Warm greetings fellow Canadian Gregor.

It’s early December 2022 and hard to believe another year has almost gone by. And what a year it’s been! While no one knows how history will ultimately record the effects of a global pandemic and the widespread unrest of the past several years, one thing is certain; the joy of opening up and lifting of restrictions has been welcomed in earnest. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in Highland Games and Clan gatherings held in towns and cities throughout our country during 2022. Here in Canada the Scottish diaspora turned out in record numbers. And these were most welcome and joyful occasions!

Clan Gregor Canada was well represented in a number of games and festivals this summer. We experienced firsthand what amounts to a revival. There was a noticeable sense of awakening as people turned out in record numbers. Largely the result of a protracted period of isolation when folks had time to fully explore family and roots, many came with questions and a yearning to understand. It’s as if Canada is at long last willing to openly embrace its distinct brand of Scottishness. Some came longing to hear the sound of the pipes once again. Some to take in the dancers, heavy athletics or enjoy a bite of haggis or a meat pie with shortbread sweets. Regardless, all had one thing in common: it was summer, they felt the call of the Clans and they were allowed to gather once again. The blood is strong!

Festival organizers often request immediate feedback to gauge success. Here is a sampling of some of the many Clan responses circulated this summer in the wake of the return of Games. They tell a story of success and togetherness.

• A hearty thank you to your team. Exceptional service, accommodation and professionalism were the hallmarks of this years’ festival. Truly it was balm to the soul to be “back in the Game(s)” again. I daresay there was a lot of healing going on and renewed hope for the future.
• We live in a whacky world where much of what we know and trust has been turned upside down. We have all recently experienced trying times and yet somehow, the tradition, the pageantry, the colors, sights and sounds of the Games have brought us back together and ready to face new challenges. As a result, the touchstone of Clan and the Highland Games helps us to find again the tenacity and vigor of our forebears to embrace the future. This is a gift.
• Thanks again and the very best to your team. Our Clan looks forward to unbroken years of attendance once again. Slainte mhath.
• Wonderful weather… Great crowds attending…  Lots of Clan interest…  Whiskey tasting was tasty…  Kirking and lighting went well…  And, the Parade of Clan at the Opening Ceremonies had lots of people out on the field…We’ll be with you again next year…
• On behalf of our Clan, thank you for a wonderful experience! We were hosting the Clan tent for the very first time and we enjoyed meeting the public and members of other Clans.  The crowds were enormous and volunteers were wonderful with their assistance and knowledge.  Please pass along our thanks to the wonderful folks who made these days a great success. We look forward to attending next year.

We too experienced very large crowds and a lot of keen interest in Clan Gregor. As a result of these and other efforts our Chapter has added 35 new members so far this year! This is extraordinary and underscores the point. I do believe there is an awakening taking place. Preparing, travel and attendance at these Games is a lot of work for our Council and volunteers. However, the payback is found in the connections and interactions with those seeking or trying to better understand their history and heritage. The smile, the gratitude for connecting the dots, the basic human interaction between people with whom we potentially share DNA and history in a distant time and place is heartwarming and makes it all worthwhile. At the end of the day, it’s about people, and belonging is what brought them out in crowds to celebrate. And celebrate we did!

As my wife Vina and I were driving home from the Glengarry Games she made a simple yet profound observation. She noted that at a time when the world is wrestling with cultural appropriation and protectionism, it would do well to consider the Scots approach. In stark contrast, Scottish diaspora so widely scattered by brutal acts of separation and war, is still eager to openly share all that it has. It actively invites all to try the pipes, strap on a kilt, give haggis a go and wash it down with a single malt. She noted that they are open, engaging and forever on the lookout for someone new to share with. Perhaps in a nod to the tradition of highland hospitality, they are more than willing to share, teach and venerate Scottish culture. It means more to them if you are a part of it! This is one of the many reasons why people attend Highland Games, Burns dinners, Hogmanay and a variety of Celtic gatherings. It is the essence of Clan and the things that bond.

With this in mind I want to urge all Canadian Chapter members to seriously consider attending the upcoming 2024 International Gathering of Clan Gregor in Scotland. These gatherings are incredibly useful and meaningful. They help us find a place in our own history and heritage as descendants of ancestors bearing Gregor names who left their homeland to start a new life in Canada. It’s hard to overstate the deep personal emotions stirred when you are on a Gregor site with other folks from all over the world and with whom you share a story and common history. It is visceral and will not be forgotten. My wife and I attended our first in 2009 and can tell you from first hand experience that it forever anchored our MacGregor connection and the Society firmly in our minds and hearts. We have attended ever since and are most eager to renew these connections and reenergize our passion for the work of the Clan Gregor Society. Meeting our Chief, Sir Malcolm MacGregor, his wife, Fiona, Lady MacGregor, together with Council and members from far and wide is a special connection.

