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Sherwood Park Highland Gathering expands to a weekend-long event

Sherwood Park Highland Gathering expands to a weekend-long event

The Sherwood Park Highland Gathering is back for 2022 and is bigger than ever.

This year, the festival has expanded from a single day to an entire weekend affair (July 23 and 24), complete with performances, highland dance competitions, and Scottish heavy games at Broadmoor Lake Park.

Strathcona County was home to the 2019 event after organisers moved it from its decades-old location in Fort Edmonton. According to vice president and co-founder of the Sherwood Park Highland Gathering, Roxanne Carr, attendance went from an average of 1,500 people in Edmonton to more than 5,000 in Sherwood Park.

“2019 was our first successful year, and then COVID shut us down – but we all knew that we would wait for a sunnier day, and those sunny days are this year, 2022. We’re excited to put this event on again,” said Carr.

The gathering kicks off July 22 with an evening whiskey tasting event. Following that, there will be two days of highland dance competitions, pipe and drum competitions, heavy games, Lexus Art in the Park, a marketplace, a kids’ zone, food trucks, beer gardens, and local talent. Haggis, of course, will be available at one of 10 food trucks at the event.

Also new this year is the involvement of the local business community; a “Paint the Town Tartan” program encourages businesses to don the plaid and provide Celtic-themed experiences to raise awareness of the gathering.

Some additional Saturday events include the Tartan Run, a 5km walk/run around Broadmoor Lake Park, and an evening Ceilidh with live entertainment.

Carr noted a doggy rest stop with treats and water will be on-site at the festival for people wanting to bring their pups to the park.

“We want the kids, the families, the dogs; bring them all!”

The Sherwood Park Highland Gathering is free to attend; some events, such as the whisky tasting, Ceilidh, and Tartan Run, are ticketed (paid) events. More details can be found here.

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Surrounding Suburbs Cancel 4th of July Events in Wake of Highland Park Parade Shooting

Surrounding Suburbs Cancel 4th of July Events in Wake of Highland Park Parade Shooting

Multiple northern Chicago suburbs canceled Fourth of July events following a mass shooting along the Highland Park Independence Day Parade route Monday.

Glencoe officials said the village was canceling its Fourth of July parade as the city urged residents to “remain home” with the “threat still at large.”

“There have been no incidents or direct threats to Glencoe. Public Safety are monitoring the situation and recommend avoiding public and crowded areas at this time,” the village tweeted.

Glenview police announced around 11 a.m. that the town’s Fourth of July Parade was canceled “out of an abundance of caution.”

“There have been no incidents or direct threats to Glenview,” the department tweeted, adding that police were clearing the parade area, but the town’s fireworks display is still expected to take place Monday evening.

Nearby Deerfield announced its Family Days activities at Jewett Park were cleared and the parade in the town was canceled.

Evanston police said its holiday celebrations were canceled “effective immediately” due to the “tragic mass shooting.”

“While there is no known threat to Evanston residents, the shooter is still at large; therefore, cancelations are taking place in an abundance of caution,” the suburb stated in an alert. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our neighbors to the north.”

Northbrook announced its holiday activities, including the bike parade, mile-long parade and fireworks show were all canceled.

“Our thoughts are with our Highland Park neighbors,” the suburb said in an alert to residents.

Morton Grove also announced its parade was canceled Monday.

The public is being asked to avoid downtown Highland Park Monday as police respond to a shooting “in the area of the Independence Day parade route,” the Lake County Sheriff posted on Twitter.

“STAY OUT OF THE AREA – allow law-enforcement and first responders to do their work,” the sheriff posted.

Illinois State Police said the shooting situation is “active.”

“The Illinois State Police is currently assisting Highland Park PD with an active shoot situation that occurred at the Highland Park Parade,” police tweeted. “The public is advised to avoid the area of Central Ave and 2nd St. in Highland Park.”

According to multiple reports on Twitter, gunshots were heard at Highland Park’s Fourth of July parade. Further details were not immediately confirmed by police.

The city of Highland Park also urged people to avoid the area.

“Fourth Fest has been canceled. Please avoid downtown Highland Park. More information will be shared as it becomes available,” the north suburban Chicago town posted.

This is a breaking news story. Check back as details emerge.

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World-record holder returns to Scottish heavy events at Embro Highland Games

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Heather Boundy, the woman who currently holds the world record for most caber tosses in three minutes, returned to the Scottish heavy events circuit after two-year pandemic pause at the Embro Highland Games Friday.

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A minor celebrity in the world of Scottish heavy events made her return to the sport after a two-year pandemic pause at the Embro Highland Games Friday.

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Heather Boundy still holds the Guinness World Record for being the woman who tossed the most cabers in three minutes. To establish a world record for women’s caber toss – there wasn’t one previously – Boundy threw 15 cabers, which can be anywhere from 14 to 17 feet long and weigh between as much as 90 pounds, in 180 seconds in September 2016.

