BC's strong cultural links to Scotland

Published on Thursday 15 September 2005 17:59

IMMIGRATING to a new country can often provide challenges or barriers when it comes to retaining and experiencing one's own culture. But when it comes to a handful of Scots who now make their home in British Columbia the opposite proves true.

"One of the proudest moments of my life was becoming a Canadian citizen – it was very emotional," says Pauline Grant. "And while I've embraced the 'Canadian' there will always be a 'Scottish-ness' about me."

The 56-year-old Glasgow native pauses to reminisce about immigrating to the western Canadian city of Vancouver more than 28 years ago.

"I felt as if I had come home – it was wonderful," she offers, a hint of her accent poking through as we spoke. "We were welcomed immediately and we also had some (Scottish) friends who were already here, which made the transition much easier."

Grant admits, "while we've never been extremely Scottish", it was just easier to be with Scottish people when her family first arrived. And while she says the challenge to maintain her heritage in Canada was a non-issue, Grant nonetheless retains her Scottish-ness by partaking in traditional activities.

"We go to Burns supper and St. Andrews night events, we go back to Scotland at least once a year and our close circle of friends are predominantly British," she notes.

And whilst Grant's five children (now ranging in age from 22 to 30) haven't had a particular pull to all things Scottish, that's not a large concern for her either.

"Maybe as they get older, who knows, but they're real Canadians and that doesn't bother me," she says. "There will always be a little bit of Scotland in all of us."

For Grant, while proud of being Scottish and still choosing to embrace certain traditions, for Rob Third, a second-generation Canadian whose grandfather immigrated to Vancouver in the early 20th century, his Scottish heritage was subtly in the foreground.

"We always knew about our heritage and embraced it," says Third, 50. "We grew up eating porridge every morning, my brother and sisters were all in pipe band, we participate in Burns supper and have always worn our dress kilts for formal occasions.

"And like a good Scotsman," he is quick to add, "I have a large collection of single malt Scotch which I like to drink neat."

And while Third's life is peppered with displays of his Scottish ancestry, he also has the benefit of continuing in the footsteps of his late grandfather George Third. A young blacksmith from Aberdeenshire, George (or "Geordie") came to Vancouver in 1909 and in a year began what eventually would become George Third & Sons.

Run by Rob and his older brother Brett, the company has now grown from a small blacksmith shop located in the heart of Vancouver to a steel company that boasts more than 150 employees. And it is a business that is steeped in both the legacy of Geordie and Scots traditions. In honour of his grandfather and father's trade, Rob Third says the company still has blacksmiths and offers apprenticeships.

When pressed on the subject of his ancestry and its importance, Third becomes pensive and says, it's something he and his family have always seemed to like to remember and be involved in but can't pinpoint why.

Peering into the Third family ancestry, it appears Rob may have difficulty separating the Scottish from the Canadian because his heritage is interwoven with his everyday life. From his 20 tartan ties to reminiscing about his grandfather's powerful hands, it is a thread that's barely noticeable to him now.

Not all Scots emigrants wish to embrace their full heritage in western Canada, however.

Angus MacPherson, who emigrated with his family to Vancouver at age 14, the first thing he wanted to lose was his Scottish accent.

"To be honest, it was difficult in the beginning to assimilate," says MacPherson, 53 and still sporting a hint of his accent. "It was a big change compared to Renfrewshire, and the first thing I tried to do was get rid of that accent."

But that's all he gave up. His parents were quick to have a social circle of Scottish friends and family in the Canadian province, which provided the avenue for MacPherson to continue with his native traditions.

The payoff for not fully blending into the Canadian culture proved beneficial for MacPherson. It was within the Scottish community that he met his wife – also of Scottish decent – and had two children, who not surprisingly are both knee-deep in their parents' heritage and traditions.

"Neil (his son) has been piping since he was 10 years old and he just joined the (accomplished) Simon Fraser University pipe band," MacPherson notes with pride. He adds that his daughter Katie is a tenor drummer for the same band.

If it was not enough to be the former BC Pipers president and chairman of the BC Highland Games, there were always the summer pilgrimages. MacPherson and his "clan" criss-cross Canada each year to attend Highland Games events before heading to Glasgow for solo competitions.

"I still have family and friends in Scotland, and so we go every year because half the family is in the pipe band," he laughs. "It's a whole big Scottish family thing."

MacPherson echoes Third and Grant in saying there wasn't really any challenges or barriers to retaining his Scottish culture. In fact, he doesn't think what he and his family do is "a big deal." Nor does Third or Grant. For all of them, there is no other way to be.

"I guess we are surrounded with it all the time," MacPherson says, "which makes us lucky."

&#149 If you enjoyed reading this, you may want to read:

The Highland Games tradition, Canadian style