Community kilt skating has returned to Montreal, which hosted its first kilt skate in 2015. One of the kilt skaters at the Verdun Auditorium this year wasn’t even born then.

But that certainly doesn’t disqualify her from leading the parade to officially open the first post-pandemic community kilt skate in Montreal.

Other Montreal kilt skaters are stalwarts who return each year.

Some of them go retro in their choice of skating gear.

…introducing a new generation to the joys of Scottish culture on ice.

Some kilt skaters put on an extra layer of clothing to stay warm. That’s ok.

Others skate not only with bare knees but short sleeve t-shirts. That’s ok too.

Hats are never out of style at a kilt skate.

And a Montreal kilt skate would not be complete without snacks…

… and bagpipes…

…and Highland dancers…

…who, when the dancing is done, take a turn around the ice.

Not only are Highland dancers represented at a Montreal kilt skate; so are hockey players sporting the logo of the Professional Women’s Hockey Player Association — the PWHPA.

Among the first-time kilt skaters in Montreal this year were Andy MacCulloch and his daughter Chip. They had driven down from Quebec City through a blizzard to meet the Montreal skaters and share ideas on how to host a successful kilt skate.

Andy is the Scottish Society of Ottawa’s Director of Communications and National Kilt Skate. He is also organizing the first kilt skate to be held in Quebec City later this month. While in Montreal, he met with the incoming President of the St. Andrew’s Society of Montreal, Scott MacKenzie, and his wife, Heather Gray.

Scott and Heather were also able to enjoy some quality family time — that’s one of the best things about kilt skating.

A chance to bring family and friends together.

Thanks to Dr. Gillian Leitch and her team at the St. Andrew’s Society of Montreal for organizing another successful Great Canadian Kilt Skate.

And thanks, as well, to Peter Matulina for taking so many great photos both this year and over the past kilt skates. In fact, Peter has been at the Montreal Great Canadian Kilt Skate since its beginning in 2015.