SDCCS Ottawa 2025

07/13/2025

And that’s a wrap 🎬

It’s been an absolute joy sharing your memories, milestones, and magic throughout SDCCS 2025. From the first count-in to the final awards, thank you for letting us be part of your journey.

Wishing everyone the very best as we pass the torch to Moncton — we can’t wait to see what’s in store! Make sure to hit the follow button so you can stay up to date on all things SDCCS 2026!

With gratitude,
The SDCCS 2025 Social Media Team 💙

Congrats to the SDCCS 2025 team for all their hard work in running a successful event. We would now like to welcome you to SDCCS 2026 in Moncton with the reveal of our logo!

Designer:  Jane Rowlands
Jane is a Victoria BC based graphic designer who has shared her talents with ScotDance Canada on many occasions.
Jane designed the SDCCS 2014 Vancouver event logo/medals, SDCCS 2017 PEI event logo/medals and new designs for the Canadian Championship and ScotDance Canada Open Championship medals premiered at the SDCCS 2022 Regina event. As a former Highland dance mom, Jane’s keen eye, vision and expertise with logo design and marketing within this dance genre has been a welcome partnership for ScotDance Canada.  
 
Jane’s vision from an aerial view of the sky, land and sea over Moncton were integral to the design and colours of the SDCCS 2026 event logo. The formation of Moncton’s tidal bore, caused by the Bay of Fundy tides, is depicted in the ‘swirl’ of each wave in the logo, creating a Celtic feel with each wave converging towards the centre of the logo. With Moncton known for its central location in the Maritimes—a transportation hub for railways, roads and air travel, it is fitting that Moncton will be the ‘meeting place’ for the SDCCS 2026 event. At the heart of the design, is the Canadian maple leaf, representing the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Canadian Championships.

07/12/2025

📸 Keep your eyes peeled!

Over the coming days, SDCCS 2025 photo galleries will begin appearing at the link below. From stunning professional backdrop portraits to dynamic on-stage action shots, relive the magic and memories of an unforgettable week.

👉 https://event.xgenphoto.com

07/12/2025

CATHY AND JOHN HYND MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
🏆 Awarded to: Annalise Lam

We were proud to present the Cathy and John Hynd Memorial Scholarship at SDCCS 2025. This special award, which offers $2000 USD to support travel and participation in an open championship anywhere in the world, was created to honour the legacy of two remarkable pillars in the Highland dancing community.

Cathy and John Hynd dedicated their lives to the advancement of Highland dancing—locally, nationally, and internationally. Cathy served as past-president of FUSTA, taught multiple national and world champions, co-founded the World of Highland Dancing Conference, and helped launch the FUSTA Hall of Fame. John brought the same passion, serving on numerous committees and chairing the National Judges’ Committee with dedication and heart.

This year’s scholarship was awarded on stage following the ScotDance Canada Open Championship results. Congratulations to this year’s recipient, who now has the opportunity to pursue their dancing dreams on the global stage in Cathy and John’s honour.

This year’s scholarship was presented by Fiona Nash Champagne, a former student of John and Cathy Hynd, and Heather Jolley and Sandra Bald-Jones, longtime and beloved friends of John and Cathy.

07/12/2025

🏆 IRENE BAIRD BEST OVERSEAS DANCER TROPHY
2025 Winner: Serena Bianconcini
Sponsored by Peter Archibald

Irene began Highland dancing at the age of four in Tranent, Scotland. In 1962, she moved to Canada and became involved in the Winnipeg Highland dancing community. In her 50-plus years of teaching, Irene taught hundreds of dancers who won local, provincial, national and international events, and she was a renowned workshop instructor. Through her unending commitment to technical proficiency, her infectious enthusiasm and her ability to draw out excellence in a dancer, she was one of the top dance teachers in Canada. Even in retirement, she continued to share her knowledge with dancers.

