Introduction
Scottish migration to Canada was provoked by different historical processes preceded in Europe in eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Scottish people liked the Canadian land and tried to develop it with preservation of cultural and ethnical peculiarities. In this respect Midwestern Ontario is considered in part as the area of Scottish residents. The main towns of Scottish origin were Fergus, Galt, Guelph, Kincardine and Aberfoyle. Scottish migration to Canada had left strong Scottish roots that run the gamut of all Scottish residents living in Canada. However, it is vital to have a look at the historical data that are applicable to the creation of Scottish settlements across Upper Canada and in Midwestern Ontario, in particular. However, one should pay special attention to the aforementioned five towns. These are the places where Scottish tradition and its cultural background are still happening. Thus, Scottish migration to Canada contributed into the contemporary well-being of the resident country. Even distantly, Scottish people are highly devoted to features that characterize them expressly.
Body paragraphs
First of all, it is vital to analyze the peculiarities of Scottish migration and their settlements in the beginning of Scottish “era” in Canada. It is peculiar to admit that the names of Scottish towns in Canada are of Scottish colouring. Thus, one should keep it in mind that, for instance, Kincardine was called after the same name county in Scotland. On the other hand, well-known town of Fergus was named after Adam Fergusson, a landowner who in 1830s was touring across Lower and Upper Canada as well as New York. These towns were settled specially to magnify the century-long Scottish culture with its magnificence and ethnical originally apart from other countries of Great Britain. Moreover, people living in Fergus are proud of their city which 175th anniversary fell at 2008. The origin of the town Galt is somehow similar to that of Fergus. The point is that one of the Scottish immigrants, John Galt, was an official from North Ayrshire who kept sufficient growth of Scottish settlements in Canada.
Thus, these cities were established definitely to keep relationships with the motherland and other ethnical communities of Canada in touch. Moreover, it never contradicted the genuine representation of cultural roots in all three cities. Additionally, town of Guelph was the next creation of John Galt who established it in 1827. Right from the start of Galt’s participation in settling and developing Scottish links between towns of Galt, Kincardine, Fergus, and Guelph, Scots were likely to preserve their culture in their communities. Moreover, their language shaped special Scottish variant of English. Thus, it made more emphasis for Scottish Diaspora to follow traditional and cultural features in Canada. It should be mentioned as well that town of Aberfoyle bears the name of Scottish village within Stirling region.
It is about time to start with the town of Fergus. The Scottishness of this town can be explained through the historical background and mentality of people living in it. It is better to illustrate through the annually held Scottish Festival and Highland Ganes. This culturally well-crafted and original event is very picaresque and interesting for an observer, for it encompasses the wholeness of Scottish national colour that takes place overseas. The vibrant population of the central place in the Wellington County attracts more than 30,000 visitors when the aforementioned events are taking place. It proves the idea that people of Fergus are real bearers of their traditions and culture built up through the centuries. The outlook of the town is explicably falling within the nineteenth century. Such an impression appears after having a look at the manifestation of the work by Scottish stone masons. Further still, an attentive visitor will definitely notice well-bred people across the town with particular manners and attitudes toward other people. Such old traditions [do not contradict modern reality of time.
People of Fergus are very religious and dedicated to their Scottish origin. In this respect it is vital to admit that the whole town incorporates the Puritan spirits, for Scots are following the high standards of morale based on Biblical Commandments and the Covenant as well. It is no surprise that the main religious celebration is the St. Andrews Day that characterizes Scottish people in Canada. The Presbyterian churches where the believers gather each Sunday and during the week as well reflect Scottish religious legacy that was established by early settlers.
Fergus influences greatly on other Scottish towns across Canada, because its religious and traditional postulates seem to be as one. Moreover, Scots are constantly providing colourful and splendid festivals in Fergus, for the Fergus Highland Games gave birth to one of the most popular in Canada kinds of sports, i.e. curling. Thus, the influence of Scottish culture was distinct for contemporary Canada. Such a statement is stronger when stating Canada’s leading position in curling among other countries.
The town of Galt is another creation of Scottish settlers that had been primordially developing in terms of agriculture and then grew industrially. This Scottish town is known for its use for Canada in terms of economical variable. It means that Scottish people possess huge enthusiasm for making the society grow. Moreover, founded by John Galt, an outstanding Scottish novelist, the town was constantly growing culturally. Scots tried to make the more they could to establish cultural background in this place. Hence, since the foundation the town provides a shelter for Scottish traditions. Keeping in touch with Fergus, Galt participates in Highland Games each year. It provides more connections between those coming from the same parts. Moreover, in the very beginning Galt was interesting for the early colonizers owing to the beauty of its sceneries that, in part, reminded Scots their motherland. Thereupon, the locality of the place helped Scottish people to better preserve their traditions which are alive till present.
