(Left to right) Duane Pike, Fergus Jones, and Ailner McWillians, all sport kilts while preforming with the Bridge City Highlanders at the Great Canadian Kilt Skate on Feb. 1.
Sub-zero temperatures of a hockey area was no match for those brave enough to put on a kilt and lace up their skates last week. Last Saturday, many came out to support the Great Canadian Kilt Skate.
The skate was to invite those of Scottish heritage, or those who just like to support other cultures, to wear a kilt.
Bagpipes played throughout the afternoon provided by the Bridge City Highlanders; the band has been playing together for just over a year.
Throughout the afternoon, the band would go into the rink and play some music to keep the event lively.
Colin McNiven, the pipe major in the band, said how they just wanted to have fun and play music; for them, it’s not about being serious. He also talked about how the band has participated in the event both years and enjoys coming out.
“Put a kilt on, go skating and have fun. It means a lot to us because we’re always wearing kilts,” said McNiven.
The band is hoping to use events such as this to fundraise, so they are able to get a kilt for the band. As of right now, they all wear whatever clan they had access to.
At the skate, they were selling their band t-shirts, as a way of promoting and fundraising.
The Great Canadian Kilt Skate was originally started six years ago but is now hosted in 13 different cities across Canada and the US.
Lori Harasem is the recreation and culture development manager with the City of Lethbridge and is the planner behind bringing this international event to Lethbridge.
This is the second year that Lethbridge has hosted the event; last year Harasem decided it would be a lovely event to bring to Lethbridge.
“It was just a public skate themed around Scotland, kilts, and bagpipes. I thought that it would be fun to do here, as we do have a large Scottish situation here in Lethbridge,” said Harasem.
The event is aimed at getting the public out on the ice, as it was an open skate day at the ATB Centre to help encourage people to head out to the rink.
Harasem talked about how she enjoyed seeing people getting out into the rink and just enjoy themselves.
“It’s so fun and unique to mix the culture with the physical activity. We’re always encouraging people to come out and get physically active,” said Harasem.
