Sundre legion joins international celebrations in commemoration of Robbie Burns

Simon Ducatel Jan 25, 2023 3:00 PM
Piper Dale McIntyre leads the ceremonial march of the haggis, dutifully carried by John Foster, who was followed immediately by whiskey bearer Tom Reap, during the Royal Canadian Legion Sundre Branch #223's Robbie Burns Day Social on Saturday, Jan. 21. Simon Ducatel/MVP Staff▲
From left: Piper Dale McIntyre, who lead the ceremonial march of the haggis, John Foster, who dutifully carried the traditional Scottish dish, master of ceremonies and Sundre legion president Capt. Todd MacDonald, and whiskey bearer Tom Reap offer a toast with some scotch before supper started. Simon Ducatel/MVP Staff▲
Capt. Todd MacDonald, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Sundre Branch #223, reads aloud the traditional tribute to the haggis. Simon Ducatel/MVP Staff▲
CEREMONIAL SLICE – Capt. Todd MacDonald, Sundre legion president, uses a ceremonial sword to slice into some haggis at the legion's hall during the Robbie Burns Day Social. Simon Ducatel/MVP Staff▲

SUNDRE – The bagpipe played, kilts were donned and haggis was served alongside a toast of whiskey at the local legion this past Saturday in honour of a famous 18th-century Scottish poet.  

About 60 people attended on Saturday, Jan. 21 the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #223’s Robbie Burns Day Social to celebrate the Jan. 25, 1759 birthday – as well as honour the memory – of internationally recognized  Robert Burns, who died aged 37 in 1796.

Dale McIntyre, a band piper with the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #104 in Innisfail who is originally from Sundre and now lives in Olds, lead the ceremonial march of the haggis, dutifully carried by John Foster, who was followed immediately by whiskey bearer Tom Reap.

Capt. Todd MacDonald, the legion’s president and evening’s master of ceremonies, read aloud a traditional tribute called Address to the Haggis, which he shortly afterwards proceeded to slice open with a ceremonial sword prior to supper getting started.

 

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