Branch Activities - 2009
 
North Lanark Highland Games, Almonte, ON - 22nd August 2009
Visit from Stewart Nimmo, Brockville Pipes & Drums - see his website http://web.ripnet.com/~nimmos/ The Gunn team: Debi Steele, Ted and Louise

Glengarry Highland Games, Maxville, ON - August 1st, 2009

During our absence in Scotland, the Eastern Canada branch of CGSNA was represented by CGSNA members Debbie (Gunn) Rodier and Debi Steele. 
   

Quebec City - Tartan Day April 6th, celebrated on the 7th

  

In early April, a delegation from the Scottish Parliament came for meetings with the Quebec Government and we were invited to meet them during a reception in the Salon Rouge of the Parliament building on April 7th.  The delegation was headed by Mr. Alex Fergusson, Presiding Officer and MSP for Galloway & Upper Nithsdale; he was accompanied by Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central; Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland; Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife; Tricia Marwick, MSP for Central Fife.
We therefore celebrated Tartan Day on the 7th. We had luncheon in the Officers' Mess Officers' Mess of the Royal 22nd Regiment at the Quebec Citadel. Afterwards, we went to the Parliament building where we had the pleasure of meeting with Mr. Fergusson (he will be chairing the Clan Convention in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament that marks the opening of the Homecoming Gathering on July 24, 2009) and the other members of the Scottish Parliament. It was a great opportunity for us to exchange views on various subjects and share common interests during a reception by the Quebec Government. We had a good turnout that included our local CGSNA members. Most of the people in our group were dressed in Scottish attire or were at least showing a tartan so it was a colorful display in the Salon Rouge of the National Assembly.
Luncheon organized for our Scottish Community Group by Mr. Jacques Choquette in the lovely Officers' Mess of the Royal 22nd Regiment at the Quebec Citadel.
Photos by Roger and Hilda Byrne

Mr. Alex Fergusson, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, having a chat with Ted Gunn.

 

Other invited guests meeting with Mr. Yvon Vallieres and Mr. Alex Fergusson (in the center).

Photo by Louise Gunn

Invited guests meeting with Mr. Yvon Vallieres (on the left) President of the Quebec National Assembly, and Mr. Alex Fergusson, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament (third from the left).

Photo by Quebec Parliament's official photographer.

Quebec City - Burns Night January 24th

  
Our Rabbie Burns' dinner, marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet, was again held at the Quebec City Garrison Club and was a well attended fund raising event for Fort St. Andrew's Garrison of the 78th Fraser Highlanders. Major Guy Morisset, the officer commanding, welcomed everyone. The MC was Capt. Jacques MacKay, officer of the 78th and James (Hamish) Williamson, officer of the 78th and CGSNA member, presented the Address to a Haggis as well as The Immortal Memory with a selection of Bard Robbie Burns' best known poems. The toast to the lassies was performed by Warren Thompson, principal of Quebec High School, and the retort by the well-known Quebec author Louisa Blair. Throughout the evening guests enjoyed the bagpipe music by Pipe Major Alan Stairs who also invited everyone to share in the sing-song of some of the best known Scottish Highlands songs

From the left: A soldier of the 78th stands at attention, Simon Farnell-Morisset, officer of the 78th who presented the Address to a Haggis in French, Rafael Martinez, Garrison Club chef and bearer of the Haggis tray, Marc Lestage, CGSNA member and officer of the 78th, bearer of the whisky tray, Hamish Williamson, CGSNA member and officer of the 78th, who presented the Address to a Haggis.

During that time, Ted was resting at home while recovering from surgery. However, on the following day, the 25th of January, being the 250th anniversary of Burns’ birth, he had a special toast to the Bard. The whisky is Old Pultney from the distillery in Wick, Caithness in the Scottish Highlands