聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The 2018 edition of 鈥淎n Evening to Celebrate Robbie Burns鈥� was a Scottish success as 120 people attended the Saturday, Feb. 3 event at Carlyle Memorial Hall.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The evening is organized by members of southeastern Saskatchewan's ABBA 15 Masonic Lodge and is a continuation of Alameda's Robbie Burns Night. The festivities honour the life of Scottish poet and lyricist, Robbie Burns (1759-1796), whose legacy is celebrated every year throughout the world on or near his January 25 birthday.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t's a fantastic addition to Carlyle's annual calendar of events,鈥� says Jenn Sedor, one of the local organizers. 鈥淚t's the second year we've hosted 'An Evening to Celebrate Robbie Burns' in Carlyle and we're thrilled with the turnout and the support of everyone from communities from not only this corner of Saskatchewan, but parts of Manitoba, too.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Robbie Burns celebrations follow a format which includes all things Scottish - including pipers, dancers, numerous toasts, a Scottish-themed menu, scotch tastings and the piping in of the iconic Scottish delicacy, haggis.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Along with samples of haggis (from a supplier in Brandon), attendees dined on a roast beef supper prepared by David and Shelley Slykhuis of Carlyle.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e're serving tatties (potatoes) tonight,鈥� explains Shelley with a smile. 鈥淎nd for dessert, we're serving shortbread iced with tartan patterns with strawberry trifle.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A fully-stocked bar staffed by 鈥淢en in Kilts鈥� was complemented by a table dedicated to scotch-tasting.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Mason Robert Anderson of Carnduff says: 鈥淲e really try to make our scotch-tasting an adventure, with a variety of scotches from around the world.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Fellow Mason - Carlyle's Tim Sedor - agrees, adding: 鈥淔or five dollars, you can sample a scotch that might normally cost $150. We've got a great selection this year and it's a chance to try something new for a great price.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Master of Ceremonies Rolland Bouchard of Carlyle presided over a Scottsh-themed program, which included The Selkirk Grace by Estevan's Troy LeBlanc, followed by the piping in of the haggis by David Kyle of Brandon and Regan Miller of Carlyle. Miller also gave the Address to the Haggis and the Toast to the Haggis.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 As MC, Bouchard toasted Robbie Burns and emphasized that the evening was intended to celebrate the colourful life of the Scottish poet, rather than commemorate his death.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Carlyle's Crystal and Adam Bee gave the Toasts to the Lads and Lassies, followed by performances by Scottish dancer, Madison Zandee of Estevan's Drewitcz School of Dance, pipe performances by David Kyle and Regan Miller and a poetry reading by Troy LeBlanc.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The evening ended with music by the Katie Miller Band, as dancers took to the floor.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Tim Sedor summed up the evening this way: 鈥淲e wanted everyone to come out and enjoy a good time that's steeped in Scottish history and tradition.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭his year, we welcomed people from all over southeastern Saskatchewan - Carlyle, Manor, Kenosee Lake, Kisbey, Alida, Redvers, Estevan, Oxbow, Gainsborough, Carnduff, Oxbow, Moosomin, and as far away as Brandon,鈥� adds Jenn Sedor..
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淪o for the second year, we've joined a global celebration right here in our corner of the prairies.鈥澛�
