The chill in the evening air couldn’t dampen the warmth within Oliver’s Royal Canadian Legion on January 24, as more than 100 attendees paid tribute to Scotland’s bard at the first annual Robbie Burns dinner.
The celebration is held in legions and halls around the world each year in honour of the birthday of the beloved poet and lyricist, who was born January 25, 1759.
Pastor Cameron Ogilvie performs “Address to a Haggis” during the Robbie Burns dinner at the Oliver legion on January 24.
Erin Christie photo
The event began with an official welcome by Sharon Dagenais, a regaling of the life and times of Robbie Burns by Blaine Krist, the piping in and cutting of the haggis in conjunction with a performance of Burns’ “Address to a Haggis” by Pastor Cameron Ogilvie, followed by a reading of the Selkirk Grace by Padre Ray Turner and a roast beef dinner with all the trimmings, including “tatties” and “nurley neeps.”
For those unfamiliar with the Scottish delicacy typically served at Burns’ suppers, haggis is a traditional dish which is a kind of sausage made of sheep’s heart, liver and lungs, minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and simmered in the animal’s stomach for approximately three hours.
The evening also featured performances of the “Loyal Toast” by Ron Worth, a “Toast to the Lassies” by Mayor Ron Hovanes, the “Reply” by Tara Hovanes, “Immortal Memory” by Arthur Docherty, as well as music from the Penticton Pipe Band.
Burns, who is widely regarded as Scotland’s national poet, is best known for his poem (and song) “Auld Lang Syne,” which is often sung at Hogmanay (the last day of the year).
He is also often considered as proto-Romantic poet, who influenced William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Percy Bysshe Shelley.
The evening was organized by the Branch 97 entertainment committee, led by Blaine Krist and Tara Hovanes.
Hovanes said the evening was a “tremendous” success and a waiting list for tickets has already been started for next year’s dinner.
The next legion event will be a Valentine’s Day dinner/dance with music by Mikie Spillett on Friday, February 14. Tickets go on sale February 7. For more information contact the legion.
Erin Christie
Oliver Chronicle
