The Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund (OCAF) has awarded The Canadian Transportation Museum & Heritage Village (CTMHV) with a $20,000 grant.

The grant will go to support the promotion and marketing of the Kingsville-Essex Highland Games which will take place this year on June 22.

CTMHV will use the funds to expand marketing efforts for the Games beyond the Windsor-Essex region as they celebrate this addition to their portfolio of events.

According to the application, this year’s programming will include:

• Piping & Drumming Competitions: solo bagpipers and solo drummers, pipe bands, and quartet piping groups compete for prize money and grading points;
• Highland Dancing Competitions: novice and experienced dancers compete for trophies and medals;
• Scottish Athletic Heavy Events: Canadian Scottish Athletic Federation athletes as they compete in tests of strength like the hammer toss, sheaf toss, stone throw, and caber toss;
• 5KM Kilted Run/Walk on a scenic course throughout the museum property;
• Sheep Herding: Shepherd and sheep dog demonstrate the skill required to corral sheep into their pen;
• Mayors Haggis Hurl: The mayors of the local communities compete for the bragging rights of Title of Chief Haggis Hurler by seeing who can toss a faux haggis the furthest;
• Tug of War Competition;
• Clan Village: With the assistance of the Clans & Scottish Societies of Canada, various Clan and Societies exhibit information about their family history;
• Artists Village: Artists from the Art Society of Kingsville demonstrate their craft and sell their work;
• Opening Ceremonies: Clans and Pipers are led onto the field by a colour guard from the Royal Canadian Legions of Kingsville and Essex; and
• Closing Ceremonies: All pipers and drummers in attendance perform en masse prior to the announcement of the winner of the pipe band competition and declaration of the closing of the Games.

Presenting Partners will include: Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario, Windsor & District Highland Dancers Association, Canadian Scottish Athletic Federation, and Clans & Scottish Societies of Canada.

Community Partners will include: Sun Parlour Pipes & Drums, Sun Parlour Curling Club, The Scottish Club of Windsor, Graphic Gourmet and the Arts Society of Kingsville.

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