145th Running of the Antigonish Highland Games Underway
Aleisha Laureijs, July 19th, 2008
ANTIGONISH, N.S. - The 145th annual Antigonish Highland Games officially opened Friday evening with a brief ceremony held at Columbus Field.
Members of the Highland Society and other dignitaries were led on to the field by a pipe band and accompanied by several RCMP. The ceremony was officiated by Danny Gillis, President of the Highland Society.
After the singing of the national anthem in English and French and then again in Gaelic, Chief of Clans, Darren Thompson, opened the ceremony by welcoming the audience to the Games. In addition to commenting on the support of both the Town of Antigonish and the province of Nova Scotia, Thompson acknowledged the support of both local fans and those from away. “We hope that your visit will compel you to come back,” Thompson said to those who may be experiencing Antigonish for the first time.
Following the opening comments, piper Scott Williams played a lament in memory of members of the Highland Society who passed away in the past year. Special acknowledgement was made of the late Donald Gillis, a former member of the Antigonish Highland Society. The 2008 Highland Games Souvenir Booklet is dedicated to Gillis, who passed away during last year's Highland Games week.
“Donald Gillis was the former editor of Antigonish newspaper The Casket, and was a tremendous supporter of the Antigonish Highland Games,” said Highland Society President Danny Gillis. He fondly recalled Gillis’ support of the Games, specifically mentioning his help in organizing them and his willingness to include anything related to the Highland Games or Highland Society in The Casket.
The end of the ceremony led into the Concert Under The Stars. The concert featured fiddlers Andrea Beaton, Troy MacGillivray, and Dara Smith among other musicians and dancers.
Despite Friday evening’s official opening, events in connection with this year’s Highland Games have been held all week. The majority of events are scheduled for this weekend, and began Friday morning with the first of the Highland Dancing Championships and Heavy Events.
Calendars and coverage of this year's Antigonish Highland Games are just a click away at myNISH.ca.