You’ll experience the magic energy of staying in a classic Victorian hotel on the shores of Loch Awe, deep in the very heart of the three glens occupied by MacGregors for centuries. The entire facility and staff are dedicated to Clan Gregor. We’ll attend our home games at Lochearned and then celebrate in style at a formal tartan banquet held in the ancient walls of Menzies Castle. And to top it off, the entire trip is made most affordable by group rates and specialized tours conducted in MacGregor territories by our own historians. You’ll never see and feel Scotland, and in particular our ancestral home, in any more affordable or delightful way.

I am unabashedly making this pitch in your best interests! Trust me on this one: mark your calendars and confirm your reservations by deposit by late February 2023. If you are unsure, please call me and I’ll be happy to answer questions.

 And so, I conclude with gratitude. I’m grateful for the chance to connect with so many once again as things open up and the Clans gather once again. I’m grateful for the help and support I receive from Council member June MacGregor Jain and Co-Editors, William Petrie and Sylvie Thériault. Most of all, I am grateful for you, our membership. You are the lifeblood of the Society and the Clan itself.

Enjoy this edition of your newsletter, The Maple Leaf MacGregor.

Nollaig Chridheil!  (Merry Christmas)

Wayne MacGregor Parker

The YouTube video is now available for our  Clan Gregor Society 1822-2022  Bicentenary Celebration held on Saturday, December 10, 2022.  Click here or use the link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9aj26TpXfw

As we close out 2022 let’s have some fun. With this in mind we’re launching a contest for all members of the Canadian Chapter.

It’s really very simple. Find, photograph and send a picture of any version of Gregor, MacGregor, McGregor, Mcgregor or any variation of the name of our Clan that you can find on a sign, marker, map location, business or building here in Canada. You can send your pictures as often as you like. Multiple entries are welcome and encouraged. All entries should be sent to the Editors at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for publication on the website gallery and will also be published in a future issue of the Maple Leaf MacGregor.  

The contest is open until November 2023. The winner will be determined by our Editors Sylvie Theriault and William Petrie. They assure me they can’t be bought or influenced!

The Prize is a five-year membership subscription.

Be creative and let’s see how many places we can find in Canada where our name is used and publicly presented. To the right and below are some examples.

Wayne Macgregor Parker

Photo by Martin Bennie on Unsplash

Tour One: The Highland Tour

The Highland Tour, proposed for 2022, was postponed until 2024 due to uncertainty about Covid and it’s effects on the travel industry. The intention is to book the Loch Awe hotel near Dalmally for the period 14th - 21st July 2024; to provide our usual, spectacular, tours and events; and to finish with the Lochearnhead Highland Games and the Banquet on Saturday the 20th.

We hope to keep the price to members in the region of £1250 (GBP) per person for eight days (Sunday to Sunday), with a £50 discount for the few rooms which do not have a view of the Loch. This price includes transport to and from Edinburgh or Glasgow airports, bed & breakfast and evening meal, a formal Society dinner in a Castle, entertainment, all coach tours and most admission fees and fares.

Subject to confirmation, we are planning to visit the Isles of Staffa and Iona; Inveraray Castle; Castle Menzies; Kilmartin Glen; and have a trip on the Jacobite steam train passing over the Glenfinnan viaduct (for Harry Potter fans). - For those of you who attended in 2018, we will also be offering additional visits to alternative locations related to the clan.

A tour like this arranged by a travel agent could cost twice as much. The pick-up and drop-off at the airports is also a super perk, not often offered on tours. It is important to remind ourselves that membership of Clan Gregor has numerous advantages, this certainly being one of the greatest.

However, we do need a minimum of 120 attending to justify this price. Members wishing to take advantage of this amazing experience should notify the Secretary at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. immediately. To guarantee your place you will need to forward payment to the Society of 25% for each person (£300 in Sterling) before the end of February 2023, and the balance is due by the end of 2023.

Overseas members simply have to get themselves to Edinburgh or Glasgow airports and ensure they have adequate travel insurance. Only lunches and personal spending money will be extra.

Members were given the option of a refund of their deposit for 2022 or of keeping it in the tour fund. We are pleased to report that over 90% of members wished their deposits retained.

