Another Great Day at
the B.C. Highland Games
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
COQUITLAM - The annual B.C. Highland Games is always held on the last Saturday in June and generally the weather is scorching hot. This year, it fell on the long Canada Day weekend and the weather was just right to enjoy the festival.
I'm sure that it was a blessing to the many marching bands in their wool kilts, and of course, the Highland dancers in their wool kilts and vests. Well over 10,000 people attended the games this year and that's not counting all the dogs.
For the past several years, one of the first stops I make on the grounds is to visit the Austin Gourmet food tent to enjoy one of their famous bacon on a bun breakfasts.
Along with the many pipe bands, Highland dancers and caber tossing, there is a lot to see at the Games. There are many exhibit tents with everything from jewellery, kilts, and candy, along with all kinds of Celtic gift items, specialty UK food, and souvenirs, to Celtic books.
There is a children's area with face painting, balloons and kite making. One really popular event is the sheepdog trials. The sheepdogs are just amazing at how they can round up the sheep to whichever corner of the field that the owner instructs them. This year there were also geese for the dogs to herd.
I dropped around to the whisky tasting tent and spoke to Jon Bell, the Bowmore Scotch whisky representative, who explained some of the intricacies of Scotch whisky making and the various types of Scotch. He also allowed me a taste of a 17-year-old Scotch. No wonder the Scotch whisky tasting event is always sold out!
Aileen MacLeod has been booking the mainstage entertainment for the past 16 years at the B.C. Highland Games. This year there was some exceptional entertainment with the Alexander Brothers, direct from Scotland; Peter McCutcheon, one of Canada's best tenor lyric singers; along with John Mann and Geoff Kelly, founding members of Spirit of the West.
One poignant moment at the official opening of the Games was when master of ceremonies Angus MacPherson called for silence to remember the recently deceased Mike Paul and Bob Dunsire, along with all other members of the Scottish community who had passed away over the past year.
Piper Neil MacPherson played the beautiful lament The Flowers of the Forest to honour their passing.
For many years Mike Paul delivered The Celtic Connection in North Vancouver, and was a dear friend to everyone at the newspaper. We do miss you Mike and it was fitting to remember you at the Highland Games.
While many of us enjoyed the day's festivities, organizers and volunteers continued to work hard to make sure everything ran smoothly. Volunteers all wore green fluorescent t-shirts this year and could easily be spotted in the crowd.
Drew Arnott, who was in charge of publicity and advertising, was everywhere on the grounds. Jim Bain, who has been in charge of the vendors and exhibitors tents for the past 12 years, also deserves a lot of credit for his hard work.
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