Tartan Day - April 6, 2025


We're Celebrating  200 Years! 

The Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew is very pleased to announce a special commemorative event taking place at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery (Harrison McCain Pavilion) on April 6, 2025 (6 to 8 pm). In honour of the 200th anniversary of our benevolent organization, we invite you to don your tartan and join us for an evening of Celtic music and dance! Featured performances will include the Fredericton Society of Saintt Andrew Pipe Band, as well as the Shanachie Dancers, and Celtic fiddler Keegan Manson-Curry. A special tribute will also be made to Honorary Piper Samuel Lean (1873-1953) who was one of the founding members of the Society's pipe band. 

2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew (FSSA). Our Society is a registered non-profit organization that has been in existence since 1825. Our original role was "to afford relief to indigent Natives of Scotland, their Widows, and all connected with Scotsmen by descent.” Since then, the Society has continued to support local Scottish culture throughout the City by hosting events like the planned Tartan Day Gala, along with supporting the New Brunswick Highland Games, providing grants to highland dance groups as well as the Pipe Band, and administering annual scholarships to students wishing to pursue their education at the University of New Brunswick. 

In recognition of this historic landmark, plans are well underway for a variety of activities taking place in the City throughout this year. In addition to the Tartan Day Gala on April 6, lovers of Celtic traditions are also invited to visit the Fredericton Region Museum this summer, where a special exhibition will be opened on Sunday, May 25 at 2:00 pm. Celebrating 200 Years of Scottish Benevolence will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew, and will be a salutation of all things Scottish in Fredericton! So if your Scottish ancestors have connections to the Fredericton region, please contact us at frederictonsocietyofstandrew@gmail.com. We'd love to learn your family’s story! Historic walking tours of Fredericton’s Old Burial Ground will also be offered by Society volunteers on the following dates: July 12 and 26, August 9 and 23. 

Tartan Day - April 6 - will truly be a once-in-200-years evening, as we join together to celebrate 200 years of Celtic traditions in Fredericton. Please join us for this special event. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite. 

We are grateful for financial support provided by the City of Fredericton as well as Province of New Brunswick (Commemorations and Celebrations). For more information on upcoming events, please follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrederictonSocietyOfSaintAndrew

Media contact: 
Cynthia Wallace-Casey,
President

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