For enquiries about the Highland Tour please contact Ross at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tour Two: Edinburgh and the Scott Country

For those of you who would like to extend your stay in Scotland during 2024, Keith and Richard will once again offer our Edinburgh and the Scott country tour, following the Highland Tour, from 28th July - 4th August.

The event will be based in Edinburgh to include touring the Royal Mile, visits to Abbotsford (Sir Walter Scott) and Rosslyn (Da Vinci Code) and will allow for booking of the Royal Edinburgh Tattoo.

Please note that places for this tour are strictly limited. For enquiries about the Edinburgh & Scott Country Tour please contact Keith at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

*Please note that to attend the 2024 Clan Gregor tours you must be a member in good standing for 2 years and be up-to-date with your membership fees.

Nether Largie standing stones in the Kilmartin Glen area  - Kenny Davidson, Wikipedia

 Interior of Rosslyn Chapel,  Rosslyn, Scotland. © Jeremy Atherton, 2002

NOW’S THE DAY AND NOW’S THE HOUR!

We have lifted the carved stones of or early MacGregor chiefs, circa 1390-1528 and they are now being conserved.

Our goal is to install these monuments inside Dalmally church in Glen Orchy near to our chiefs who they belong to, as well as produce booklets and posters which explain their story and museum-quality lighting for the stones.

Now we need your support to complete this project - because of all that has happened over the past three years, with increased costs, we need to raise more funds to bring the project to completion. Our target is £20,000.

These stones are among the few monuments Clan Gregor has, and they are ours once again. They will stand and be protected for years come – IF we can complete the project.

This is your heritage! If there was ever a MacGregor project worth contributing to, this is the one. Please consider making a generous gift .

In Canada

• Donate through Interac using the recipient email of This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Make a payment through PayPal specifying “Dalmally Stones” (PayPal instructions below)

In the United States

Contact Keith MacGregor, North American representative at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

• Checks are fine, mark them “Dalmally Stones”.
• Post to Keith MacGregor, P.O. Box 56, Redding Ridge, CT 06876 USA

For a pictorial account of our five days in Dalmally, see Angelika Winter’s album on Facebook – Clan Gregor Society-German Chapter (https://www.facebook.com/Clan-Gregor-Society-German-Chapter-1709830875922842/photos/3269894966583084/)

Richard & Keith McGregor

The Canada Chapter of the Clan Gregor Society has long established a partnership with the Rob Roy Pipe Band. In 2022, the Band was able to resume practices and performances and so we resumed our Scholarship award.

After consideration by a committee of MacGregors the following recipient was selected. It gives us great pleasure to present this award to Grace Woodman.   In choosing Grace to receive this award, the committee noted the following recommendation from the Band Executive:

Grace Woodman began taking Highland Dancing lessons with Rob Roy when she was very young. Now, at age 13, she is one of our most senior students and has become a lovely, graceful dancer. Grace is a very respectful student. She demonstrates a growth mindset by making great effort to correct her technique, and because of her calm demeanor and willingness to work, she learns new steps quickly. Grace is committed to her dancing and has performed many times over the last few years with the Rob Roy Pipe Band and Highland Dancers, including at Kingston’s Multicultural Festival and at Fort Henry’s annual military Tattoo. Her teachers hope that Grace will continue to dance for many years to come!

With all of this in consideration, we select Grace Woodman as the award recipient.

Congratulations Grace!

Note: CGSCC is grateful to June MacGregor Jain and Al MacGregor for their support and dedication on the Scholarship selection committee.

What do Sir William Alexander, Menstrie Castle, King James VI/I, Archibald Campbell 7th Earl of Argyle, Stirling, King Charles I, Victoria Park in Halifax, and the Canadian province of Nova Scotia all have in common? As it turns out, the simple answer is a lot!

One of the things that captures my imagination most when looking into our heritage and past, is when a glimpse of the arc of history comes suddenly into sharp focus and reveals the unexpected. It’s when we see seemingly random twists and turns of events come together, and in a moment of time and space, shape destiny in unforeseen ways. This is one of those times.

Let’s explore the characters and places and see how they are connected.

