A thistle wrapped in maple leaves

A home from home

To set the scene, there have been times when Canada was regarded as almost an extension of Scotland. And it's not hard to see why when you realise just how many Scottish place names and family names are to be found throughout Canada; and how many towns, rivers and mountains have been named in honour of Scottish explorers, traders and adventurers – from Mackenzie Bay and Calgary to Nova Scotia (New Scotland) itself.

Whether they came willingly to make their fortunes, or to escape the Highland Clearances, the early Scots left an indelible imprint on Canada. Among the most celebrated were Lanark–born James Douglas, the 'Father of BC', who helped develop a remote trading post on Vancouver Island into the province of British Columbia; Glasgow–born John A Macdonald, Canada's first Prime Minister, Alexander Mackenzie, the first man to find a route from the east to the west coast; entrepreneurs like Donald Alexander Smith from Forres, the driving force behind The Canadian Pacific Railway, linking Montreal with Vancouver, the Atlantic with the Pacific; and Robert Dunsmuir, an Ayrshire coal miner eventually charged with building the Vancouver Island rail link, making him British Columbia's first millionaire.

Less well known, but no less extraordinary were the Scots cattlemen and drovers who turned cowboys: cattle barons like Murdo MacKenzie and John Clay who had a hand in firms such as the Prairie Land & Cattle Company (based in Edinburgh) and the Matador Land and Cattle Company (based in Dundee). There were others too, more famous for recording history than making it: Scots like Dollar–born James Anderson, 'The Bard of Barkerville', and poet Robert Service, who together captured the spirit, characters and legends of the Gold Rush.

Flying the flag

Today, the enormous contribution that these, and other, Scots made to the development of Canada is celebrated at The Centre for Scottish Studies at Simon Fraser University (SFU), itself named after the Scottish explorer/fur trader who opened up the West of Canada.

Founded in 1999, the Centre provides a focal point for anyone interested in exploring Scottish history and culture as well as the impact of Scots on other cultures and nations, especially Canada. It encourages the inclusion of Scottish themes and subject matter in academic courses, sponsors major conferences, supports a visiting speaker programme and works closely with individuals and groups in the community. It's also working towards the establishment of a credit programme in Scottish Studies and, ultimately, a Chair in Scottish Studies at the university. This will complement other well–established academic programs in Scottish, Celtic or Irish Studies at several universities in Eastern Canada.

Academic activities aside, what SFU is best known for, particularly in Scotland, is its award–winning pipe band. A regular attendee at the World Pipe Band Championships held each year on Glasgow Green, the Canadian contingent has taken the title no less than four times.

A Scottish diary

When it's not competing, the SFU Pipe Band celebrates its Scottish links in other ways. Every January 25, it leads a parade in honour of Scotland's national bard. Burns, as you'd expect, has no shortage of Canadian devotees. Chief among them is the Vancouver Burns Fellowship, which was instrumental in erecting a statue of their hero in Stanley Park, a statue cast from the original moulds used for the Burns statue in Ayr. A great bringer together of men, it's fitting that Burns is involved in Vancouver's Chinese New Year celebrations. Each year, Gung Haggis Fat Choy sees Chinese men donning kilts and Scots tucking into haggis wonton.

The Bard's birthday may be the highlight of the Scottish calendar, but it's not the only entry. Every other May sees competitors and visitors from Scotland, the USA, British Columbia and Canada descend on Vancouver for a competitive festival of Gaelic music and song. The next Mòd Vancouver is scheduled for May 2005.

And in June, St Andrews Wesley church in Vancouver plays host to the Annual Kirkin' o' the Tartans – the start to Scottish Heritage Week, which concludes with the BC Highland Games.

The Tartan trail

No Scottish gathering would be complete, of course, without traditional highland dress and the locals know just where to go. Scottish Design in Chemainus boasts an impressive clientele and 35 years kilt making experience, whilst Bear Kilts in Vancouver offers a choice between Classic and Grizzly Cuts in a range of Canadian tartans, including Maple Leaf and Nova Scotia.

For handcrafted leather and jewellery with a Scottish twist, meanwhile, try the Celtic Empire Collection, which showcases the work of Vancouver artist Rudi Diesvelt.

The region even has its own Tartan Army. Established in 1998, the Vancouver Tartan Army gather to watch the Scotland games and enjoy a few beers. Others have gone further in pursuit of the beautiful game. Canadian footballers Paul Fenwick, Kevin McKenna and Davide Xausa have crossed the Atlantic to play for Hibernian, Hearts and Falkirk respectively.

The list is endless. We could for instance mention Canada's thriving curling scene; the Celtic musical influence in Cape Breton and the Wild West; the Scottish contribution to Canadian literature; The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra's outstanding summer tour of Canada; the herd of Ayrshire cattle at the heart of British Columbia's dairy industry or that other thing we share in common, lake monsters. Scotland may have Nessie, but British Columbia has Ogopogo.

Or you could just explore the connections for yourself. For example, from this May, Ottawa–based Zoom Airlines, which was founded by Scottish–born entrepreneur Hugh Boyle, will be running scheduled air services between Glasgow and six Canadian airports. This adds to the services operated by Canadian–Affair, Airtransat and Air Canada between other Scottish and Canadian airports. Increasing the strong links between our two countries has never been easier.