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Nelson pipe band celebrates Robbie Burns

On Saturday night all good Scotsmen and women are required to attend the annual Robbie Burns Night celebration
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The Kootenay Kilities Pipe Band perform with a picture of the poet Robbie Burns hanging in the background.

On Saturday night all good Scotsmen and women are required to attend the annual Robbie Burns Night celebration at the Eagles Hall sponsored by the Kootenay Kiltie Pipe Band. A glorious traditional meal of roast beef and haggis, chappit tatties, bashed neeps with gravy are sure to leave you for a’ want nae more.

The first Burns Night in Nelson was observed on the poet’s birth date January 25, 1904 at the Phair Hotel. The event was promoted by a local St. Andrews society. The Kootenay Kiltie Pipe band started sponsoring the event in 1921, two years after their formation. Since that time, the Kilties have stage the event at the Eagles Hall.

Neil Harrower will present the tribute to the immortal memory of the Scottish Bard Robert Burns. Harrower was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1969 immigrating to Ontario with his father and brother in 1981. Studying in music industry arts Harrower became a touring musician releasing an album in 1993. Touring Canada, Harrower discovered Vancouver where he worked in a variety of positions in theatre administration ultimately as the director of touring for Ballet British Columbia. Harrower is currently the executive director of the Capitol Theatre since 2005.

Kilties piper Dale Morris of Kaslo will again offer the address to the haggis, which will be piped into the hall by Shannon Lloyd of Rossland and displayed by haggis bearer Debbie Sabourin. Iuean Gilmore will deliver the Selkirk Grace. Angus Graeme will propose a toast to the lassies and Zelda Morrison will give the appropriate response. Doug Sutherland will be the master of ceremony.

The Kootenay Kilties led by Pipe Major David Hogg will provide a short concert of piping, drumming and highland dancing.

Those interested in attending Burns night are encouraged to make arrangements early, as the event tends to sell out quite quickly.

Tickets can be purchased at Shannon’s Fabrics on Baker Street (250-352-6104).

It would be a crying shame to miss out on the haggis.