Table of Contents / 2 Games Messages / 3 Chieftain of the Games 4 History of the Games Culture & Education victoriahighlandgames VictoriaHighlandGames 5 History Tent 4 user/vichighlandgames 5 Heritage Hub VicHighlandGame 6 Clans & Associations 7 Whisky School https://www.facebook.com/ https://twitter.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ https://www.youtube.com/ 7 Wine School 9 Celtic Music Tent Music & Dance 11 Celtic Entertainment 8 12 Piping and Drumming 17 Highland Dance 19 Irish Dance 21 Games Map Cover photo by 23 Schedule of Events Robert Coates Thank you Athena Song, 29 Heavy Events Jack Ng, Natasha Kis Toth, Ricardo Zeng, 37 Swordfighting Tomasz Michniewicz and others for 26 allowing us to 37 Celtic Sports Sports use your photos in this program. 39 Dog Events 40 Visitor Competitions 40 Falconry 39 Entertainment Messages On behalf of the Victoria Craigflower property as a As Premier of the Province of and Celtic music, sports, arts, Highland Games Association cultural legacy for current and British Columbia, I am pleased traditions and culture that Board of Directors, I welcome future generations. to extend my warmest welcome appeals to people from all to everyone attending the 156th backgrounds. The caber toss, you to the oldest, continually I encourage you to visit the running Highland Games in Victoria Highland Games & hammer throw, sheaf toss, Victoria Scottish Community Celtic Festival. stone put, and other feats Canada! Centre tent to view the final One of the oldest festivals in of athletic excellence are a Our association continues to architect drawings and project North America, the list of highlight of the spring for expand its mandate to promote status. activities at this annual event many in our communities, and the best of Scottish and Celtic Thank you, continues to expand. Bringing it is wonderful to see a new generation experience them culture, heritage, music, dance Jim Maxwell tens of thousands to Topaz Park, each year among guests of all and sport through a variety of VHGA President it is a celebration of Scottish events and activities during the ages. year. I also want to acknowledge all of the cooks, vendors, The support of our sponsors, performers and artists whose community partners and hard work is on display thanks government agencies have to the dedicated organizing allowed us to continue to make efforts of the Victoria our largest event, the Victoria Highland Games Association. Highland Games & Celtic I have no doubt that your Festival, a world-class event. commitment has ensured another memorable event for I wish to personally thank the everyone. many dedicated volunteers who make this festival so successful! I wish you all a fantastic long weekend full of festive food Our association is fully and attractions. engaged in developing a Honourable John Horgan community centre at the Premier of British Columbia A rich tradition that predates not to be missed. Confederation itself, the Congratulations to the Victoria Highland Games and participants, organizers and Celtic Festival will kick off volunteers on another successful this summer season for the celebration of Celtic culture and 156th time this year. friendly competition. This kind of event helps create a sense Although this event is one of of civic pride and belonging, the oldest in North America, bringing our community each year it is breaking new together. ground with even more events For those of you visiting, I and activities. hope you can take some time It’s a great opportunity for to explore our beautiful city. the whole family to enjoy a Put on your walking shoes and taste of Scottish and Celtic enjoy the sights and tastes of culture and learn about the downtown and our terrific surrounding neighbourhoods. countless contributions support the Victoria Highland On behalf of the City of Enjoy the picturesque Inner Scottish Canadians have made Harbour and waterfront paths, to our country’s culture and Games and Celtic Festival. Victoria, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 156th Fisherman’s Wharf, local shops prosperity. As Minister of Canadian Victoria Highland Games and and some of the best food, beer Our government knows how Heritage and Multiculturalism, Celtic Festival! and coffee in the country. Make important gatherings like this I’d like to thank Victoria sure to wander through Canada’s Highland Games Association The Highland Games are always oldest Chinatown and our are to communities across a highlight in Victoria, marking as well as the organizers and charming Old Town district. I Canada. They allow us to learn the start of an eventful festival volunteers for ensuring the hope your time in Victoria will about our neighbours, explore season. Spectators gather in be so memorable that we will new cultures and take pride in continuing success of this awe as athletes from all over annual tradition. soon welcome you for a return the rich diversity our nation