William Alexander

• Born 1577, in Castle Menstrie, Clackmananshire near Stirling, Scotland.
• Education: Old Grammar School at Stirling Castle Wynd, Tutored by Thomas Buchanan, (brother to George Buchanan, Tutor to young King James VI of Scotland), University of St Andrews and likely Lieden University in Holland.
• Due to his education and place as a young aristocrat in Stirling, he’s made Tutor to young Archibald, 7th Earl of Argyll. They later tour Europe and cement a lifelong friendship.
• He is introduced to the Royal Court in Stirling and young King James VI in 1601.
• In 1603, when King James VI of Scotland was crowned King James I of England, William moves to the Royal Court in London and is made Gentleman of the Privy Council and Master of the Household
• He is appointed Tutor and Companion to King James’ son Henry.
• Henry later dies of typhoid and Alexander is appointed Gentleman Usher to young Prince Charles
• In 1607 he is granted mineral rights and establishes a silver mine in the Ochill Hills, near Menstrie.
• He is knighted in 1608 and made Master of Requests in 1619 to deal with the expanding international interests of the Crown in North America
• In 1621, King James grants him part of Newfoundland. This doesn’t amount to much but is later expanded to include lands to the south that Sir William names Nova Scotia. He proposed and is granted rights to sell hereditary baronetcies for a sum equivalent to 150 pounds sterling.
• King James IV/I dies in 1625 and his son and heir becomes King Charles and appoints William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling and Viscount Canada
• In 1626 Alexander is appointed Secretary of State for Scotland.
• By 1629 Nova Scotia settlement had begun with the creation of a few baronets.
• In 1630 he is given the title of Lord Alexander of Tullibody and Viscount of Stirling.
• By 1631 with only 85 baronets sold in Nova Scotia, England agrees to return much of the land to the French as treaty settlement.
• Sir William’s spending to keep up with the high life of Court, together with unrealized plans for the new world, begin to weigh heavily on his finances. He is deep in debt in spite of his position.
• At age 63, Lord Alexander dies in 1640 in London. In spite of having sold 109 baronetcies, he is declared insolvent and his property seized by the Town of Stirling

Menstrie Castle

• Built by the Alexander family in 1560 as a family keep in the Ochill Hills, six miles to the northeast of Stirling Castle
• William Alexander’s father dies in 1580 and his education and the upkeep of Menstrie is given to his Uncle James, the Burgess of Stirling.
• A few miles to the east of Menstrie Castle lies Castle Campbell in Dollar. This is the Lowland residence of the Campbells of Argyle away from their primary one in Inverary. He meets young King James VI there.
• Alexander lives at Menstrie Castle until he moves to London in 1603, only to return very occasionally in the years ahead.
• After Lord Alexander’s death in 1640, Menstrie Castle is sold, eventually abandoned and falls into disrepair through centuries.
• In 1957 a local campaign was launched to save the residence core and a small portion of the courtyard. In 1962 two small main floor rooms were dedicated to the purpose of creating a mini-interpretive centre to honour the role Sir William played in the politics of his day.

King James VI of Scotland and I of England

• Born in Edinburgh in 1566, infant and only son of Mary Queen of Scots.
• 13 months later crowned King of Scotland in Stirling Castle
• The 7th Earl of Argyle, Archibald Campbell, introduces his friend William Alexander to the Court of King James and they establish a lifelong friendship
• February 1603, Battle of Glen Fruin between Clan Gregor and the Colquhouns
• King James VI immediately issues writ of proscription of Clan Gregor.
• March 1603 the crowns of Scotland and England are united in King James VI of Scotland and he becomes King James I of England.
• William Alexander moves to London to join the King’s Court and collaborates with James VI/I on a translation of the Psalms of David.
• 1617 King James makes his only return to Scotland
• In 1621 he grants William Alexander rights to settle what is now Newfoundland and Nova Scotia
• He dies in 1625 leaving his son, tutored by Alexander, to ascend to the throne as King Charles I
• King Charles I goes on to preside over the settlement of Nova Scotia with William Alexander as his Viscount Canada.

Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyle

• Born 1575, son of Colin Campbell, he was later tutored by William Alexander at Dollar Castle near Stirling. He and Alexander become friends and tour Europe together.
• Earning the name, Archibald the Grim, in 1594 King James VI gives him a commission to wage war “with fire and Sword” against the Catholic Earls, a task he pursues with vigor.
• Archibald grants Alexander title to all the lands of Menstrie and introduces him to the Royal Court
• Argyle is complicit in the instigation of the Battle of GlenFruin and subsequent efforts to punish Clan Gregor. In 1604 he is largely responsible for the arrest and public execution of Chief Alastair MacGregor of Glenstrae.
• He participates in the Union of the Crowns of Scotland and England in 1603
• In 1619 he surrenders his estates to his son Archibald Jr. and announces his conversion to Catholicism. He is declared a traitor in Edinburgh and banned from his country.
• Argyle dies in London in 1638 having abandoned everything apart from his title to his heir.