Turning back to the times of the first settlers, it is necessary to point out that Scots were among the main nations struggling for the lands of Canada. Canada Company hereby spread from the Maritime Provinces to Upper Canada. This made Scots predominant inhabitants of Canadian landscape even though they should overcome potato famine across the area. Thus, it becomes clear that Scottish people are one of those who made Canada thrive.
As it was mentioned before, culture lives in traditions, religion, manners, etiquette, arts and other artefacts created by a man. In this respect all among listed towns in Midwestern Canada follow cultural prerequisites of Scots. The most applicable is, of course, the example of Fergus. Its picaresque holidays and Scottish implementation of celebrations makes Fergus among the first Scottish culturally strong settlements in Canada. Nonetheless, Kincardine is known for having particular 19th century stone architecture incorporated in school buildings and churches as well. More Scottish traditions in following celebration of Scottish Festival can be seen in Friday night tattoo, when people make different images illustrating definite events and figures. It lasts until people are greatly satisfied. Moreover, as Scots say: the Scottishness of Festival in Fergus invokes nostalgia for Scotland. These words give ground to assume that the whole performance of celebration in Fergus is rich in national colour. Moreover, people keep it going on annually.
Scots initially laid more emphasis on two main terrains of their living, namely: cultural and religious. This is why Scots were the most active participants in developing Canada in the nineteenth and the twentieth century. It is so in present-day Canada. Scottish influence is felt in everything that concerns economical and cultural growth of the country. Fergus stays among those Scottish settlements that embrace the cultural and genuinely distinct heritage of Scotland throughout Canadian space.
Once John Ruskin stated an idea that architecture teaches new generations, thus, Fergus as well as Guelph and other Scottish-origin towns have lots of stone houses. They represent the warmth and sincerity of Scots. Architecture was particularly used by Scotsmen in order to establish the centres of their cultural heritage throughout their towns and cities. The historical framework and the aptness of Scottish people made it possible to spread Scottish culture in its peculiarity and diversity of rites and traditions throughout Canada. Due to such educational establishments as the University of Guelph (located in Guelph) it is possible to move the Scottish implications on in Canada. It is no surprise that due to such locations in the country as Fergus, Guelph, Galt, and others Canada can be alive in its multicultural character.
Looking at the sport contributions of Fergus and other Scottish towns, one can simply admit that it is Scots who developed sport in Canada in the 19th and 20th centuries. These people did their best to make their place a “cradle” for curling so to speak. Beginning from the year 1934 when The Fergus Curling Club was established Canada became familiar in the world for its peculiar kind of sport. Needless to say, Canadian curling teams are the leaders in this kind of sport. Scotsmen were able to create what they liked and, then, cultivated it throughout the country. Today, curling is a so-called “credit card” of Canada in sports and in Winter Olympic Games, in particular. Just a passion to sport evoked in minds of Scottish people made Canada so peculiar and original apart from different countries of the world. Though, many people still do not know the gist of this game, Scots managed to make it a national game for the rest of ethnical communities living in Canada.
Scottish implications in cultural and religious diversity are still felt across Canada. One can see it on the example of Ontario on the whole. There are too many towns and villages that still hold a spirit of Scottish tradition and its originality in everything. John Galt and his fellow William Dickson as well as Adam Ferguson were men of strong beliefs and manners. These gentlemen were highly inclined to establish not solely great cities and towns throughout Upper Canada. They wanted to strengthen the society morally. Today one can fairly agree with the fact that these guys made their dreams come true. Scottish culture continues to captivate people across Canada, as evidenced by the plethora of St. Andrew’s societies, Burns suppers, pipe bands, and other Scottish groups that are enjoying increasing support in modern times. Such a spectacular grounding of current Canadian cultural growth gains more admiration when thinking of it ad absurdum. It is true that, otherwise, Canada would not be that attractive to resident people and those from abroad.
