With the 2023 kilt skate season just weeks away, the Scottish Society of Ottawa (SSO) has produced a video highlighting a Canadian tradition that continues to grow and flourish. “Thrawn — the Great Canadian Kilt Skate” takes its title from a word in the Scots dialect that means a stubborn determination to do something that seems unreasonable to others, such as celebrating Scottish culture with bare knees and ice.

The video looks back at the origins of kilt skating and encourages everyone to participate. You don’t need to be Scottish; you don’t need a kilt. Just take to your local rink wearing Canada’s favourite colour — tartan.

With scores of photos sent from kilt skaters across Canada, the video showcases many of the cities and towns that have hosted kilt skates over the years. Andy MacCulloch, SSO’s Director of Kilt Skate and Communications, plans to release shorter versions and other materials that can be used by kilt skate organizers everywhere to promote their events. Stay tuned.

The SSO organized its first kilt skate in 2015, and worked with organizations in Montreal Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Calgary that year to create what remains to this day a national celebration. By 2022, 14 Canadian and two American cities hosted community kilt skates and hundreds of individuals have participated in their own “Home Editions” of the Great Canadian Kilt Skate . 

This website looks forward to working with Andy and the SSO team to continue growing the phenomenon.  We want to hearabout your plans and successes. Please send your updates, stories and pictures to us at:

'Andy MacCulloch' communications@ottscot.ca;

Don Cummer dcummer@magma.ca