21 August 2008
The Pipes, The Pipes Are Calling...
Canmore Alberta - For a celebration so steeped in history,
the Canmore Highland Games has an awful lot of newness to it this year.
In addition to the bands and the pipers, the drummers, the dancers, the sheepdogs, and the caber-tossers, this year's 18th
annual celebration of all things Scottish features an exclusive scotch tasting event, an international gathering of Clan Chisholm and a
visit from the Honorable Alexander Bruce, son of the 11th Earl of Elgin, Earl of Kincardine, and a direct descendant of King Robert the
Bruce, who will arrive on the CPR steam train "The Empress".
Sally Garen, one of the organizers of the event, said ,"It's fantastic to have Canadian Pacific on board, pardon the pun. The
steam train is for community use, and it's fabulous that they're involved this year."
The Empress will carry the Hon. Alexander Bruce from Calgary to Canmore, along with customers who've booked into the "Taste the
Culture" scotch tasting event. On board the train will be exhibits, documents, and artifacts about the life of the 8th Earl of
Elgin, the former Canadian Governor General James Bruce.
Once in Canmore, the entourage will be piped to Centennial Park where the games are being held. In a special area set aside in the rear
of the Ceilidh tent, they and local scotch lovers who've managed to get their hands on one of the 300 available tickets, will be able
to savour five of the finest scotches that Scotland has to offer, ranging in age from 14 to 31 years. Local tickets for the scotch
tasting are $150, while the Calgary train riders will pay $250, including the train ride, and Garen said more than 150 tickets have
already been sold.
Tickets for the Canmore Highland Games are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors aged 65 and over and youth aged 13 to 17. Children aged six
to 12 are $5 and under age six are free. Tickets for the Ceilidh are $20 for adults, $12 for youth aged 13 to 17, and free for children
12 and under, available on the grounds.
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