The Beach Celtic Festival
The Beach Celtic Festival is proud to promote The Homecoming in Scotland 2009
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How it all began...
People ask us all the time why we started the Beach Celtic Festival. Well, it certainly is not for the money - it is a free admission event. It is for our heritage - our background - and the fact we need to tell the story to others of how we came to be here in Canada-the Scots the Irish and the Welsh. It is also for another reason close to my heart - when our beloved mother Jemima Blackie Sutherland was dying 7 years ago she said don't mourn me - celebrate my life. She was an amazing woman and along with our late Dad Donald Arthur Graham - the taught us about how important family is - and so we wanted a way to honour them that have come before us. So every year, we have a party instead of being sad - and every year we invite you - strangers - friends - community members both of the Beach and the Celtic - to join us for this tradition. So here is to all of us and our strong traditions - and here is to you Mum - you did a great job raising us ! Scots Wae Hae.... Sandy
Charles Robertson is a world champion Highland Dancer, retired military officer with The 48th Highlanders of Canada. His Parents, Grandparents & Aunties and Uncles all originally were born in Scotiand, so he is truly a Highlander in his blood and heart.
Don Graham is the son of Mima Sutherland-Graham and
Donald Arthur Graham and along with his sister Sandy, is proud
to be a producer of The Beach Celtic Festival. His earliest musical
memories are of listening to his mother play piano and being included
At the Bleury Street Armouries when his grandfather Pipe Major Donald
Sutherland would rehearse with the Black Watch Of Canada. The songs Pipes & The Mist and The Calling of the Clans are a tribute to his family’s heritage.
Sandy Graham-Robertson is from Montreal and is the daughter of a Highland Dancer Mima Sutherland & Sandy’s Grandfather Donald Sutherland was the Pipe Major of The Black Watch of Canada in WWII. Her other grandfather Peter Graham was sent from Scotland to Canada as a Quarrier child or what was known as The Home Children. Sandy was brought up to be proud of her heritage and between Charles and herself they are raising two boys Graham Maclean Robertson and Ian Sutherland Robertson with knowledge of their wonderful heritage. Sandy’s brother Donald also resides in the Beach.
