An
historic Regimental Association celebrating
78th Highland Regiment (Fraser's)
The Honourable Simon Fraser, 18th Lord Lovat
of Fraser, 25th MacShimidh (Chief of Clan
Fraser of Lovat) and our Colonel in Chief
since 1995.
Proud
Canadian History
Historic Scottish Heritage
Splendid British Tradition
The
proud history and romantic traditions of the 78th Highland
Regiment ("The Fraser's")
are celebrated by the members of today's 78th Fraser Highlanders!
Visit
the website of the Frasers
The
78th Fraser Highlanders commemorated and remembered
the Battle of the Plains of Abraham (13 September
1759) with a dinner graced with regimental and Scottish
tranditions. The 78th Fraser Highlanders was honoured
to have Lt. Col Jim Osborne Quartermaster and Garrison
Bard of the 78th Calgary Garrison [ https://78frasercalgary.ca/
]. He read out greetings to our garrison from our
Colonel-in-Chief Simon Fraser the 18th Lord Lovat.
The dinner also featured address in reply from our
Predient and Officer In Charge (OIC), Jim Barrett.
The 78th Fraser Highlanders were front and centre
and opened the 91st BC Highland Games and ScotFest
at Town Centre Park in Coquitlam on theweekend of
Satruday 17 June. The Highlanders on Friday evening
participated in the Opening Ceremonies with the firing
of our cannon. The Fraser Highlanders with
V/Sgt Alistair Beaton, Maj Jim Barrett (OiC and President
of the Garrison), Lt. John Hooker, Captain Chris Hoskins,
and Hon. Lt. Col. Mike Redmond formed the Gun Crew
with V/Sgt Paul Keenleyside and guests Alaura Ross,
and Captain Jiri Motak. . Satruday The Frasers had
a musket firing demonstration together with chats
with the visitors about our history most noteably
the participating in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham,
and showing the Brown Bess smooth bore Land Pattern
and Tower Pattern Musket. It was Scottish weather
Saturday morning that gave way to sunny skies and
warm temperature in the afternoon.
The
78th Fraser Highlanders were front and centre at the
51st Hyak Parade and Festival, an annual tradition
in New Westminster, The Fraser Highlanders with
Lt. John Hooker, Captain Chris Hoskins, and Hon. Lt.
Col. Mike Redmond fired off a rousing demonstration
of our Brown Bess smooth boreLand Pattern Muskets.
The musket was introduced to the British army in 1740
and remained the primary arnament until the 1830s.
The Hyak Festival has been a fixture in the city of
New Westminster since its founding as a BC Centennial
celebration in 1971.
The
78th Fraser Highlanders gathered at Bessbourgh Armoury
in celebrating The Scottish Baird Robbie Burns (25
January 1759 – 21 July 1796) with our annual Robbie
Burns Supper. After a very well attended evening reception
of frends and members, the attendees gathered to witness
the arrival of the Haggis which was aboard the Garrison's
Trenchard borne and carried by Capt. Chris Hoskins,
and Hon. Lt. Col Michael Redmond. The Haggis was led
in to its demise, escorted and piped in by Lt. Ed
McIlwaine, the arrival commanded by Major Jim Barrett
OIC. Upon arrival the Haggis received The Address
of The Haggis by The Reverend, Captain (Ret'd) Gordon
Barrett. The Rev. Captain then ended the short life
of the Haggis with the use of his Sgian-dubh The attendees
then moved to the dinning area. The Immortal Memory
of Rabbie Burns was delivered by John Harbick. The
Head table was of Major Barrett, Patricia Barrett
CD, John Harbick, Capt Hoskins, and M'Lady Linda Hoskin.
HLCol Norm Pope shared in the Whisky toast. Our piper
Lt. Ed McIlwaine led the signing and piped the Lament
to conclude a most magificent evening.
The
78th Frasers were honoured to be the Colour Guard
for the 120th, the 2023 edition of the Strathcona
Cup Curling series, the matchup in curling Canadians
against Scots. The 4th game of the West was held at
the Royal City Curling Club in New Westminster on
13 January. The Cup series has been played every 5
years since 1903. The 2023 edition has 350 games across
Canada including 7 in B.C. (Delta - 2 games, White
Rock, New Westminster, Vernon - 2 games, and Kelowna)
The winner of the series receives the Strathcona Cup,
there was a Cup commissioned by Lord Strathcona (Sir
Donald Smith a Scottish Canadian businessman, who
among his interests helped with the building of the
Canadian Pacific Railway). Vancouver's Strathcona
neighbourhood and Lord Strathcona School were named
after him. Click on the photo above to view pictures
and to read more about the Strathcona Cup.
