Apprpriate dress for ceremonial occasion

[Jock Scot]

Mike, it sounds like the OP wrote to the appropriate official organisation and received the official go-ahead to wear his kilt in the official Canadian tartan as recognised by the Canadian government. Canada's Scots make up a very large portion of the population and have contribute much to the nation's history...the first PM was Scottish-born!
There are Highland regiments in the Canadian Armed Forces. Kilted regiments from Canada have defended their nation wearing kilts!

Gaelic is a living language in parts of Canada. Scottish culture is alive and well in Canada, arguably moreso than in parts of Scotland today.

Like it or not the kilt began as a Scottish symbol (and still is, very much, first and fore-most Scotland's national dress) but has evolved to represent more than just Scotland but rather all Scots regardless of their nationality. Yes, a people's nationality and culture are two entirely different things. You're an Australian of Scottish heritage, as I understand. Australia has kilted regiments (Citizen's Brigades, if I recall correctly, and ar least five Regular Army units who were kilted for ceremony but took to the field in shorts during WWII) and Scottish-Australian organisations (military and civilian), do they not? Why the rub, sir?

I don't mean to come down so hard but goodness, man, what is the deal here?!

If I use Canada as an example. I have the greatest of respect for Canada, I have great respect for the Canadian Armed Services past and present, I have the greatest of respect for the Canadian people past and present, I have the greatest of respect for the Canadians with a Scots heritage too and I don't think there is a Scot alive that does not recognise and respect all of that fully.

However all of the above does not make any of them Scots of today, they are Canadians.

[BCAC]

If I use Canada as an example. I have the greatest of respect for Canada, I have great respect for the Canadian Armed Services past and present, I have the greatest of respect for the Canadian people past and present, I have the greatest of respect for the Canadians with a Scots heritage too and I don't think there is a Scot alive that does not recognise and respect all of that fully.

However all of the above does not make any of them Scots of today, they are Canadians.

I'm out of "ayes" for the day, Jock, but I can still post to say that I totally agree, so have a "plus one".

[Downunder Kilt]

Bren, the OP has contacted the Royal Canadian Legion, which I believe is a charitable organization and the organisers of the event. The OP is an official reprsentaive of the Canadian Government at this event and as such there are protocol standards. Quite often these standards are restrictive to your wants and wishes If he were a serving member of a Highland regiment, not a problem wearing a kilt. He is a civilian representing his government. A government which does not have a kilt as part of its national dress. I too have the greatest respect for Canadians and we Aussies have just as stong feelings regarding our heritage from the many countries that have populated our land. I respect the Maple leaf tartan as that being duly sanctioned by the Canadian Goverment. If the Goverment felt strongly enough about the kilt, I would suggest it would have been sanctioned the kilt as a Canadian symbol at the same time as the tartan.
What folks seem to be unable to accept is that the kilt is the national dress of Scotland and a civilian representing the government of another country at an official event, in my opinion is dressing inappropriately if they wear a kilt.

[BCAC]

Bren, the OP has contacted the Royal Canadian Legion, which I believe is a charitable organization and the organisers of the event. The OP is an official reprsentaive of the Canadian Government at this event and as such there are protocol standards. Quite often these standards are restrictive to your wants and wishes If he were a serving member of a Highland regiment, not a problem wearing a kilt. He is a civilian representing his government. A government which does not have a kilt as part of its national dress. I too have the greatest respect for Canadians and we Aussies have just as stong feelings regarding our heritage from the many countries that have populated our land. I respect the Maple leaf tartan as that being duly sanctioned by the Canadian Goverment. If the Goverment felt stronly enough about the kilt, I would suggest it would have been sanctioned the kilt as a Canadian symbol at the same time as the tartan.
What folks seem to be unable to accept is that the kilt is the national dress of Scotland and a civilian representing the government of another country at an official event, in my opinion is dressing inappropriately if they wear a kilt.

Well said, Downunder Kilt!