Victoria Park, Halifax Nova Scotia

• In 1957 a quantity of stones from Scotland, from demolished parts of Mentries Castle arrive in Halifax.
• A cairn (right) is erected to Sir William Alexander and states, “His efforts created a New Scotland in the new world and led to the Royal Charter of Nova Scotia in 1621 and the creation of the Order of Knight-Baronets of Nova Scotia in 1624, the Coat of Arms of Nova Scotia in 1626, and the occupation of Port Royal by Scottish settlers in 1629.”

And so, connecting all these people and places we travel back to Castle Menstrie in Clackmananshire where it all started. In the two small rooms dedicated to telling the life and story of Lord William Alexander, we can begin to understand and celebrate the connections between Sir William, King James VI/I, Archibald Campbell, King Charles I, Menstrie Castle and Nova Scotia. One wall displays portraits of William, Archibald, and Kings James and Charles. Another shows painted armorials of the 109 baronetcies that were ultimately sold in Nova Scotia. The remaining Castle and walls may be modest, but the roles these men played in history celebrated here are significant and far reaching.

Sir William’s bold plans for territories in Canada left an indelible mark. Today we have a Province called Nova Scotia, an official coat of arms granted by HRH King James VI/I and an accompanying flag. There remain 100 baronets still in existence. And, perhaps almost magically, stones from Castle Menstrie are now permanently fixed in a monument in Halifax, while in the village of Menstrie, Scotland, the Nova Scotia Garden flies the flag of the Province known by that name in faraway Canada.

All of these things are the result of the dreams and vision of one William Alexander of Castle Menstrie.

Wayne MacGregor Parker

Great Scots! How the Scots Created Canada
Matthew Shaw – 2003 Heartland Associates, Inc. Winnipeg, Manitoba

Wow. Where to start? This extraordinary little book (218 pages) is most certainly a must read for anyone interested in the role the Scots, and therefore likely their own ancestors, played in the development of Canada as an independent nation on the world stage. I could tell you lots about what this book meant to me but perhaps the best way to do so is in the author’s own words. Here, in defence of the bold claim of the book’s title, the author begins the Introduction with the following:

At first glance, the title of this book might seem exaggerated, even outlandish. After all, didn’t other ethnic groups contribute enormously to building Canada? The answer, of course, is yes. No one can deny that First Nations, the French, and the English had a huge hand in nation building. Moreover, Ukrainians, Chinese, Italians and Germans, as well as countless other ethnic groups also made significant contributions. Why, then, focus on the history of the Scots in Canada to explain Canadian values, culture and identity?

Good question!

From the beginnings of immigration into what we now call Canada the Scots have differed from other groups in a number of important ways. First, Scottish immigrants spread themselves relatively evenly throughout the upper half of North America, unlike other immigrant groups, which often tended to gather in limited geographic pockets. Second, the Scots kept coming and coming……..and coming. Unlike, say the Irish, who arrived in British North America primarily between 1820 and 1870, Scots have poured into the area in wave after wave since 1702. Thus, for three centuries, what we now know as Canada received a constant infusion of ideas and attitudes from Scotland. Finally, individual Scots, far more than from any other immigration group, have aggressively initiated growth and development and placed themselves in positions of power, controlling and influencing key institutions at critical points in the development of the Canadian Nation. The ubiquity, dominance and range of their accomplishments are truly astonishing.
Nine pages later the Introduction concludes with this paragraph:

The various factors, as described above, combined to make the Scots in Canada a dynamic and inexorable force. It’s no surprise, perhaps, that Scots controlled the fur trade, Canada’s first large scale commercial enterprise, which set the stage for modern commercial society. Scottish adventurers mapped out the country and laid the foundation for future settlement. Scottish politicians, including Canada’s fist two Prime Ministers, eight out of ten Fathers of Confederation, and many provincial Premiers, steered Canada’s early growth and development and bent the country to their will. Scots dominated commerce, including heavy industry, banking and merchandizing.  In fact, three quarters of commercial capital in the nineteenth century was firmly controlled by Scottish magnates. Scottish teachers and academics established educational institutions, including Canada’s first universities, along Scottish lines and led Canada’s education revolution. In fields such as the arts, the military, science, the labour movement, and the media, Scottish hegemony and influence are no less impressive. When we actually examine the vast range of Scottish achievements in Canada, the title of this book may not seem so outlandish after all. In a very real sense, the Scots did have a disproportionately large hand in creating our country. Their ubiquity in every field of endeavour, the surprising extent of their power and influence, and their lasting impact on Canadian society and culture are truly one of the great and largely unexplored chapters in the story of Canada.

