Celebrating the 200th Anniversary - PEI Style

The "Polly", carrying 400 migrants mainly from Skye and Raasay, arrived in Orwell Bay in Prince Edward Island on the 7th August 1803. Many of the migrants settled in the immediate area of the Bay in a district now called Belfast. Some local places bear names the migrants brought with them from Scotland
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of her arrival a large number of diverse events and activities were arranged by the Belfast Historical Society. These ranged from seminars on genealogy and the history of immigration to the area; Highland Games; concerts; to exhibitions and demonstrations.

A party of about a dozen from Skye and Raasay travelled to PEI to participate in the anniversary celebrations. While this party was in PEI, the opportunity was taken to meet with local politicians, government officials and other interested parties to seek ways to ensure that the relationship between our islands, strengthened up as a result of the 200th anniversary celebrations, is maintained and developed. Wilbur MacDonald, the local member of PEI's Provincial Legislature, attended one of the meetings held. He expressed a keen interest in links with Skye & Raasay and suggested that the Provincial and Federal governments might help in establishing a permanent connection.

Uigg is in the heart of the area settled by emigrants from Skye & Raasay. This early map of landholdings in the district reveals the extent to which Highland names such as Ross, MacDonald, Macleod and MacKinnon predominate.

A number of events and activities during the celebrations, including the Highland Games, were organised jointly with the Caledonian Club in PEI. The Highland Games are thought to be the first organized athletic competitions held in Canada. The Caledonian Club led the way in 1838, holding the first Canadian Games a couple of decades after their inception in Scotland.

The amphitheatre was one of the venues for the various games' competitions during the 2003 anniversary celebrations.

Among other attractions were the various clan events associated with the anniversary.Clan Mhic Neacail (Nicolson) organised a number of events including the establishment of a memorial plaque in the Selkirk Park. As part of the latter, piper Angus Nicolson from Skye led the clan procession through the park.

Several pipe bands combined to entertain the crowds, numbering up to 5000, during the anniversary celebrations.

Gadelica and Angus Nicolson were invited to take part in a concert in Charlottetown , the Island's main city. Here they played along side local artistes such as Roy Johnstone and Steve Sharratt. Below are a few of the accolades they received:-

" It was wonderful to hear such talented musicians. Gadelica charmed the audience with beautifuly  textured arrangements and dynamic virtuosity in their individual playing. And they are composers as well!!

"They were great embassadors for Scotland and a credit to their schools' tutors and the traditional music establishments which have fostered their talents."

"Angus's playing displayed his mastery on the highland bagpipes with a beautifully grafted Pibroch and then segue into flawless jigs and lightning fast reels. It's easy to see why he was all Scotland u-18 champion on the pipes."

"The technical excellence of these young players speaks highly of the traditional music programs that they have been able to attend. We could certainly benefit from such a program here on PEI."

St John's Church in Belfast was built by the 'Selkirk' settlers and their families in 1824. Later a monument to Lord Selkirk and those who travelled with him from Scotland was erected in the churchyard. During the August celebrations a memorial service was held beside the monument.