On Friday, Boundy, who lives in Lake St. Peter near Bancroft and has been active in Canada’s highland games circuit for 20 years, competed in her first heavy events since both the sport and games across the country were put on hold amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m competing in stone throw, weight for distance, weight over bar, caber and the hammer throw. … It’s great to see everybody, but it’s hard to throw,” Boundy said of her return to heavy events.

The the break took a toll on her physically, she acknowledged, “plus I’m sick.”

“Not COVID sick,” she said,  “but I’ve struggled over the last year with chronic inflammation. I literally just rolled off the couch (to be here). This is sort of a test run. I just want to throw in every event.”

Jamie Trask of Guelph took first place in the men’s hammer throw competition with a final throw of 96.5 feet at the Embro Highland Games Friday afternoon. (Galen Simmons/The Beacon Herald)
Jamie Trask of Guelph took first place in the men’s hammer throw competition with a final throw of 96.5 feet at the Embro Highland Games Friday afternoon. (Galen Simmons/The Beacon Herald)

While Boundy was hoping to shake off the cobwebs in the Embro competition, she said the two women she was competing against are truly forces to be reckoned with.

“Celine Freeman-Gibb, I’d say she’s the best in Canada,” Boundy said. “She’s amazing. And the other girl, she’s new but her numbers are really good.”

Long dominated by men, Boundy tries to promote Scottish heavy events to women whenever she can.

“Two years before COVID, there was a large number of women throwing and then a lot retired,” she said. “Going into their 40s and their 50s, a lot of them just stopped throwing. So the numbers right now are pretty low in Ontario, but out west and down east, there’s more women that throw.”

For those women who may be interested in trying out Scottish heavy events, Boundy is encouraging them to check out the Canadian Scottish Athletic Federation website at www.csaf.ca to learn more.

gsimmons@postmedia.com

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Kingsville Highland Games organizers ‘quite happy’ with event turnout

Kingsville Highland Games organizers 'quite happy' with event turnout


Thousands of people flocked to Lakeside Park in Kingsville Saturday for the return of the Highland Games. 


“After COVID everybody is looking to get out and get their yayas out and this gives an opportune event to get outside and mix it up with everybody. It’s good to see the crowd,” said attendee Jeff Coulter.


Fans of the games lined up to watch various events spread out through Lakeside Park.


“It’s so vital that people get out,” said Essex MP Chris Lewis. “Mental health is such a major issue that so many of us are facing so events like this get people outside, get people outdoors and get to enjoy a conversation again.”


Doug Plumb, chair of the event said not being able to build on the momentum created after the inaugural event three years ago was disheartening but is happy the tough side of the pandemic seems to be in the rear view mirror.


“A lot of people are in town, really wanted to get out and have some fun and they’re here,” he said.


Those people were uptown sparking the local economy before making their way to the waterfront park.


“It really does celebrate the strength we have together collectively and celebrating the success for businesses that have worked hard and tirelessly to make it through,” said Mayor Nelson Santos.  


Organizers were anticipating well over 5,000 people for the one-day event.


“(In) 2019 people loved it. A lot of people said I regret that we couldn’t make it for whatever reason and they’re here today. There was a lot of buzz around town about this,” said Plumb.  


There was a buzz in the park throughout the day.


The tug of war had the large crowd electrified many times. Sherry Coulter loved it.


“The tug of war was worth the price of admission,” she said.


Mitchel Colomba was one of the tug of war athletes who fed off the energy from the crowd.


“This is a real great opportunity for us to come out and practice and the comradery amongst the crowd. This is really awesome,” he said.


There was food, entertainment, dance competitions, heritage and culture to appreciate. “


The thought of it being like history is quite important,” said 94-year-old Hugh McDonald.  


Former CTV anchor Jim Crichton served as MC on the main stage. He celebrated his heritage by wearing a tartan made in Scotland.


“I wear this in honour of my late father,” said Crichton, whose dad was born in Scotland. “I had it made a year after he passed away so it’s very special to me.”


This was a special event for Santos who is not seeking re-election in October. He took part in a Haggis throwing competition against local mayors for the last time.


Although he didn’t repeat as champ, he is proud to have been part of an event he feels is set up for long-term success.


“The experience you get to have here hands-on is like no other and that is what is going to drive success forward,” Santos said. 

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Saskatchewan Highland Gathering and Celtic Festival – GlobalNews Events

The Saskatchewan Highland Gathering and Celtic Festival, also known as the Regina Highland Games, is on May 21st in Victoria Park, downtown Regina. It consists of competitions in solo bagpiping and drumming, pipe band events, highland dancing and Scottish heavy athletics. The festival is open to the public, starting at 9:00 a.m. and running until 8:00 p.m.

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Highland Games training day invitation as summer events return following Covid-19 restrictions

Highland Games training day invitation as summer events return following Covid-19 restrictions




Highland Games training day invitation as summer events return following Covid-19 restrictions


































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