Curious about your Scottish or Celtic heritage? Interested to learn more or discover something new? Join us in the Heritage Hub to hear performances and presentations about traditional music, history, textiles, whiskey and more.
2025 Schedule
Saturday, May 17, 2025
- 9:00-9:50am
Performance by Harpist, Allison Vardy
Enjoy the beautiful and exciting sound of the celtic harp, played by professional harpist Alison Vardy. - 10:00-10:50am
Saltire Society, Robert Williamson
Glasgow – Once a commercial , engineering, industrial powerhouse - 11:00-11:50pm
Victoria Genealogical Society, Lois Thompson
Scottish Myths, Monsters & Legends - 1:00-1:50pm
Performance by Accordionist, Mary Ross with V.I. Scottish Country Dance Society
Hear songs from professional accordionist and try some Scottish Country Dancing - 2:00-2:50pm
Presentation from Macaloney’s Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery
Barrels – The true whiskey ‘makers’; Iain Hooey - 3:00-3:50pm
Evolution of the kilt, Justin Guthrie
Learn the true history of the kilt and its evolution in the modern world. - 4:00-4:50pm
The Victoria Gaelic Choir
Enjoy listening to the Gaelic language in beautiful song. In this ceilidh-like performance, you will have a chance to add your own voice to a couple of Gaelic sing-a-longs.
Sunday, May 18, 2025
- 9:00-9:50am
Performance by Harpist, Allison Vardy
Enjoy the beautiful and exciting sound of the celtic harp, played by professional harpist Alison Vardy. - 10:00-10:50am
Saltire Society, Robert Williamson
Glasgow – Once a commercial , engineering, industrial powerhouse - 11:00-11:50pm
Victoria Genealogical Society, Lois Thompson
Scottish Myths, Monsters & Legends - 1:00-1:50pm
Presentation from Macaloney’s Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery
Barrels – The true whiskey ‘makers’; Iain Hooey - 2:00-2:50pm
Performance by Accordionist, Mary Ross with V.I. Scottish Country Dance Society
Hear songs from professional accordionist and try some Scottish Country Dancing - 3:00-3:50pm
Evolution of the kilt, Justin Guthrie
Learn the true history of the kilt and its evolution in the modern world.
Performers & Presenters
Harpist, Allison Vardy
Alison has been pulling (harp) strings for 40 years. Now resident in Cedar, she plucks regularly through a 15-hr repertoire, sans written music, switching keys & hands to add challenge. She is delighted to play again at the Highland Games, eager to hold her own with the ambulatory pipers just outside her performance tent. At this year’s Games you will enjoy the diversity and rich repertoire of the celtic harp played by a master of the instrument. For those hugging onto their CD players you’ll be able to buy Alison’s CDs for half-price! Visit her website and have a listen before you come:
https://www.alisonvardy.com/listen-to-harp-music.html
Saltire Society
I was born and raised in Glasgow and as a young engineer worked on hydro electric and other energy projects Scotland, in London and in Canada, when I emigrated here in 1962.
I became a member of the Saltire Society of Victoria around 2012. A culture can only survive if the people of that culture know and cherish their heritage, customs and values. One of the objects of the Saltire Society of Victoria BC founded in 1953, is to help preserve the culture and heritage of Scotland, the Land of our Ancestry. We do that by gathering and talking about things Scottish. The monthly presentations delivered by the members contribute to our knowledge of our fellow Scots, of Scotland, and of its rich culture. Our monthly Gatherings are now held at the Scottish Community Centre at Craigflower.
The presentation will provide the following:
- A few historical facts about Glasgow, Clydeside and trading
- Typical HEAVY ENGINEERING and the birth and death of STEELMAKING
- SHIPBUILDING, the RIVER CLYDE
- DOWNRIVER: Clydebank, Renfrew, Dumbarton
- DOON the WATER, a social topic
Victoria Genealogical Society
The Loch Ness monster is the most famous, but did you know there are numerous lochs in Scotland with their own monster? Learn how and when these legends began and why they are still very much believed today.
Have you ever wondered what your ancestors believed about these monsters and other Scottish legends? Did you hear stories sitting on your grandparent’s knee? Did anyone in their family ever see a monster, a fairy, a kelpie? How do legends and myths relate to Genealogy? You might be surprised! Join us and find out.
Mary Ross, Accordionist & Joan Axeford, V.I. Scottish Country Dancing
Mary resides in Victoria and has pursued a career as an accordionist and instructor. She embraces many styles of music and enjoys promoting the versatility of the instrument. This year she celebrates 25 years as an accompanist to the Victoria Police Chorus. Mary’s Scottish Heritage contributes to her strong ties to Celtic Music, with Highland dancing and accordion lessons starting at an early age. Scottish/Celtic music continues to be a major focus in her career, which has taken her from Greenland to Texas, Scotland, and the Pacific Northwest. She enjoyed accompanying Scottish entertainer George McDowall for 35 years and was an Irish Feis musician for 20.In the early 90’s, she met and was mentored by two prominent Scottish Country Dance Accordionists: Alex Jappy and Bobby Brown.Mary, now keeps a busy schedule with workshops, dances, ceilidhs, and summer schools in the Pacific Northwest.She is a member of the Van Isle S.C.D. Society, RSCDS. Vancouver Branch and also enjoys participating as a dancer.
Joan Axford has taught highland, step and scottish country dancing for over 40 years. She currently instructs the demonstration team of the Vancouver Island Scottish Country Dance Society. Joan will join Mary to give the attendees an opportunity to try Scottish country dancing to her music. It is good exercise and great fun!
Mary looks forward to combining talents with Joan Axford at the 2025 Victoria Highland Games at the Heritage tent. The theme will be:
This will include demonstrations of the various styles of jigs, strathspeys and reels using tempos suitable for dancing as well as a demonstration of scottish country dancing. Mary is also available to organize future workshops to musicians interested in learning more about Scottish Dance music.
Macaloney’s Island Distillery & Twa Dog’s Brewery
Enjoy an informative chat about what makes whiskey have its complexities and how the barrel is the true definer of creating the taste and flavour profiles. From the extensive choices of oak and other wood used in the whiskey world, this will provide a more clear picture of why the barrel is the whisky maker. There will be some “hands on” material to enhance the conversation, as well.
Evolution of a Kilt
Kilts and tartans have a long and dramatic history, yet many of our ideas about the kilt are based on myth, legend, misconceptions, and (worse yet) Hollywood. Learn the true history of the kilt, and how it has evolved in the modern world.
Justin Guthrie is a kilt maker, and Co Founder of North of Hadrian’s Kilts and Celtic Clothing.
The Victoria Gaelic Choir
Guth nan Eilean, The Victoria Scottish Gaelic Choir is a SATB a cappella choir based in Victoria, BC. We sing traditional songs of the Scottish Highlands in Gaelic while also including some contemporary favorites in Scots. Join us for sing-alongs, featured solos, and more. Be sure to see our full, thirty member choir perform on the music stage at 10am on Sunday. Sit in with us as we full cloth and sing traditional waulking songs at our table among the clan tents too!