The province has proclaimed Jan. 31 Sir John A. Macdonald’s Great Canadian Kilt Skate Day and invite Manitobans to join the rest of Canada by taking to the ice at The Forks today. This announcement was made by Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection Minister Ron Lemieux.
“What could be more Canadian than lacing up a pair of skates to celebrate the birthday of our first prime minister,” Minister Lemieux said. “We also salute those of Scottish heritage who will be marking this occasion by skating in their kilts.”
Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1815, and this January marks the bicentennial of his birth. Many other Canadian cities, including Ottawa, Montreal, Saskatoon and Calgary, have planned outdoor events.
“What better way to pay tribute to Sir John A. Macdonald than by celebrating his Scottish-Canadian heritage in a uniquely Canadian way,” said John Perrin, the Scottish Heritage Council of Manitoba, which is organizing the event in Winnipeg. “This will be a fun occasion for the whole family,”
Manitoba’s first-ever Sir John A. Macdonald’s Great Canadian Kilt Skate Day will be held tomorrow at The Forks and everyone is invited to join those hearty enough to participate in this unique heritage celebration, Minister Lemieux said.