Piqued your interest? Following the Introduction are nine chapters that fully explain the facts. I appreciated that these were well footnoted and not just presented as romantic urban legends:

1. Blueprint for a Nation
2. Shaping the Political Landscape
3. The Military
4. Scottish Settlements
5. The Birth of Banking
6. A Revolution in Transportation
7. Universities
8. Literature
9. Conclusion

Spoiler alert! The conclusion is outstanding. I repeat the assertion that this compelling reading for the Canadian Scottish diaspora. Cultural historians and nationalists in Scotland will likely feel an understandable sense of pride as well. In either case I hope you enjoy this fascinating little book as much as I have.

Wayne MacGregor Parker

Note: The Chief and Lady MacGregor attended the funeral of the late Queen on behalf of the Clan Gregor Society. The Canadian Chapter sent this note of acknowledgment and appreciation.

Dear Sir Malcolm and Lady MacGregor,

Throughout the ages peoples far and wide have come together in times of need and loss. The largest part of the world has been united this week in mourning the loss of one of its finest citizens in Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  Our thoughts are with the extended Royal Family as they digest the loss of their Mother and Matriarch. Our prayer is that in time God will ease the pain of loss and replace it with peaceful acceptance and a vigorous embrace of the future and duty.

Sir Malcolm indicated you are enroute to London to pay personal respect to the Queen Lying in State and to participate in the funeral. Please know that you are representing the Canadian Chapter in this regard and we are most grateful for your ability to do so as Chief and Lady of Clan Gregor. In addition, we are mindful and appreciative of your personal dedication and years of service to the Queen in your respective roles in the Royal Scots Guards and as Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries.

Canada as the largest and oldest of the Commonwealth nations is fiercely loyal to the Monarchy. Over several centuries and conflicts Scots, Irish and English immigrants have chosen repeatedly to remain faithful to the Monarch as United Empire Loyalists. Queen Elizabeth during her 70-year reign accomplished much to confirm that this trust was well placed. As such, I will be reaching out to our Canadian members regarding the passing of the Queen and installation of the King. I will be sure to include that you have represented each of us in doing so.

My wife Vina joins me in sending along our personal thanks and hopes for a successful trip to London.

Sincerely yours,

Wayne

When traveling from Levis to Maxville for the games I make it a point to pass on county road 9 . We drive right through MacGregor concessions and  river crossing.

In 1808 James ,Catherine, and Duncan left Balquidder for e new home in Glengarry. In 1823 they moved into their log cabin on the South shore of the Nation River.  James, his son and later his grandson provided ferry service across the river assuring a connection between the Ottawa river and the St Lawrence river . There was also a bush trail that was later widened to be a seasonally passable road. The family was known far and wide and they were thoroughly informed about the wider world.

When the elderly James retired due to ill health, he fished daily from the ferry until the day he had a heart attack, fell overboard and drowned.

The Lapointe steel bridge was first built in 1917 and recently it was replaced by another in 1969. This latest model is very elegant and it fulfills the same mission as that which my ancestors laboured for.

In 2005 we organised a gathering of all the Fournierville MacGregor descendants. Gregors from as far as Texas and the Prairies were there. After going to the games, a treasure hunt for places of import and a huge picnic; people were surprised about the bridge and crossing . It was decided to underline this part of the county’s history.

Research, help from county officials and work in a good foundry produced the plaque (shown below with my son) to be affixed to the bridge at the 2015 gathering.

You can find the plaque on the south side of the bridge.  It proudly reminds of our heritage and our  roots in Glengarry.

Robert MacGregor-Demers.

In 1958, Miss June MacGregor Steep taught 8 students in a one room schoolhouse in West Nissouri, Ontario. This past summer, 7 of her 8 pupils held a reunion and invited June (now Jain) to attend as their guest of honour. As the MacGregor on site, “Miss June” was feted with a piper. (June said he played well in spite of his Campbell tartan!)

The local newspaper concluded with, “Fond memories of the time spent at the Wellburn School were shared. It was recalled as a place of friendship where one received the best education of a lifetime.”