The 78th Frasers proudly employ our
cannon and muskets at
Highland Games and other events.
Click on a picture to view a demonstration of the
firing.
The
"Fort Fraser Garrison "
is constituted as a military historical society,
dedicated to preserving the memory and story of
the Regiment, and "The 78th Fraser Highlanders
Association of Vancouver" operates as a
duly registered charitable organisation supporting
youth
in British Columbia
The
Fraser Highlanders' Charity Supporting Youth Programmes
Kidsafe Vancouver
When school is out, Kidsafe is in! Kidsafe provides
vulnerable children with the safety, supervision,
nutritious meals and educational programming they
need and deserve but lack access to due to their challenging
life circumstances. The 78th Fraser Highlanders are
very proud to support KidSafe and their work to provide
a place while school is out for Vancouver children.
Click on the thank you card we received from Kidsafe
to view a larger version and to learn more about Kidsafe.
Heritage
Fairs
(Vancouver)
Fraser Highlander
Mark Dwor giving our cheque to the Vancouver Heritage
Fairs for $600. The Fair encourage students in Vancouver
schools to take an interest in Canadian history in
Vancouver Heritage Fairs where Grade 7 students in
Vancouver are inspired to study and write about Canadian
history. The students then create presentations and
projects similar to a school science fair. The presentation
and project highlights their chosen aspect of Canadian
history or culture and present their project to their
classmates, parents and community.
Congratulations
to the essay winners of the 78th Fraser Highlanders'
Prize for
Scottish-Canadian History"!
Ms
Julia Gabriel won 1st place for her essay "Why
not go to Hudson's Bay Country" with Mr. Keith
Wise winning 2nd place for his essay "Race in
the Atlantic World:Scottish Enlightment Views On Race
and their Influence at Home and Abroad". The
competition was open to students of SFU HIS 448 overseen
by Director of SFU Scottish Studies Dr. Katie McCullough.
PhD. The 78th Frasers have proudly been great supporters
of SFU Scottish Studies. Click on the image to view
Dr. McCullough's letter and learn more about Ms. Gabriel
and Mr. Wise.
St.
John Ambulance Cadet Corps
(New Westminster)
The Fraser
Highlanders donated $300 to the St. John Ambulance
Cadet Corps in New Westminster. to help fund uniforms
and training for the St. John Ambulance Cadet Corps
this month. The Fraser Highlanders Adjutant joined
Hon. Col. Westminster Rgmt Karen Baker-McGrotty of
the Westminster Reg’t with members of the St. John
Cadet Corps. First established in Quebec 1884, St
John Ambulance provides Health and safety training
and volunteer community services
Current
Edition
April 2021
Read
this article about the Frasers in Fraser Valley
Lifestyle
Special
Features Sing
with the Frasers! The
Fraser's Drinking Song
Join us on exploring the burial site of
"The Old Fox" Simon Fraser, 11th Lord
of Lovat
at Kirkhill west of Inverness
As
Mess events are restricted to members and their
guests, please contact us if you would like
an invitation
to attend a formal dinner evening. please contact
the Adjutant for more information.
We
would be most pleased to see you where
we will be present at field events!
All
events at 15th Field RCA Officers Mess,
Bessborough Armoury, 2025 West 11th Avenue,
Vancouver, unless otherwise
noted. Dinner dates may shift a week depending
on availability of Officer's Mess at Bessborough.
Organisers of outside events may change
their dates
Robbie
Burns Dinner
24 January 2024 (Saturday)
Whiskey
Tasting
1 March 2024 (Friday)
Celtic
Fest - Cloverdale
TBD
Visit
to SFU Scottish Studies
TBD
Annual
General Meeting
16 March 2024 (Saturday)
Ste
Foy Dinner
20 April 2024 (Saturday)
Victoria
Highland Games - Victoria
19 & 19 May 2024
(Saturday, Sunday)
Hyak
Festival - New Westminster
25 May 2024 (Saturday)
BC
Highland Games - Coquitlam
15 June, 2024 (Saturday
Seige
of Louisbourg Barbeque (OC's Residence,
Coquitlam)
29 June 2024 (Saturday)
All
pages on this website (c) 2023 78th Fraser Highlanders Fort
Fraser Garrison, 1st Signal Corps.