2023 included a booth at this year’s Calgary Highland Games
It was a beautiful day in Calgary for this year’s Calgary Highland Games. Thanks to the organizers of the Games, the St. Andrew Caledonian Society for all their support and everyone who came out to speak with us that day.
A Little History
In going over the history of our little Society it was absolutely great to find out that although we started this group in 1976, this is actually the second Clan Macleod Society that existed in Calgary or Alberta. Here is a brief history up to the early 1980’s
1976
– In April of 1976 Arthur MacLeod Rogers of the National Council of Clan MacLeod Societies of Canada visited Calgary and met with Donald J. McLeod and his wife Edna. Mr. Arthur Rogers was in Calgary for a few days and in his initial letter in April he refers to replies from Calgary MacLeod’s in regard to giving the Calgary people ‘some idea of the interest in the revival of the Clan Macleod Society of Southern Alberta¹’. He goes on to say that some 250 letters have gone out to MacLeod’s in the Calgary area and arrangements are made for him to meet with D.J. McLeod on the afternoon of April 30, 1976.
-May 6, 1976 the first meeting is held with 21 adults and two children named as joining, and one couple with the surname of MacAuley who couldn’t attend because their baby was in hospital. The venue was the Central United Church and Mr. C. Douglas (MacLeod) Morris, Chairman of the Vancouver BC Society of Clan MacLeod acted as Chairman. Donald J. MacLeod of Calgary is then elected as Chairman of the group.
July 30-Aug. 1, 1976- First North American Gathering (NAG) is held in Canada at Upper Canada Village and it was hosted by Clan MacLeod of Glengarry. Clan MacLeod of Glengarry was formed in 1936 and is the first continuing Clan MacLeod Society formed after the one in Edinburgh, Scotland.
-August 1, 1976 – 2nd meeting of the group is held as a picnic at Prince’s Island. Tunes were played by piper Gordon Gray. The next meeting was set for Oct. 2, 1976 at the home of John & Evelyn MacLeod, then to elect officers and create working committees as well as taking in memberships.
-October 2, 1976 – at the meeting they sent out membership requests in a membership drive, using both radio and a newspaper announcement, advertising for members. Next meeting set for Nov. 19, 1976 @ John & Evelyn MacLeod’s residence, again specifying that they want to elect officers etc. for 1977. The group decided that 2 or 3 meetings and 2 social gatherings per year would be deemed sufficient. Edna McLeod volunteered to be treasurer of the group.
Chief Flora MacLeod passed away November 4, 1976 (see notes, articles, and details of her funeral)
-Nov. 19, 1976 – elections were held and Donald J. McLeod was elected President, Vice President was John Macleod, Secretary – Evelyn MacLeod and Treasurer – Edna MacLeod. Mrs. Margaret Kibblewhite & Mrs. Doris (I couldn’t read it) were asked to be members committee representatives.
11 ? 1976 – Letter from Mary J. Dover to Donald J. McLeod – Mary thanks Don J. McLeod for sending her an interesting letter about the Clan MacLeod Society and she states it was kind of Mr. McLeod to write to her. Mary says ‘I have a sort of a suggestion which might be of interest. As you may know, I live in the Millarville district, the address is a long rural mail route. But many of the local activities seem to center around the race track. The setting is quite beautiful. My suggestion is that of Highland Games, there is lots of room. A bleacher (and then I can’t read her writing) If it were well organized it could become quite a tradition. The pipers and dancers and tossers of cabers might enjoy competing in the open air. (there is another line at the end of the letter, difficult to read). Yours, Mary J. Dover’.
1977
-March 12, 1977 – the group was shown the Certificate of Incorporation and a letter from Kenneth MacLeod, Secretary of the Associated Clan MacLeod Societies in Dunvegan who offered his welcome and support to the newly formed Alberta Society. It was decided to host an Annual Picnic @ Prince’s Island on June 19, 1977 and the group said they would look for a piper for the occasion.
-June 19, 1977 – Prince’s Island picnic was well received and well attended. T-shorts with the ‘Hold Fast’ crest were sold at $5.00/children’s sizes and $6.00 for adults (they had small, med, large, xl). The shirts sold well and were well received. The group at the park was entertained by the Williams family, which included 2 dancers, a piper and a drummer, all Clan members. Also, the Society sold stationery with the MacLeod crest in 2 colors. Price was $5.60 for 50 sheets/50 envelopes.
July 1977 – letter received from Arthur Rogers at Dunvegan indicating that Chief John MacLeod of MacLeod & his wife Melita will be the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta in December of 1977. Arthur Rogers advised that Chief John would be able to meet with the Vancouver, BC and Calgary, AB Clan MacLeod Societies at that time. (I believe this was cancelled and he came in 1978).
– Dec. 2, 1977 – 7-person informal meeting held at Don & Edna MacLeod’s house. Discussions regarding how -to get younger and new members interested in the Society. Last meetings minutes were read and items from the Canadian President’s Report Sid Williams asked for a letter from our Society giving our approval of his teenage pipe band wearing the MacLeod of Dunvegan & Harris tartan & hat badges. Ways of getting more interest in the Clan MacLeod Society of Southern Alberta were discussed. It was suggested we contact James MacLeod re old records of previous members.2 Also, contact the other Scottish Societies. John Macleod volunteered to arrange a dinner & dance at the Legion some time in the spring. Sid Williams suggested we look at the possibility of having a picnic at Mary Dover’s country home later in the summer.
1978
-April 7, 1978 – 29 members of the CMSSA had a lovely roast beef dinner @ 264 Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. Entertained by John Williams on the bagpipes and we joined the regular Legion Saturday night dance.
-June 10, 1978 – The Executives, Mr. and Mrs. Williams, and Mr. & Mrs. Rod McLeod spent a lovely afternoon as guests of Mrs. Mary Dover & Millarville. Discussing having a Clan picnic at the Dover Ranch in the summer, however these plans did not happen, and the event was tabled for another time. (I have a copy of the sort of program that was written up for a planned event but am not sure yet if it ever happened).
-Oct. 1-1978 – Letter went out to CMSSA members with an update of the visit by Chief John MacLeod of MacLeod and his wife Melita who arrived in Calgary on September 12, 1978 as guests of Zahava Hanen of Millarville, AB. Ceilidh for John MacLeod of MacLeod was held on Wednesday September 13, 1978. see the write ups.
-Oct. 24, 1978 – meeting at President Don McLeod’s house. Watched two Scottish films rented from the Calgary Library. Suggestions for a Burns Night Dinner and yearly banquet were made to keep the Society active.
1979
-Jan. 1979 – small group attended Burns Night at the Westgate Hotel.
-June 1979 – nice picnic at Prince’s Island park, entertained by Alan Macleod with some piping.
1980
*No notes for 1980.
1981
-March 9, 1981 – Potluck supper held in the basement of Knox United Presbyterian Church, about 50 people attended including a group of Scottish Country dancers from St. Giles’ Church.
City of Calgary Photo of Prince’s Island Park, I believe from the 1970’s – it was archived in 2001. Lovely place for a picnic.