Canada’s Minister of National Defense, the Honourable Anita Anand, MP Oakville, Ontario, grew up in Kentville, Nova Scotia. As it turns out, she too, was a 5th grade student of June MacGregor Jain. As chance would have it after the many years in between, they met this summer at a Kings County, Nova Scotia fundraising event. The local paper reported, “Anand called Jain an inspiring teacher. She really had high standards for her students, and we knew that in grade 5. It had such an impact on me as a student.”

Gregors everywhere can take pride in June’s accomplishments and her legacy of educational excellence. One never knows what impact one can have on future generations and especially those in positions of responsibility and authority. Well done June!

This spring, Acadia University honoured Lt-Col. Dr Trevor MacGregor Jain, with the presentation of the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award. The University noted this award was given in recognition of his distinguished list of accolades that include the Meritorious Service Medal of Canada for his service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the John McCrae Memorial Medal by the Canadian Medical Association. True to character, Trevor’s response in the local paper said he was humbled to receive notification of the award. “I was quite honoured to have even been considered.”

Well done Trevor! Best of all, he celebrated with a round of golf at the Ancient Course at St. Andrews in his ancestral homeland of Scotland, just before the British Open this past summer.

Every nation has a few things that it’s known for. Scotland has more, a lot more than most! Here are a few that might surprise you.

Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn

America has the eagle, England has the lion, and Scotland has the unicorn. And while the horned mythological creature may not actually exist, the traits it represents certainly do: Purity, independence, and an untameable spirit are all qualities Scotland has long cherished. Unicorns appeared on the country’s coat of arms starting in the 12th century, and were officially adopted as Scotland’s national animal by King Robert I in the late 14th century. For many years, the coat of arms included two of the legendary beings, but in 1603 one was replaced by a lion to mark the Union of the Crowns. Fittingly for the then-newly united England and Scotland, folklore had long depicted the two creatures as butting heads to determine which one was truly the “king of beasts.”

Scottish kings also displayed that fighting spirit, which may be why unicorns were generally depicted in Scottish heraldry as wearing gold chains — only the land’s mighty monarchs could tame them. Unicorns remain popular in Scotland to this day, with renditions found on palaces, universities, castles, and even Scotland’s oldest surviving wooden warship.

Royals used to test their food for poison with faux-unicorn horns

Neither unicorns nor their horns are real, but that hasn’t stopped people from attributing mystical properties to them for centuries. One case in point: European nobility circa the Middle Ages, who used so-called unicorn horns (also known as alicorn) to determine whether or not the meal they were about to consume had been poisoned. The “horns” were actually narwhal tusks in most cases, and were believed to sweat or change color if poison had been detected. Rhinoceros and walrus horns were also used — and all of these stand-ins could cost 10 times their weight in gold. Belief in their powers was widespread for centuries, with no less a monarch than Queen Elizabeth I being a devotee.                                                                 

The Loch Ness Monster was first written about in the year 565 CE

The earliest report of a monster in the vicinity of Loch Ness appears in the Life of St. Columba (image right) by Adomnán, written in the sixth century AD. According to Adomnán, writing about a century after the events described, Irish monk Saint Columba was staying in the land of the Picts with his companions when he encountered local residents burying a man by the River Ness. They explained that the man was swimming in the river when he was attacked by a "water beast" that mauled him and dragged him underwater despite their attempts to rescue him by boat. Columba sent a follower, Luigne moccu Min, to swim across the river. The beast approached him, but Columba made the sign of the cross and said: "Go no further. Do not touch the man. Go back at once." The creature stopped as if it had been "pulled back with ropes" and fled, and Columba's men and the Picts gave thanks for what they perceived as a miracle.

Columba at the Pictish King Bridei's fort near Loch Ness

The shortest commercial flight in the world is in Scotland

Just two miles separate the Scottish islands of Westray and Papa Westray, which means that the Loganair flight connecting them can last as little as 53 seconds. A number of locals depend on the eight-seat aircraft to go about their daily lives.

Numbers Don’t Lie

• There are 130 whisky distilleries in Scotland
• The word “unicorn” is mentioned 6 times in the King James Bible
• 1707 is the year the Kingdom of Scotland ceased to exist as a sovereign state with the union of parliaments
• 13 percentage of Scots have red hair, compared to 1-2% of the global population

We were delighted to return to the wonderful Maxville, Ontario community to join in the celebration of the 73rd Glengarry Highland Games.

The weather both days was splendid: warm, not hot, breezy and sunny. This, combined with two pandemic years without Games, brought out crowds in record numbers. The excitement and sheer joy of renewing acquaintances and participating once again in important traditions was everywhere. It was a great weekend to be part of the Scottish diaspora.

