fishmongers, troubadours, leprechauns, pipers, drummers, and pirates, just to name a few, along with lovely Irish dancers in colourful costumes. Even the Empire Loyalists turned out to proudly proclaim their presence! There was room for everyone.
At 11:30 AM as the sea of green slowly began to march up West Georgia Street, the bitter cold of the morning finally gave away to rain, then snow, and finally, as we rounded Howe Street, the driving wind and sleet was enough to knock you off your feet.
I have to give credit first of all to all those brave souls who came out and stood strong along the parade route. Despite the awful weather there was still good humour in abundance, and the enthusiasm of both participants and audience carried the day.
The night before the parade we attended the St. Patrick's Day dinner and dance presented by the Irish Heritage Society. A delicious buffet dinner was served, followed by entertainment by the hugely popular Rogues n' Tinkers.
As the band prepared to open the evening and the lights dimmed, band leader Jimmy Cole, who was born and bred in Newfoundland, asked for a moment's silence to remember the 17 men and women who perished in the March 12 helicopter crash off the coast of Newfoundland. May they rest in peace.
Scottish Week activities are now underway throughout North America and Scotland to recognize Tartan Day on April 6 and promote the year long Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebration and to mark the 250th anniversary of Robbie Burns.
There is excitement in the local Scottish community as preparations are underway to welcome a Minister of the Scottish Parliament.
Michael Russell is the Minister for Culture, External Affairs and Constitution, and he will attend a Burns Symposium sponsored by the Simon Fraser University Centre for Scottish Studies and the Vancouver Burns Club from April 7-9.
A reception to welcome the Minister will be held at SFU's Harbour Centre campus on April 9 and piping will be provided by members of the World Champion SFU Pipe Band and a musical tribute by Scottish singer Kirsten McCue.
The SFU Pipe Band is currently preparing for the annual World Piping Championships in Glasgow in August with ambitions of bringing home their sixth world championship trophy.
This year the Band launched an innovative Internet age fundraising event by auctioning off an honourary membership to the SFU Pipe Band on e-Bay. This once-in-a-lifetime offer provides the winner with an insider's view of the Band.
It includes airfare, accommodation for the week, a ticket to the Band's 'Affirmation' concert, a seat in the preferred seating section in the Grade I World Championship arena, and a seat on the Band bus. The final bid for the winning entry was $7,500.
The SFU Centre for Scottish Studies is an important cornerstone of the community and helps to maintain the strong historical bond between Scotland and Canada through cultural and academic achievements.
These include the oral history project capturing the contributions of Twentieth Century immigrants to the development of Vancouver and British Columbia, the Scots in British Columbia archive, an annual St. Andrews and Caledonian Society public lecture, academic conferences, cultural events, and most recently, the establishment of the graduate fellowship in Scottish Studies. For more information, visit: www.sfu.ca/scottish.
Until next month,
Maura
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