[Llama]

The funny thing about symbolism is, you can't control what is symbolic to whom. It might ruffle feathers that Canadian-born, Scottish-rooted people have adopted a previously Scot-only symbol, but you may as well shout at a brick wall for all the good it will do instead of trying to tell someone how they should feel the pride of their heritage.

Like it or not, the kilt is not just Scottish national dress. It has been adapted and evolved to something more. And I don't mean modern or utility-styled kilts; I mean that as a symbol, it has grown and now covers more ground that it once did. I understand the want to hold on to it as it once was, to keep it special - but the existence of this forum, this community, proves that you're not necessarily watering down your symbolism, you're adding strength to it.

But I cannot tell you how to feel just as you can't tell a Canadian how to feel. I only want to give you the insight of a rootless American with a muddled and sordid heritage. We are jealous of those of you who know where your great-grandparents were born. We reach out to embrace our past, because we know so very little of it. We cling to it, because it's all we have. We're trying to feel a sliver of the pride that you were born with, and telling us that we have no right to it - that since our ancestors couldn't find a job in their home country and so they moved to a new one we have sacrificed our claim to anything related to their previous home - telling us that is like an icy cold dagger.

[MacCathmhaoil]

However all of the above does not make any of them Scots of today, they are Canadians.

Agreed! Agreed also is that the kilt is undoubtedly the national dress of Scotland!
You must then also understand that Canada is first and foremost a multicultural country where ones ethnic heritage is often proudly displayed and one is encouraged to do so by fellow citizens and our government! The culture here is one of celebrating where ones ancestors are from and sharing that with other Canadians. In Canada you will often see examples of many countries national dress walking through any shopping centre in a medium to large city. There has never been a push here to become a melting pot in fact very much the opposite.
While I do agree that the kilt is the national dress of Scotland it is also, to some of us, integral to the fabric of Canada! Many of us are only one or two generations "off the boat". The kilt is to some, representative of what makes up Canada, equally so a sari or many other nations dress. We are a country of émigrés, whom have cobbled together a rather unique cultural identity, one that very much remembers where we have come from and that we are still proud of it!

Wear your kilt I doubt you'll hear any complaints from anyone, other than those here perhaps!

[Father Bill]

Speaking ONLY for myself, I would certainly wear a Maple Leaf Tartan tie (if I wore ties! ) but not an MLT kilt to such an event in such a role. It's less whether or not it can be used as whether or not it might draw attention away from the solemnity of the occasion by raising some of the same concerns that are expressed here in some of the minds of the folks present.

I'd wear a black suit.

After all this discussion, I think I'm going to buy an MLT pocket puff to go with my collar.

[Glen]

...it has been my habit to wear a dark suit.

Canada is a large country, brother, but in this area, among those in the know, a dark suit is a lesser form of dress than any ethnic dress. You would be most appropriately dressed in a kilt, or other ethnic dress, for cenotaph duty to lay the wreath.

The Maple Leaf tartan is also most appropriate. A tweed jacket, as you state you have many, with any long tie would work, but find you local tailor and have it shortened. A number of threads on conversion have been posted.

Regardless of your choice, being Canada, few Canadians if any would comment as politeness is part of the nature for this accepting country. Ethnic dress is just that, not bound by water or lines between people.

[Farmer Jones]

I never came here to pick a fight. I came here to ask a polite question. I have contacted my government to ask about the accoutrements, I expect they will answer the actual question I asked. If some of you wish to believe that the honour conveyed by the kilt and tartan are for Scots only, then recall your ancestors, rewrite history, leave the places you now reside, and take the traditions they exported back with you. If you cannot accept that the Scottish ways have been recognized, emulated and absorbed into new cultures and places, then the real world is not a suitable place for you to dwell. It requires a degree of malice to misunderstand and misinterpret things I previously wrote, and so I can only assume that some in here are seeking to pick a fight and exclude new comers. All right, I get the hint.

[TheOfficialBren]

Excuse me for stepping on some toes. I appears to have struck some nerves. I stand by my previous statements. They weren't wrong but neither were the rebuttals.