Scots in Canada

Jim Bear of the Brokenhead Ojibwa traveled recently to Scotland and presented the Royal Museum of Scotland with a cross carved out of wood cut from oak which had been removed from the floor of an old stone church of St. Peter, Dynevor, Man., in recent restoration work. The cross had been carved by James Kidd of Selkirk, whose grandparents came to Canada from Scotland.

Mr. Bear was in Scotland for the opening of a new exhibit Trailblazers ? Scots in Canada. The exhibit chronicles the arrival of the Scottish people to Canada and features Chief Peguis, friend of the Selkirk Settlers, and Tom Prince, decorated veteran of the Second World War. Mr. Bear, a descendant of Chief Peguis, was invited to attend the official opening of the exhibit by the chair of trustees and director of the National Museums of Scotland.

The museum presented Mr. Bear with a traditional Scottish quaich, or drinking vessel, which he has given to St. Peter, Dynevor. Donald Phillips, bishop of Rupert’s Land, blessed the quaich and used it in a recent celebration of eucharist at St. Peter’s church.