As a result, the Clan Gregor Society Canada Chapter experienced an unprecedented number of clansmen, members and seekers alike. We had a large tent area and display and it was a good thing as there were many times that we had multiple people engaged in discussions at the same time.

Our volunteers barely had time to catch their breath. These efforts proved worthwhile as we signed up a number of new members and renewed contact with those members that stopped by or marched in the Clan parade.

There are two particular features of the Glengarry Games that are unique. First, as host of the North American Pipe Band Championships they bring in all grades of Pipe Bands from all over North America. This is their last stop before the World’s in Scotland so you are guaranteed to experience the best. Massed bands during the closing ceremony is particularly impressive as up to 60 bands with 1000 pipers and drummers take to the field at the same time. The power and energy of this spectacle is extraordinary and sure to raise hair on the back of your neck!

Second, the Friday night concert is first class. It is a truly unique blend of ceilidh, Highland dance recital, Scottish folk lore, pipe bands, and world class Celtic entertainment. We’ve been many times and have never been disappointed. The crowds are huge so reserved tickets are a must.

This is one of the premier Games in North America with upwards of sixty thousand attendees over the weekend. If you have never attended this festival it is a must to put on your list of important things to do to celebrate your Scottishness. The entire town, and indeed surrounding countryside, is dedicated to making these games special. Everywhere you look, or go, you will find robust, energetic support of the Games and Scottish ancestry. In addition to celebrating all the basics of Highland culture and the Games, you will experience a sense of pride and purpose that is particularly engaging and infectious.

Glengarry is catching!

Wayne and Vina Parker

On to another celebrated and excellent weekend to join in the celebration of the 75th Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games in Fergus Ontario.

The weather both days was perfect and this, together with pent up demand after two years without Games, brought out crowds in record numbers. The excitement and sheer joy of renewing acquaintances and participating once again in important traditions was everywhere. It was once again a great weekend to be part of the Scottish diaspora.

We supported and staffed our Chapter tent with a number of volunteers. Good thing too as the Avenue of Clans was a two-day mass of people. Fergus is the home games for many Clan associations and the turnout is significant with the largest number of Clans represented in Canada in one place at the same time. Our tent was very busy with seekers and members alike and we signed up at least a dozen new Gregors. This was most welcome and a good number of new members joined us in the Clan Parade at noon.

There are several features of the Fergus Festival that are worth noting. The Friday night concert is first class. It is a truly unique and attracts world class Celtic entertainment. This year the Red Hot Pipers rocked the crowd.  Second is the numbers of related Celtic events that happen all over town such as a downtown parade, lighting ceremony and Kirkin service. Similar to Maxville, the Town of Fergus is fully engaged in all aspects of support for the festival and attendees and does an incredible job of living up to their motto, Scotland without the air fare!

This too is one of the premier Games in North America with upwards of fifty thousand attendees over the weekend. If you have never attended this festival it is also a must to put on your list of important things to do to celebrate your Scottishness.

Be sure to Include Fergus in your plans for next summer. You will not be disappointed!

Wayne MacGregor Parker

MacGregors at the Games - 2022 : Editors - Sylvie Thériault & William Petrie

Our goal this summer was to attend as many games as possible.  Unfortunately a health issue in May impeded getting out early such as to Moncton as well as attending some other events more local.

Below you’ll find our images from the following:

Glengarry Highland Games –July 29 - 30
Montreal Scottish Festival and Highland Games - July 31
Fergus Scottish Festival and Games - August 5-7
National Capital Highland Games - August 20
North Lanark Highland Games - August 27
Festival celtique de Québec - September 8-11
*Niagara Celtic Heritage Festival  (Lockport NY)  -  September 17 - 18
*Stone Mountain Highland Games and Scottish Festival (Atlanta Georgia) - October 14 - 16

Clan Gregor did not have a booth at the Niagara Celtic however we did join with other clans and families in the opening ceremony parade.  We’ve committed to providing a booth in 2023 somehow.

At Stone Mountain, the US South-East Clan Gregor chapter had an excellent booth and reception area with wonderful hospitality. Something to consider copying at our games here in Canada.  We’ve included some images of our clan setting up for the parade as an addition to the images in the printed Society newsletter recently sent to all. 

Sylvie Thériault and William Petrie

Clan Gregor Canada Chapter is thrilled to sponsor the Great Canadian Kilt Skate in Brampton this year.   Please join us for music, hot chocolate and donuts. 

Wear a kilt

Sport from tartan

Get your Scottish on!