Week 5: THRAWN

A cold front hit much of Canada this past week and it may have discouraged some kilt skaters. But the Scots have a word for obstinate determination to do something that seems totally irrational to everyone else. That word is THRAWN. And “thrawn” may be the word that best describes those determined to celebrate Scottish culture with bare knees and ice. And pink skates no less!

The knees and the skates belong to Jane Torrance, Chair of the Scottish Society of Ottawa which organizes the national kilt skate each winter. Jane posted her photos to #kiltskate2021OTT. That way, they will be counted in the tally to determine the Kilt Skate Capital of Canada in this year’s Great Canadian Kilt Skate — Home Edition. Ottawa is competing against Montreal (MTL), North Glengarry (GLEN), Toronto (GTA), Fergus (FSF), Winnipeg (WPG), Saskatoon (YXE), Lethbridge (LETH), and Calgary (CGY) for bragging rights. The competition ends February 28. Add the hashtag #kiltskate2021YOURCITY, plus #OttScot and #ScotlandIsNow to your photos and videos on social media, and we’ll see them and count them in your community’s total.

The day of her kilt skate, Jane was joined by Mike Kehoe — another thrawn individual. But just because you have pig-headed determination, doesn’t mean you can’s have a big smile as well.

How thrawn is Mike? Not only does he skate in his kilt in February. In June he runs long distance in the annual Perth’s World Record Kilt Run. At 3,670 runners, the event in Perth, Ontario, holds the Guinness World Record for the largest kilt run. If you think it’s thrawn to skate when it’s 30 below, try running a marathon in a kilt when it’s 30 above! Or try kilt running while carrying a sword and targe. Mike stays in shape and in thrawn-mode by kilt skating in the winter. Note how the bark of a border collie punctuates this video. Now how Scottish is that!

Ottawa boasts the world’s largest skating rink: the 7.8 km Rideau Canal Skateway. After the delays of an unseasonably warm early winter, the Skateway has finally opened and Sue MacGregor (who helps coordinate the national kilt skate) donned her tartan and took to the ice.

Most years, the National Capital Commission, which manages the Skateway, provides changing rooms like the one in the background, where skaters can get warm and socialize while lacing up. This year, due to the pandemic, those amenities are closed, as well as the firepits, skate and sled rentals, and concession stands. (Your beaver tail and hot cider will have to wait until next year.)

Winnipeg (#kiltskate2021WPG) challenges Ottawa’s bragging rights with its Forks Centennial River Trail which enables skaters to glide along both the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. Every day this winter, that’s where you’ll find Cathy Laver-Wright and her friends making the most of winter. This weekend, Cathy racked up her 39th skate of the season. “I’ll head out somewhere with flags, snow pants and parka, so no kilt. But I’ll put a plaid on my parka. Just trying to figure out when it will be ‘warmest.’ Only -30 right now (-37 with the wind chill lol).” Yup, that’s thrawn!

Cathy is good at getting her friends to join her for a kilt skate.

Cathy is a big champion for what she describes as “Scottish spirit” — which I would surmise must contain a healthy dose of “thrawn.” She encourages non-skaters to get into the spirit. Here are her friends cross-country skiing in their tartans at Birds Hill Provincial Park. 

Now here’s a question that the judges of the Kilt Skate Capital of Canada will need to consider: does skate-skiing in a kilt count as kilt skating?

I’m inclined to say yes. Let’s get all the winter sports enthusiasts out in their kilts and tartans. The Scottish Society of Ottawa, for example, has introduced kilt curling. I’m not sure whether anyone is thrawn enough to try downhill skiing in kilt, regimental style.

Meanwhile, as the Great Canadian Kilt Skate — Home Edition heads into its final weeks, a new generation of Canadians is learning to celebrate Scotland’s contribution. These photos were sent to us from South Glengarry by using #kiltskate2021GLEN.

You’re never too young to show off your Scottish pride.

Each year, the Township of Glengarry South alternates with Glengarry North to host the kilt skate, and currently holds the title of Kilt Skate Capital. The previous year, North Glengarry won the bragging rights. Those Eastern Ontario Scots know how to put on a skating party! The Glengarry Townships have always been innovative. North Glengarry organized the first kilt skate to be hosted in an arena. In South Glengarry, the kilt skate morphed into a full blown winter carnival.

And this year, North Glengarry has innovated again by creating a partnership with the artist community in the region to champion local painters and designers who use Scottish themes and motifs in their work. We’ll leave the last word this week to the Collectif d’Artistes Glengarry Artists’ Collective. Enjoy!