Irene was a founding member and the inaugural President of ScotDance Canada (SDC), serving in that capacity from 1988–1993. She was also instrumental in helping to form the Canadian Inter-Provincial Championships (now SDCCS) and she was the event co-Chair in 1984 and 1992. Over her career, Irene was a Fellow and Examiner of the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance (SDTA), Fellow of the United Kingdom Alliance, and on the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing judges’ panel. She was also an Honorary Member of the ScotDance National Committee of SDC. Additionally, she was a founding member of the Winnipeg Scottish Festival and a dance director of the Highland Dancers of Winnipeg (now the Ena Sutton Highland Dancers).

In 2002, The Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson awarded Irene the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for her contributions to Highland dancing in Canada and worldwide. Irene died in 2022.

The Irene Baird Best Overseas Dancer Trophy is awarded annually to the Premier dancer who permanently resides outside of North America and who accumulates the most points overall in the ScotDance Canada Championship Series events, excluding the choreography and special events.

07/12/2025

🏆 ALEX AND MAY MARTIN TROPHY
2025 Winner: Aisla Gocan-Wright
Sponsored by Anne Sutherland

Alex and May Martin made Highland dancing a family affair. Alex, who passed away in 2014, was a well-known piper who played for many competitions and championships, including SDCCS and the World Championships in Dunoon, Scotland. May is a recognized and well-respected figure in the Highland dancing community in Scotland and internationally. Over the years, she was a teacher, examiner, judge and competition organizer, as well as an Ambassador of the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (RSOBHD) who travelled extensively across the UK, USA, Canada and Australia teaching, judging and examining. May was also the Highland Dress Consultant for Hector Russell in Glasgow, assisting Highland dancers all over the world. Their two children were both successful dancers and family weekend time was spent at the Highland Games, competitions and championships.

May began Highland dancing at the age of four in Motherwell, Scotland. She went on to win many championships, including the Scottish Championships in 1949 and 1951, for which she credits Bobby Cuthbertson’s training. She recalls Bobby playing the small pipes whilst sitting on a chair dancing with his feet! When he moved to Edinburgh, May continued her lessons with Andrew Sutherland who made a lasting impression on her.

An Honorary Member of the RSOBHD, May played an active role in the development of Highland dancing locally, nationally and internationally. For many years, she faithfully represented ScotDance Canada at the Board meetings in Scotland. Her ability to speak up fearlessly on issues and at the same time defend tradition won her respect from many. May acknowledges Mrs. Jessie Stewart Haggarty and Miss Sadie Simpson for their mentorship over the years. She currently resides in Wishaw, Scotland.

The Alex and May Martin Trophy is awarded annually to the Premier dancer who permanently resides in North America and who accumulates the most points overall in the ScotDance Canada Championship Series events, excluding the Canadian Championships, choreography and special events.

07/12/2025

✨ SDCCS 2025 Choreography Judge Points Are In! ✨

A massive thank you to all of the incredible dancers and teachers who poured their hearts into this year’s Small and Large Group Choreography events. Your creativity, storytelling, and passion lit up the stage and left our judges in awe! 💫

We’re thrilled to share the official judges’ placings for both Small and Large Group Choreographies.

👉 Swipe to see the placings for both events!

07/11/2025

✨ Thank You for Making Our Welcome Bags So Special! ✨

We are incredibly grateful to all those who helped us fill our welcome bags with generosity, heart, and community spirit. Whether you donated items, services, or your time—we couldn’t have done it without you.

A heartfelt thank you to the Businesses & Organizations:

A Touch of Health Registered Massage Therapy –http://touchofhealth.ca/
Allergy Smart- https://www.allergysmart.com
Bright Dental Centre – brightdentalcentre.com
CanadaAction.ca – canadaaction.ca
Carmichael Insurance LTD, Kemptville – cooperators.ca
Cherun Family Dentistry Practice – cherundental.ca
Cooperators Insurance – cooperators.ca
Delhey Electric Ltd – Sam and Eric Delhey
Dentistry on Centrepointe – dentistryoncentrepointe.com
Dr. Michael Rondinelli – Huron Dental Group – hurondental.ca
Glengarry Highland Games – glengarryhighlandgames.com
Greenbank Dental – greenbankdental.com
Greely Foodland – foodland.ca
HDAO (Highland Dancing Association of Ontario) – https://hdaontario.com/
Industrial Electrical Contractors
Metro Casselman – metro.ca
Northgate Dentistry, Sarnia ON – northgatedentistry.ca
Notluf Creations by Donna Fulton – Facebook: Notluf Creations
Parkdale Dental – parkdaledentalcentre.com
Physio Casselman – Massage Therapy Clinic – physiocasselman.com
Pillar IP– https://pillarip.com/
Royal City Highland Dance Association
Salon on Second & Lynn MacDonald
SD&GHDA - https://www.sdghda.ca/
Tartantown – tartantown.com
Yazdani Family Dental in Kemptville – yazdanidental.ca

