“We’re different [from] any other festival in that we are a combination of a festival and a competition,” describes ScotFestBC’s executive director Mike Chisholm – himself a competitive bagpiper of Gaelic descent.

Faithful to the longstanding tradition of competition, which dates back over 700 years (and nearly 130 years in B.C.), ScotFestBC’s Highland Games gather some of the world’s best talents to champion Scottish tradition in its various forms.

The heavy events

Though perhaps novel in the Lower Mainland, this blend of culture and competition is rooted in a centuries-old practice.

“Back in the old days, the various clans of Scotland needed to have runners to communicate between the communities… [they] were the iPhones of the era,” adds Chisholm. “Every year, they would have a competition to see who was the fastest runner.”

At the heart of the weekend’s programming is the Heavy Events. Across nine competitions, athletes will compete to showcase their strength. As ScotFestBC’s website emphasizes, the Heavy Events “are among the oldest contested sports in the world.” Now, the event is taking the ‘crowd pleaser’ to another level by branding this year’s Heavy Events as an invitational.

“Our athletic director, Karyn Dallimore, sometimes hosts an open competition, which allows the amateurs out there to come and compete,” Chisholm adds. “This year, she’s [hosting] an invitational.”

Dallimore has also been welcomed into the Scottish Masters Athletic International’s Heavy Athletics Hall of Fame. Chisholm describes her as someone who “knows everybody, and everybody knows [her].”

“Her colleagues are some of the best throwers in the world, male and female,” the executive director adds. “We’re expecting to see some of the better heavy event competitors from the Pacific Northwest, some competitors from California, and [likely] Eastern Canada.”

Preparing for world championships

ScotFestBC’s mission to gather top-tier talent extends beyond athletics, encompassing music and dance. In nearly 100 years since its inception, the World Pipe Band Championships have, largely been dominated by Scottish bands.

In the past decades, a growing number of international bands have claimed the position of world champions. This list includes the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Pipe Band, which has taken home the World Championship title a remarkable six times. The SFU Pipe Band will take the stage at ScotFestBC, along with Tiller’s Folly, Collage Trad and other musicians.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have Terry and Jack Lee to lead the SFU Pipe Band right up to the absolute dominant spot in the world of pipe bands,” reflects Chisholm. “[Each year], SFU Pipe Band brings a high level of competition. [We’re] very proud.”

The Highland Games provide an opportunity for them to showcase their talents ahead of the 2025 pipe band global championships, taking place this August in Glasgow. ScotFestBC prides itself in the role it plays in helping local artists prepare.

“My job is to put on a good Highland Games so that our pipers, drummers, pipe bands and Highland dancers are ready to go and compete at the highest level anywhere in the world,” says Chisholm.

The Highland Games will also offer opportunities for people of all ages to participate in the festivities through Scottish country dancing, a whisky school and other cultural activities.

For more information, see www.scotfestbc.com