North America display feats visit. was built upon. That is why Have fun! of strength, testing the laws Sincerely, our government is proud to of physics. The spectacular The Honourable Celtic music and performances Lisa Helps Pablo Rodriguez celebrating Scottish culture are Victoria Mayor 2 Jim & Anne Scott, Chieftains of the Games Since his retirement, Jim has volunteered as Service Officer and currently,Sick and Visiting Chair for the Chief and Petty Officers Association. He was honoured to be Lord Provost of the Saltire Society, President of the Vancouver Island Scottish Country Dance Society and President of the Submariners Association of Canada West. Anne was born December 24, 1940 at Parry Sound ON. Shortly after she and her parents moved to London ON whereupon her father joined RCEME and went overseas. At age three she began a lifetime of volunteering beginning Jim was born in Manchester England, with her Grandmother, in Stroke, V. I. Volunteer of the Year 2002; due to circumstances of the war, Oct the Red Cross Hut at the Broadmead Lodge with Chief & Petty 9, 1939 but has good Scottish blood in CNR Station serving cookies Officers; Lioness (Lions International) 40 him to compensate. His father was in the to troops departing from years. Royal Navy and after being bombed out London. April 1959 Anne "We have both volunteered at the VHGA of Plymouth and Portsmouth the family joined the RCN Wrens as in one capacity or another since 1999. moved back to Wishaw Lanarkshire. a medical clerk, a couple January 2010 we were invited to join the of months later met Jim, In 1956 the family emigrated to Canada, Board of the VHGA and appointed Co married, and the rest is first to Hamilton ON , then to Nanaimo. Hospitality Chairs hosting the V.I.P. Tent history! They have two After a stint up north Jim enlisted in the until 2018." daughters ( both volunteered Royal Canadian Navy in April 1958 as in the V.I.P. Tent) and four a medic specializing in Hyperbaric and December2012 both Jim and Anne were grandchildren. Submarine Medicine, training in New awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for Volunteer Services. London Connecticut USA. Twenty- Following retirement from six years later he took his trade to the Mount St. Mary Hospital "We are honoured to be appointed ‘Co- Beaufort Sea oil fields, finally retiring in 1999, Anne volunteered Chieftains of the 2019 Victoria Highland from Pacific Pilotage Dispatch 2002. ‘at the Mount’; Heart and Games." th Tickets at bchighlandgames.com New Location LAFARGE LAKE PARK , COQUITLAM 88 TAKE SKYTRAIN TO LAFARGE LAKE STATION CELTIC KICK-OFF F REE Friday, June 14 With The Paperboys FROM 5PM PIPING • CABER TOSSING HIGHLAND DANCING ALL Saturday, June 15 $15 DAY GATES OPEN AT 9AM MASSED PIPE BANDS JUNE 14 & 15, 2019 3 A Brief History of the Games WHAT? Featuring competitions on The first Victoria Highland Piping and drumming, dancing, heavy 1864 Games is held by the Caledonia athletics, as well as all kinds of entertainment Benevolent Association and exhibits, the Highland Games and Celtic Festival celebrates and helps promote the Scottish and Celtic culture. Amalgamation of the Caledonia Benevolent 1870 Association and St. Andrew's Society. They continue to managed the games until 1937 WHO? The original Highland Games were founded by King 25th Malcolm III. In later years, these 1888 Anniversary gathering were used as training of the Games exercises for clan warriors. Victoria Highland 1938 Games Association HOW? (VHGA) is formed They included tests of strength, agility, accuracy and 1939 VHGA donates stamina of the candidates such as the 1945to proceeds to the caber toss, the sheaf toss, and Scottish War Effort the stone throw. Games continue WHEN? 1945 to be held at various The first Highland venues around Victoria Games were held in Scotland in the 11th century, known as Canmore (1058-1093) Games move to Victoria's Topaz Park to 2008 expand the event, including the Victoria International Heavy Events Challenge WHY? The Games were VHGA celebrates its 150th Games and originally created to find the 2013 hosts the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, fittest men to deliver messages as the Chieftain of the Games for the King. VHGA becomes the sole organization For more information, visit 2014 responsible for the historic the History Tent or our website at Craigflower Manor and Property victoriahighlandgames.com 4 Heritage Hub Glasgow Green Curious about your Scottish or Celtic Members of the Guild will share their Hollywood. Learn the history, origins, and heritage? Interested to learn more or knowledge of turning a sheep into a kilt! evolution of the kilt. discover something new? Join us in the Learn about the properties of wool and see Heritage Hub to hear presentations by the many processes to transform it into a Guth Nan Eilean, Voice of the Islands experts in traditional food, textiles, music, beautiful, warm and wearable garment.