SFU Research Centre for Scottish Studies

10/08/2026

The SFU Research Centre for Scottish Studies invites you to join us for the St. Andrew's and Caledonian Society Lecture - "Scottish Studies in Canada: Past, Present & Futures".

-Saturday, November 14th (1:30-4:30 PM)
-Scottish Cultural Centre (Vancouver, B.C.)

-Talks by Drs. Leith Davis, Kevin James, and Don Nerbas
-Music by The Sybaritic Scots

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/scottish-studies-in-canada-past-present-futures-tickets-2003095754323?aff=oddtdtcreator

SFU Alumni
ScotFestBC: The British Columbia Highland Games

10/06/2026

Check out this wonderful photo of Professor Leith Davis and members of the Sybaritic String Band at TAIWANfest 2026 last month.

Professor Davis’s lecture, "Before Outlander: Remembering the Jacobites in Scottish History", was accompanied by music from the Sybaritic String Band, creating a memorable celebration of Scottish history and culture.

Many thanks to Lenora Hayman for sharing the photo, which originally accompanied her article, “TAIWANfest26: A Fun Weekend,” in the October issue of Today's Senior Newsmagazine.
www.todaysseniornewsmagazine.com

10/01/2026

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was taken in by the Cottingley Fairy hoax created by 16-year-old and nine year-old girls. How did these girls fool the creator of Sherlock Holmes? Watch this video and find out.

The photographs of fairies taken in Cottingley, Bradford, were made...

09/29/2026

As Halloween approaches, it's worth revisiting the rich Scottish traditions behind the season.

This fascinating article explores the origins of Samhainn, the Gaelic festival that marked the end of the harvest and inspired customs such as guising, bonfires, and carved tumshie lanterns. A great read for anyone interested in Scotland's cultural heritage.

Read the story.

Discover some of the traditional ways Hallowe'en, or Samhainn, has been celebrated in Scotland.

09/22/2026

Sir Walter Scott passed away on September 21st, 1832. Check out this poignant post about his final days.

In his final days at Abbotsford, Sir Walter Scott was too ill to climb the stairs to his bedroom.

Instead, he lay on a camp bed beside the dining room window, where he could watch and listen to the River Tweed flowing past below.

The familiar sights and sounds of the Borders were among the last things he experienced, 194 years ago today.

There is something deeply poignant in imagining Scott there: listening to the Tweed he knew so well, surrounded by the place he had made his home, with the landscape of Scotland just beyond the window.

If you are lucky enough to be local, perhaps take a moment today to experience the landscape as Scott did. Wrap up, take a walk around the estate, and stroll along the Tweed — the same river that was with him in his final days.

Remembering Sir Walter Scott, 1771–1832.

Image: A View of Abbotsford from across the Tweed - Elizabeth Wemyss Nasmyth

09/17/2026

At Vancouver Ceilidh, live fiddle music and easy Scottish country dances are drawing young crowds to Marpole's Scottish Cultural Centre.

09/15/2026

Before braille, Scotland’s 19th-century educators, printers, and inventors devised various systems of reading by touch for people with visual disabilities. Check out this engaging article from the National Library of Scotland as it discusses raised-letter books, embossed alphabets, and even a “string alphabet”.

Explore the history of reading by touch for blind readers in nineteenth century Scotland.

09/10/2026

Love literature and want to explore Scotland? Check out treks like the Walter Scott Way, Rob Roy Way, Burns Trail, and more from the Scottish Book Trust.
Read more.

Aside from golf, wh**ky and tartan, Scotland’s natural beauty and contributions to the world of literature have fixed this small, windswept country in the imaginations of travellers worldwide.

09/08/2026

Spend an evening with two of Scotland's most renowned contemporary writers at Vancouver Writers Fest. Douglas Stuart and Damian Bar will be at St. Andrew's Wesley United Church on October 23rd to discuss their recent novels.
Learn more/get tickets.
https://www.showpass.com/2026-festival-65/

09/04/2026

Professor Leith Davis’ upcoming talk at TAIWANfest, "Before Outlander: Remembering the Jacobites in Scottish History" has been featured in Pancouver!
Don’t miss your chance to hear how literature, music, and oral traditions have shaped our understanding of the Jacobite movement for more than 300 years.
-Happening September 7th (4:30-6 PM) at the Vancouver Playhouse (Annex)
-Free admission

Learn more:

Dr. Leith Davis and members of the Sybaritic String Band present a musical interpretation and lecture of the Jacobites in Scottish History.