Published on:
03
September 2009
Delegates from Nova Scotia will be celebrating their connection to Clackmannanshire on 11 September. In the spirit of Homecoming, the visitors will be spending the day in the county. The group of 48 from the Canadian province are led by Ian Russell, who emigrated to Nova Scotia from central Scotland four years ago.
The visit will begin at 9.30, when Provost Derek Stewart will welcome the delegates at Menstrie Gardens - to be renamed Nova Scotia Gardens. There will be an exchange of flags and the flags will be raised to the accompaniment of Bowmar Pipe Band. Mrs Cindy Baker, the widow of Canadian Minister Michael Baker, will plant a maple tree in the gardens.
The group will then continue to Menstrie Castle, once the home of Sir William Alexander, the poet and statesman who founded Nova Scotia. Here Mrs Baker will unveil a plaque in her husband's memory. This will be followed by a visit to Menstrie Primary School, where the pupils will give the visitors a tour and there will be a question and answer session. The group will then attend a kilt-folding demonstration and whisky tasting, before spending the afternoon touring the Tower Trail and visiting Diageo's factories.
Mr Les Sharp, Chair of Menstrie Community Council, said " We hope that this visit from Nova Scotia will strengthen the links between our two communities both socially and through business. It is an honour that our small village is able to host this historic event and hope that it may be the first of many mutual visits."
Provost Stewart added, "I'm delighted to welcome the visitors from Canada. We have so much history and heritage to share that I'm sure everyone will find the visit enlightening. Clackmannanshire is worth a visit from near or far and I'd encourage everyone to come and see what we have to offer."
Visitors from our French and Spanish twin towns will be in attendance. From Vendargues in France: Michele Garcia (Councillor with responsibility for twinning), Marie Navarro (Councillor with responsibility for social services) and Patricia Martinez (Councillor). From Espartinas in Spain: Domingo Salado (Mayor), Antonio del Barco (Finance Officer) and Juan Torrecillas (Finance Officer with responsibility for twinning).