UPDATED - Did you know, Glengarry County held one of the first ‘Highland Gatherings‘ in North America…
Formed 1818 in St. Raphael's Ontario. The Highland Society of Canada (one of the first in North America) offered financial relief for new Scottish immigrants. It also held gatherings to promote and preserve the language, dress, music and antiquities of the ancient Caledonians.
(Caledonian: was the Latin name used by the Roman Empire to refer to the part of Great Britain which includes most of the land area of Scotland. Today, the term is used as a romantic or poetic name for all of Scotland)
The earliest official record of Caledonian Games or Highland Games being held in Glengarry dates from July 1840 in Lancaster. It is unclear how often the games were held in Lancaster, in the southern section of the county. but it is known that Highland events were staged. The Montreal Gazette reported that Highland Games had been held organized and promoted by the local militia commander, Colonel Lewis Carmichael. Events included leaping, throwing the twenty-five pound hammer, twenty-four pound shot and a half-mile run. Highland swords, purses, a plaid, steel pistols and a silver dirk were awarded as prizes. Overall, these games were a success and "went off with great spirit".
In 1858 the Williamstown Fair (Canada‘s Oldest annual fair) added a Highland Games event to their gathering. The event was sponsored by the Caledonian Society of Glengarry and was held in conjunction with an agricultural fair designed to help farmers in the area compare crops, cattle, equipment and techniques.
The events at the 1858 games, were open to all competitors who paid a .25 cent entrance fee. Included cash prizes from $1.00-$.4.00 and included throwing the Hammer, Putting the Ball, Tossing the Caber, Standing-Running Leaping and Hopping and of course the Best Bagpiper. Spectators were charged an admission fee of 12.5 cents, however gentlemen who appeared in Highland Dress were admitted free.
Similar to today’s games, the fair attracted people from all over the region. Residents annually celebrated Scottish Highland tradition, but a lack of commitment and funding led to the discontinuation of the Caledonian component of the fair after only a few years.
Although official records indicate that the Highland Games in Glengarry disappeared for almost eight decades, Scottish Highland tradition remained a part of the county and its culture.
TRADITION: A STORY FROM GLENGARRY is a crowdfunding documentary on the search for those with Glengarry in their hearts and maybe able to help/donate to elp us capture some of the history before it is gone.
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