Scots having settled their towns across Canada supplied it with a great scientific potential. This point of view is shared by leading sociologists. It is so because the most influential as well as largest universities in the country provide Scottish studies. The latter encompass almost every discipline taught in educational establishments. History and Literature dominate the disciplines in which Scottish research is found, although it is a mark of the richness of the field that many researchers cross disciplinary boundaries, especially those in Celtic Studies. Such observation is quite logical, for Scots were one of the first to come in America and contemporary Canada, in particular. Scottish traditions and Scots’ great desire to perfection made Canadian scientific background versatile. In this respect one should also remark that Scottish studies are present in Musicology, Philosophy, and Arts. The role of towns in which this scientific trend was cultivated can be stated as predominant. Particularly, Fergus, Guelph in Ontario and some towns in Nova Scotia were the real contributors into the national prosperity and scientific progress.
One can presuppose that Scottish presence is precisely centralized in Fergus. The whole discussion in the paper does not contradict this statement. Moreover, there are concrete arguments to prove this idea as correct. First, Fergus is the place from which Scottish influence was shared on neighbouring towns and people living in them. In fact, the question is about the historical cut of this town. Men and women who came here approximately 177 years ago were those who worked and cultivated their traditions equally. Thus, by means of Alex Robertson and different officials in the region this town is recognized now as a centre of Scottish genuine presence. It is especially felt in terms of aforementioned Highland Games and Scottish Festival. These features are happening exclusively in Fergus. In the period of time between 1970s and 1990s Fergus assigned the right for traditional Scottish competitions of highland dancing, heavy games and pipe band competitions. Thus, people of Fergus are welcome to meet everyone sharing the hottest desire to compete or just participate in traditionally grounded competitions.
Scottish people are those who can adapt to and reflect the contemporary trends in art easily. This idea is alive in so dense ethnically population of Canada. In fact, people of Canada do not ignore expressing their talents before others. Scots are especially brave in this case. Their ability to make everything concerned with arts in a fashionable way earns them huge reputation across the country. These heirs of settlers developing Canada in 1830s have stepped back from what is established in terms of traditions not a jot. Modern tastes were usually adapted by Scots in a sophisticated and rather original manner. In other words this Canadian community of people would never leave things obsolete or lack of attraction toward others. Their enthusiasm crosses boundaries and reaches the place from which they cam once. In this respect the refined and inimitable in its beauty Scottish music from Highlands charms everyone. It does not really matter what kind of music one prefers. It is never obsolete or annoying. Highland music remains a living tradition in many parts of Canada, crossing modern ethnic boundaries as it widens its appeal. This also applicable to Kancardine where people highly appreciate the tenuous sounding of pipes. Hence, Scots have a specific feeling as for the tendencies of modernity.
City of Guelph is one of the leading cities throughout Canada. It can be inferred from the statistics brought in by Canadian government and social services of the country. This assumption is not new for Scots living predominantly in Guelph. The thing is that Guelph is considered to be the Canada’s safest city since 2009. People living in the city are of high moral background and ethics as well. Scots can be distinguished from any other nationality living in Canada by their honesty and dedication toward people which they are responsible for. Furthermore, it is, as it was stated earlier, one of the scientific centres in the country. Learning conditions proposed to students by the University of Guelph foster social and economic prosperity of the Canadian society. It is even stated that in this educational establishments mainly MA and PhD students are studying to drive the scientific and technological progress in Canada’s favour. All in all, Guelph is a stronghold of Scottish potential in its ability to improve Canadian well-being.
People of Scottish ancestry are professionals in making trade and agriculture going on. They do not go apart with the most applicable means to achieve positive results. People living in Fergus, Galt or elsewhere among Scottish settlements in Canada were the first to make these parts of economical approach well to do. Scots had a distinct aptness in timber trade and in farming skills that they brought with themselves initially. To date, Scots are those who tend to keep Canadian stability in terms with the highest standards of the international conventions. Residents of Scotland living in Canada proved many times their capacity in providing success within Upper Canada and across the nation on the whole.
Conclusion
To sum up, once Scottish settlers stepped on the contemporary Canadian land, they did their best to make it thrive. In this respect Scottish settlements were the centres of inexhaustible potential of Scots apt at farming and trade affairs. Moreover, the example of Guelph is remarkable for the scientific implications of Scots among other ethnic entities living in Canada. Another town, Fergus, is known for its Scottish Festival and Highland Games that are well-known in Canada and overseas. Everything, Highland music, pipe clubs, curling, Burns supers, etc., impacted Canadian positive development in its cultural domain. On the other hand, one can state that Scottish culture is still alive in originally Scottish settlements as well as across the country. In this respect it is vital to remember the start of Scottish culture and the work done by Adam Ferguson, John Galt, William Dickson and other pioneers of Scottish expansion in Canada. Scottish participation in terms of Canadian positive development should be taken as a given.
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