David McKinley showcased his bagpiping skills while skating in a kilt, braving the frigid -25-degree weather in Fredericton. The occasion was the city’s third annual kilted skate event at Officers’ Square, where he joined dozens of participants on a chilly Saturday afternoon. McKinley humorously attributed his resilience to his Scottish roots, proudly donning his family tartan as a third-generation Canadian with Scottish heritage.
Organized by the Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew, the skating gathering coincided with Robert Burns Day, a yearly commemoration on January 25 honoring Scotland’s national poet’s life and legacy. Despite facing the coldest conditions yet, McKinley shared the challenges of bagpiping in such weather, noting the extreme cold affecting his face and hands and making it difficult to maintain a seal on his bagpipes.
Nevertheless, his performances garnered attention on social media, with McKinley spotting his pictures on unfamiliar Facebook profiles. Expressing his enjoyment of the event each year, McKinley highlighted the significance of wearing his family’s tartan as a cherished tradition. Among the attendees was Mike Romard, who expressed admiration for kilts since childhood and is exploring his Scottish heritage by learning Gaelic.
Reflecting on the community gathering, Romard appreciated the enthusiasm and unity displayed during the event. Cynthia Wallace-Casey, the president of the Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew, credited the event’s inspiration to a similar gathering in Ottawa a decade ago, combining it with the ongoing FROSTival activities in the city. FROSTival, a multi-weekend winter event in Fredericton, offers a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, with the kilted skate event featuring food, music, and dance performances.
Despite the harsh weather conditions, Wallace-Casey emphasized the community’s resilience and spirit in celebrating their heritage, noting that tough Canadians embrace and enjoy the winter and cold temperatures.
