Scottish night to remember
Inuvik celebrates Burns with haggis and kilts
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Thursday, February 4, 2016
INUVIK
It may be a long way to Scotland from Inuvik but that hasn't stopped a few dedicated souls from organizing a celebration for the nation's bard every year.
Rev. Stephen Martin, left, David Malcolm, Rick Lindsay, Chris Garven and Gary McBride show off their Scottish attire at last week's Burns Supper at the Legion. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo
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About 20 people met at the Legion to mark the birthday of Robbie Burns, the Scottish poet and source of much of the myth - both believable and less so - that permeates the country. Burns was born Jan. 25, 1759 and the day has become something of a national patriotic celebration for Scots both at home and abroad.
"It's a night out in the middle of winter," said Chris Garven, one of the Inuvik event's organizers, although he noted that attendance was lower than he had anticipated. "It just meant there was more haggis for everyone. Burns Night went very well. Overall, I was very pleased.
"It's a break between Christmas and Easter, and just a really good night out. Sometimes it's the social event of the season."
Garven said that Inuvik has hosted Burns Suppers since at least the 1990s. At their smallest, they've been gatherings of seven people, but have also been known to attract more than 100 revelers.
A typical Burns night includes recitation of Burns' poetry, speeches congratulating both men and women on their merits, and something called The Immortal Memory, which focuses on Burns' life, in whole or in part.
While it used to be a much lengthier process, Garven admitted that the Immortal Memory has been cut short in the interest of getting to the star of the show - the haggis - all the quicker. This year's event featured both traditional haggis, shipped up from a company in Calgary, and a vegetarian option for those too squeamish to try the dish made of sheep offal.
"It's a load of fun," said co-organizer Rick Lindsay. "It's not something you see every day, and we have a great time."
Still, there was ample room for participants to take part in traditions, from whisky imbibing to donning kilts, sporrans and tunics.
"Wearing a kilt at 30 below is an experience," said Garven, adding that there has long been a Northern connection to traditional Scottish attire. "Most of the dress sporrans are made of sealskin. I'm on the prowl for scraps of polar bear for a sporran myself."
