Report from Ottawa

On the weekend of February 21-22, 2026, ten cities representing three countries hosted kilt skate events to celebrate the inner Scot that resides in many of us. Just as St. Patrick’s Day makes everyone Irish for the day, the first ever International Kilt Skate weekend demonstrated how enthusiastically people will demonstrate their ties to Scotland.

Ottawa was the original home of the Great Canadian Kilt Skate. On Saturday afternoon, Ottawa took to the ice with the enthusiasm they’ve demonstrated year after year on the 12th annual Great Canadian Kilt Skate.

This being Ottawa, the support and endorsement of local political figures was most welcome, and each year the kilt skate brings our political friends to the opening ceremonies. Councillor Laurie Dudas (Ward 2 Orleans West-Innes) brought greetings from Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and proclaimed “Great Canadian Kilt Skate Day” in the City of Ottawa.

She was followed to the microphone by John Devine, the Head of the Scottish Government’s office in Ottawa. The Government of Scotland has a long history of support for kilt skates across Canada. This year, John observed, among the 10 events taking place on this International Kilt Skate Weekend was the twinning of events held in Renfrew, Ontario, and Renfrewshire, Scotland.

The Chair of the Scottish Society of Ottawa, Donald Macdonald, and SSO’s Don Cummer also spoke a few words before the ceremonial ribbon was cut.

The skaters laced up their skates…

…and they took to the ice.

Skaters of all ages.

The annual event brings together old friends — some of whom we haven’t seen since last year’s kilt skate, some of whom have seen one another often in the “Scottish season” of
the OttScot Festival. The SSO calendar over the winter includes, St. Andrew’s Day ceremonies, whisky-tasting, Hogman-eh celebrations on New Year’s Eve, the annual Burns Dinner, as well as the kilt skate. Much of the conversation centred around family and clan tartans…

,,, and other ways to make a fashion statement.

Meanwhile, at rinkside the music played on.

Hot chocolate was served.

Donations to the Ottawa Food Bank were received…

And a fresh wave of skaters arrived on the scene with our friends from the Scottish country dance community.

Skaters came and went. At 3 pm we packed up the tables and the tents and repaired to the nearby pub for refreshments.

There were many new faces at the kilt skate this year and we hope to see them again next year as we keep growing the made-in-Ottawa tradition of skating in kilts.