Dance Schools & Families:

Cambridge Highland Dance Company & Families
Champagne School of Dance
Colleen Murray School of Highland Dance
Ellen Cameron School of Highland Dance
Kathy Coleman School of Highland Dance
Keltic Dance Academy
Mary Ellen Cann School of Highland Dance
Sandra Bald Jones Studio
Wallace Symington Highland Dancers

Individual Supporters

Adele Campbell
Ainsley Waldorf
Anna Gregory
Andrea Goral
Andrea Hazel
Andrea MacDougall
Andrea Taylor
Archel Imperial
Brandi Linton
Carrie Craig
Chandra Daynard
Chelsea Laplante
Danielle Diaz
David Smith
Denise MacDonald
Dolly Begum
Elaine Saunders
Eleanor Belton
Ellen Cameron
Fiona Champagne
Fiona Tolley
Gillian MacDonald
Iqwinder Gaheer
Irek Kusmierczyk
Jamil Jivani
Jen & James McIntosh
Jennifer French
Jennifer McKelvie
Juanita Nathan
Katie Donig & Family
Kayleigh Armstrong
Lorne Coe
Louise Anne Thibault – Medical Consultant
Marion Butler
Maya Vanderberg
Natalie Waldorf
Paul Calandra
Peter Bethenfalvy
Peter & Trish O'Connell
Rob Cerjanec
Robyn & Scott Ledoux
Rosalyn Agapito
Salma Zahid
Sandra Caruana
Sarah & Joshua Lepage
Shirley & Ian MacDonell
Stephane Lefebvre
Tina Michaud
Terrie Kimber
Vijay Thanigasalam

A heartfelt thank you as well to the many generous individuals whose personal contributions helped make our welcome bags so special — your support means the world! 💙

With appreciation,

The SDCCS 2025 Team

07/09/2025

🍁Small and Large Group Choreography Award

“Wood and Wonder: Celebrating Choreography”

At SDCCS 2025, we celebrate not only tradition but innovation. These choreography awards honour dancers and choreographers who push creative boundaries while staying rooted in the discipline and artistry of Highland dance. This year’s awards are handcrafted wooden signs shaped from the official SDCCS 2025 logo—a symbol of pride, precision, and passion. Each piece is a lasting tribute to the originality and teamwork that bring choreography to life on stage. These unique awards reflect the spirit of SDCCS 2025: “Where history is made” by every dancer, every step, and every story shared this week through movement.

✨ Keeper awards will be presented to the top 3 placings in each group for both small and large group choreography. ✨

07/09/2025

🍁 Canadian Closed Championship Keepers 🍁

The maple leaf is one of Canada’s most enduring symbols representing strength, connection, and pride in a country where tradition and talent flourish side by side. For SDCCS 2025, this iconic emblem has been reimagined in a uniquely crafted award created exclusively for the Canadian Championship. It honours Canada’s outstanding Highland dancers – the provincial representatives who have spent years perfecting their craft in pursuit of the prestigious title of Canadian Champion.

Handmade from natural wood, poured with a striking red epoxy, and detailed with Highland ghillies, each award speaks to the heart of what it means to be a Canadian Highland dancer. The wood grounds us in our history. The red epoxy reflects the passion that fuels every dancer’s journey. And the ghillies celebrate the technical mastery and artistry needed to compete at the championship level.

These awards, symbolizing perseverance, excellence, and national pride, were handcrafted by Tanner Spink with Aurra Wood Co. in Cornwall, Ontario. The company offers an array of finely crafted wooden furniture and art pieces, and over 80% of the wood used in their creations is sourced from trees that have been salvaged due to the unpredictable whims of mother nature.