Celtic Studies hosts delegation from Scottish Parliament

StFX’s Celtic Studies department was a must-stop destination Nov. 27 for a visiting delegation from the Scottish parliament on a Canadian tour.

The cross-party delegation was in the country to learn more about Canada’s parliamentary process. Scotland’s Parliament is only 11 years old, having been previously joined with Britain since 1707. The group visited the provincial parliaments of Nova Scotia, Ontario and the National Assembly of Québec to learn more from the Canadian experience.

As well, the delegation wanted to connect with Canadians who have a strong interest in Scotland and its culture and to promote the Year of Homecoming in 2009.

“They wanted specifically to visit the Celtic Studies department,” says chair Dr. Ken Nilsen. “We’re the only university outside of Scotland that has such a strong program in Scottish Gaelic.”

Scottish Gaelic classes at StFX date back to 1891, making StFX one of the first universities in the world to offer such classes. Today, the Celtic department offers four years of Scottish Gaelic and classes in Irish Gaelic and Welsh. This year, four exchange students are at StFX from Scotland.

“It was inconceivable that we could come here (to Canada) and that we couldn’t come up here. It’s as simple as that,” says delegation leader Jamie Stone.

“We’re here to see the legislatures, but it’s also about Homecoming 2009, and above all the Highland link. The way you keep the language going here is fantastic. That means a lot to my constituents.”

Delegation members said they were aware of StFX’s excellent centre of Celtic Studies, and that it would a wasted opportunity not to visit the university to learn first hand about the innovative work here.

While at StFX the group had a chance to meet faculty and students, tour the campus and give a presentation on the Scottish Parliament.

Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebrates the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth with a year-long program of events across the country.

Pictured, standing l-r, are MSPs Tom McCabe, Murdo Fraser, and Alasdair Allan, and Michael Newton, Simon Innes and Michael Linkletter, all of StFX’s Celtic Studies department. Pictured in front are Jamie Stone MSP, Margaret Neal, assistant to the delegation, and Ken Nilsen, chair of StFX’s Celtic Studies department.

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