Scottish Cultural Organization for Traditional Dance in Canada

About Us

Recognizing the need for a national body to oversee the continuity of the "Canadian Inter-Provincial Championships", ScotDance Canada (Scottish Cultural Organization for Traditional Dance in Canada) was formed in July 1987 in Regina, Saskatchewan with its Constitution receiving formal acceptance in Hamilton, Ontario in July 1988. Since November 1990, ScotDance Canada has been an Affiliated Member of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (S.O.B.H.D.) and has acted as the Registration Agent for Canadian dancers and competition organizers participating in the Worldwide Registration System since January 1994. In January 1996 the S.O.B.H.D. recognized ScotDance Canada as the principal organization and means of communication with the S.O.B.H.D. in Canada.

ScotDance Canada Association was granted Incorporation Status under the Canada Corporations Act by the Minister of Industry Canada on January 24, 1994 and in 1995 received Charitable Status designation.

The By Laws were amended and accepted at the Annual General Meeting of July 1997. Further amendments have been made at the 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007 Annual General Meetings. 

ScotDance Conferences provide an excellent opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and ideas amongst its membership. The first National ScotDance Canada Conference was held in Toronto, Ontario in October 1991. In 1994 a Western ScotDance Canada Conference was held in Kelowna, British Columbia and an Eastern ScotDance Canada Conference was held in Toronto, Ontario. The second National Conference was held in Toronto, Ontario in October 1996. ScotDance Canada’s National Conferences have continued to be held every other year in October: 1998 – Montreal, QC; 2000 – Halifax, NS; 2002 – Calgary, AB; 2004 – Etobicoke, ON. In 2006 ScotDance Canada supported and participated in the “World of Highland Dancing Conference” in Las Vegas, NV in lieu of a National Conference. 2008 will see the next ScotDance Canada Conference, which is being planned for Montreal, QC. Provided that numbers warrant, an SOBHD Judges’ Exam is scheduled in conjunction with the National Conferences. In addition to the regularly scheduled National Conferences, many of the ScotDance Provincial Affiliates hold Provincial Conferences on a regular basis.

In October 1992 a joint ScotDance/FUSTA (Federation of United States Teachers and Adjudicators of Highland Dancing) Conference was held in Las Vegas, Nevada. ScotDance Canada has participated in “The World of Highland Dancing”, an International Conference, held in Las Vegas, Nevada in October 1999, 2003 and 2006.

The first edition of the ScotDance Canada Newsletter was issued in July 1991. Avril Wood, Rothesay, NB, served as the Newsletter Editor from 1991-1992. Donna Jean Ostrander, Ottawa, ON, filled this position from 1993-1999. Heather Jolley, Burnaby, BC, became the next Newsletter Editor serving from 2000-2004. Peter Archibald, Vancouver, BC, took over the Newsletter Editor responsibilities in 2005 and distribution became electronic. Over the next few years, the ScotDance Canada website became our primary means of communication and the Newsletter seemed to become an unnecessary tool. However, recently there has been a renewed interest in having a ScotDance Canada Newsletter. A Canadian Events List outlining dates and contacts for the majority of the competitions in Canada is compiled and issued annually by ScotDance Canada. Originally, this informative list was distributed by mail accompanying the Newsletter. It is now prepared by the National Competition Organizer Registrar and appears on the ScotDance Canada website.

In 1992 ScotDance Canada established the "James L. McKenzie Memorial Fund" in memory of Mr. James L. McKenzie of Aberdeen, Scotland. Its intent is to award funds throughout Canada to deserving recipients for Highland Dancing enhancement. The first recipients to receive this award were announced in 1996. 

Independent Membership has been awarded to six of the founding members of ScotDance Canada: Mrs. Adeline Duncan of Victoria, British Columbia (1991); Mrs. Irene Baird of Winnipeg, Manitoba (1993); Mrs. Gail Danysk of Calgary, Alberta (1994); and, Mrs. Heather Jolley of Burnaby, British Columbia, Mrs. Sandra Bald Jones of Hamilton, Ontario, and Mrs. Donna Jean Ostrander of Ottawa, Ontario (1995). Loree Vellner of Red Deer, Alberta was made an Independent Member in 1998.

ScotDance Canada moved rapidly forward into the electronic age during the Presidency of Christa Mackie (2001-2005). Under Christa’s leadership, SCOR (ScotDance Canada On-line Registration system) - an electronic program handling the complete administration of a competition from entry form to final results - was developed. Unfortunately, a change in service provider resulted in the loss of this program and considerable time is now being put into the development of a similar program. Pierie Danysk, SDC Communication Chairperson, and Kathy Ramesar, Winnipeg, MB, have dedicated countless hours of work to this project. The new and improved ScotDance Canada website (www.scotdancecanada.ca), under the careful management of Pierie Danysk, is now considered to be ScotDance Canada’s main source of communication with its membership and the Canadian Highland Dance community in general.

In 2003 a commemorative book entitled “Canadian Highland Dance Experience – Past, Present and Future” edited by Deborah Wardrope was published by ScotDance Canada. This limited edition book details the history of Highland Dancing in Canada, and also illustrates Canada’s place in the worldwide community of Highland dance.

The “ScotDance Canada Suite”, undertaken as a Millennium project, was choreographed by Sheryl Joyner, Chairperson of the national Choreography Committee, from steps provided by ScotDance Canada members from across the country. The Suite had its inaugural performance at the 2003 ScotDance Canada Championship Series in St. Catharines, ON and was performed again at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2004 SDCCS in Winnipeg, MB, marking the 30^th Anniversary of the “Canadian Inter-Provincial Championships”.

ScotDance Canada’s latest innovative project is the introduction of an online Judges’ Exam Preparation Course developed and conducted by Deborah Wardrope, the current Secretary of ScotDance Canada. The course is proving to be a much-needed study tool for candidates preparing for the SOBHD Judge’s Exam.