Scot who created the Mounties honoured

MOST Scots may not recognise the face on Canada's $10 note. But Sir John A Macdonald, who became the country's first prime minister and founded the Mounties, was a Glasgow boy with strong Highland roots.

Today Macdonald's remarkable life and the historic links between Scotland and Canada will be celebrated at a ceremony attended by government officials from both sides of the Atlantic.

A cairn and plaque to honour his memory will be unveiled at the Macdonald family home in Dalnavert, Badenoch.

The celebrations coincide with Manitoba Day in Canada – marked in the province Macdonald was credited with creating and which enjoys close links with Scotland to this day.

Local MSP and minister for community safety Fergus Ewing will be joined at the prestigious ceremony by Claude Boucher, the Canadian deputy high commissioner to the UK, historians and representatives of the community.

Mr Ewing said: "Sir John A Macdonald is one of Scotland's most famous sons and had a huge impact on Canada and its people. He is credited with creating the building blocks of the modern country we all know today and has strong links with the Highlands and Badenoch.

"The ceremony today will allow us all to pay tribute to his extraordinary life and the fantastic contribution he made."