Gathering to Open in Annapolis Royal

The International Gathering of the Clans will open June 25 in Annapolis Royal, the birthplace of Scottish settlement in Nova Scotia, and will continue officially for the next four weeks.

Events will continue until Scots gather at the Highland Village in Iona on Oct. 15.

The Federation of Scottish Clans in Nova Scotia also announced last week it has changed its name to the Federation of Scottish Culture in Nova Scotia.

Next year, the federation will be the prime movers in two major Scottish events in this province, the 25th anniversary of Tartan Day (April 6), as well as the 9th International Gathering of the Clans in Nova Scotia.

Tartan Day, which has now earned federal recognition in Canada, was started by Nova Scotian Jean Watson.

Federation president Tom Wallace said that when the federation first began, there were many clan organizations that made up its membership. Many of the original members are dying off and the clan organizations are declining and shutting down.

This has provided the federation with the opportunity to broaden its scope so that it represents all aspects of Scottish culture in ‘New Scotland’, including family structure (clans), music, literature, language, history and culture.

Wallace said 30.9 per cent of Nova Scotians claimed Scottish ancestry in the last federal census.

“The time has come for we, the Scots, to stand up and be counted. This name change is only the beginning.”