It was the annual dinner in honour of the favourite son of Scotland — Robbie Burns on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 in Williams Lake.
Eric Sannes set the scene as the emcee for the celebration of Burns and all things Scottish. The event kicked of with some laughs, care of Sannes' jokes, at Branch 139 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Legion President Walt Cobb gave the highland welcome, and then Aubrey Jackson piped in the haggis, which was carried by Mark Lees and given an armed (with sabres) escort by Sandra Lees and Otis Elzinga.
The haggis - a Scottish dish consisting of organ meat, ground meat, onion, oatmeal and spices all encased in a sheep stomach lining - was then formally addressed by Ron Hume, reciting the Address to the Haggis, a poem by Robbie Burns himself.
Hume then cut the haggis open in a dramatic finish to his address, opening the dish up for the dinner patrons.
Sandra Abbot said Grace and the dinner got underway, featuring haggis, mashed tatties (potatoes), prime roast beef, bashed neeps (turnips), green peas, a "wee bit of salad," gravy, and tipsy laird (trifle), Scots shortbread and tae (tea) or coffee to finish.
Walt Cobb had everyone raise a glass in a toast to the King. The bagpiper, Aubrey Jackson, said a few words, honouring his mentor, Doug White. Jackson shared the story of meeting White and learning the bagpipe from the Scottish-born Canadian. Jackson toasted White's courage and determination in following his dream of becoming a cowboy and coming to start a new life in Canada.
Vivian MacNeil gave the immortal memory, and Kane Fraser gave a great toast to the lassies, eliciting many laughs in doing so.
Joyce Norberg then followed up with an equally amusing toast to the laddies in response.
The evening's officials then "paid the piper" with a taste of Drambuie (a drink consisting of Scottish whisky, heather, honey, herbs and spices) or soda, depending on their preference, before Doug White finished the program by singing The Star of Robbie Burns followed by Auld Lang Syne.
Before the evening ended, Shady and his Damn Band took to the stage to encourage patrons to get up and dance, which many did.
Scotland's famous bard would have been proud his birthday is still celebrated so richly in Williams Lake, far from his homeland, and 266 years after the bard was born.
