History

The Victoria Highland Games is the longest running cultural event in the region, stretching back almost 150 years to the founding of our city when Scottish influence was strong in business and culture. Sir James Douglas, Chief Factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company and Roderick Finlayson of the same Presbyterian ilk, were associated with the 1859 founding of the St. Andrew’s Society, a Scottish benevolent association which became the St. Andrew’s and Caledonian Society. The first Games were jointly organized by this Society and the Sir William Wallace Society and held in 1864 at the old Caledonian Grounds on Cook Street in Victoria. During the early 1930’s, the Tourist Trade Development Association organized Games which were usually held in the former Willows Fair Grounds. The Burns Club and Scottish Societies of Victoria were strong supporters of the Games.

Seventy-two years ago, the newly formed Victoria Highland Games Association sponsored its first Scottish gathering at MacDonald Park. On that 1938 day, over 2000 spectators and competitors saw the Honourable T.D. Pattullo, Premier of British Columbia, perform the official opening with the Honourable James A. Farley, Postmaster-General of the United States of America. During the war years of 1939 to 1945, the young Victoria Highland Games Association continued its annual highland gatherings with proceeds donated to the Scottish war effort.

Since then, the Games and other association activities have been held at various locations around Greater Victoria. The Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival are currently held over a full two days at Topaz Park within the City of Victoria. The association also holds an annual Tartan Parade through downtown Victoria (promotional event one week before the Games), a regular schedule of competitions in dancing, piping, drumming and athletics, and a variety of demonstrations, workshops and educational activities. As the association continues to expand and enhance the Games, its future plans are to hold world class events, including the World Heavy Events Championship in 2010.