Today is the birthday of Robert Burns, when we celebrate Scotland’s favourite son. Why remember an 18th century farmer poet, whom some might characterize as a lecherous sot? He did have a way with words and they are oft repeated, particularly in January! His messages were universal even if sometimes difficult to understand: “the best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley!”
The land of heather supplied a high proportion of early immigrants to Canada, including fur traders, soldiers, farmers, merchants and businessmen. Scotland’s loss was Canada’s gain. As the CPR progressed across the west, station stops often had Scottish references: Dunmore, Strathmore, Calgary, Canmore, Banff. Scots followed the rails and settled in the west. Since BATUS was established, a new surge of Scottish settlers has arrived with members of the British Army often retiring here.
A 1910 Robbie Burns night took place at the local Opera House above Marshall Mitchell Hardware on Third St. and featured a production of “The Little Minister” with many prominent members of St. John’s Church assisting with “pleasing renditions.” The first Burns Supper in Redcliff, held in 1911 at the Hotel Redcliff, featured such delicacies as Sheep’s Heid Kail, Troots, Tawlies and Herrin, Roast Bubblyjocks stuffed, and of course haggis.
There were pipers available in the area from an early date and the Medicine Hat Pipe Band was organized in 1912 under Pipe Major Alex Hosie, who operated from Elm Street School where he was the custodian. There are stories of him melting silver in the school boiler to adorn bagpipes. While a Burns Supper was a more formal event, according to one eyewitness, Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve) was a special event in the neighbourhood near the school, with the pipe band playing in and out of houses, stopping only long enough for a wee dram.
The Sons of Scotland was a Scottish cultural group and had their headquarters above the Cochran store on South Railway, which they referred to as Cochran Hall. Bagpipe music followed each meeting.
Many Scots were Presbyterian. In the years leading up to church union in 1925, there were four Presbyterian churches in the area: Gordon in Redcliff, St. John’s, Knox and Westminster.
Local entrepreneur Mike Steiner does a roaring trade in haggis at this time of year (600 pounds in 2019) and is considering changing his name to MacSteiner! He uses lamb pluck (organs) from Innisfail and a recipe he learned from experts at CFB Suffield. The President of the World Burns Federation has pronounced it the best haggis on either side of the Atlantic!
So, tonight, remember Burns’ birthday with a taste of local haggis, a wee dram and a poem from the Bard, and finish with his best known song, Auld Lang Syne! Slainte mhath!
Malcolm Sissons is a former member of the Heritage Resources Committee of the City of Medicine Hat. He is pleased that Committee Member Sally Sehn has agreed to share responsibility for creating this heritage-focussed column on a bi-weekly basis.
