The Estevan Elks PPCLI Army Cadet Corps came into being in 1976 and within a couple of years, the fledgling military-inspired team had found a way to not only do some fundraising, but to have some fun and music while doing so by co-ordinating a mid-winter salute to the Scottish bard Robert Burns on the anniversary of his birthday in 1759.
With the assistance of an ambitious and growing pipe and drum element to the core cadet corps, the first-ever salute to Robert Burns was held in 1978 and it’s been an annual event ever since. It is now augmented by the presence of talented Scottish Highland dance students from the Drewitz School of Dance, who have added to the program for more than a couple of decades now, and more recently, by more pipers and drummers from a local pipe and drum band, the Kilted Wind, many of them being Estevan army cadet alumni.
The Saturday evening program took on a little pomp and circumstance as the flags were marched in following the piping in of a head table that included the emcee for the evening, Capt. (retired) Ken Turner and Capt (retired) Robert Rooks and sponsoring Elks and Royal Canadian Legion representatives Don Hilstrom and Willie Forrest respectively.
A toast to the kilt as well as to royalty were part of the early proceedings as well.
The evening’s entertainment included a spirited address to the haggis, delivered in Gaelic by Allan Mohrbutter and a Selkirk grace from Army Cadet Rogan McLean. Following a roast beef supper Dyana Wright provided some insight into the short but exciting life of Robert Burns who crafted over 500 poems and songs plus a collection of letters that are cherished to this day.
Burns was a gifted youngster who learned French and Latin at an early age and fathered a dozen children during his short life-span of 37 years.
His standing among the immortal poets and composers on the world stage, remains intact and near the top thanks to such immortal works as Auld Lang Syne and Tam O’ Shanter.
“He was a man who wore his heart on his sleeve, loved blindly and was loved by many,” said Wright.
The rest of the evening was devoted to music and dance that included marches and drumming demonstrations as well as the skirl of the bagpipes with a medley of battle tunes and national composition plus solos from the PPCLI Army Cadets and Kilted Wind musicians. The Drewitz dancers performed the lilt, a national dance, plus a jig and traditional dances that included a Highland Fling performed by junior and senior dancers alike, before a final retreat by the entire troupe.
The rest of the evening was devoted to a social and dance with DJ music supplied by Dave Elliott.
Capt. Rooks noted the evening is one that is family-friendly with many youngsters, some of them dressed in traditional Scottish kilts, taking to the dance floor along with the adults to complete the evening’s activities.
