Brooks: Grand Highland Military Ball celebrates King Charles III coronation
Article content
Calgary’s longest-running gala, The Grand Highland Military Ball, celebrated its 73rd event on May 6 in the Crystal Ballroom at the Fairmont Palliser.
This year’s ball held special meaning as less than 24 hours prior, Britain celebrated the coronation of King Charles III. In recognition of the coronation, the 73rd gala reflected upon the Regiment’s service to the Crown and Commonwealth. Since 1910, the Regiment of The Calgary Highlanders has served in Calgary, sending soldiers overseas during both world wars, as well as on numerous UN peacekeeping and NATO missions. Currently, soldiers are stationed in Latvia, Kuwait and the U.K., and are preparing for another international deployment cycle.
Highlights of the ball were numerous including recital of a poem composed by Regimental Bard Dr. Gregory Stone entitled On the Coronation of His Majesty, King Charles III—Reflections of the Calgary Highlanders; a performance by the Regimental Pipes and Drums of a new piece of music composed by former Calgary Highlanders Pipe Major, Corp. Kevin Ponte; the always popular Presentation of the Haggis performed by Maj. Kent Griffiths (“Think of haggis as hot dogs with a bad publicist” quipped the emcee); performances by the Calgary Girls Choir Brava Ensemble; the Grand March and Glenwhorple, to name but a few.
Among the hundreds of guests in attendance were: Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani and her husband Dr. Zaheer Lakhani; Hon. Col. Lauchlan Currie, co-chair and director of ARC Financial and his wife Karen; Col. Chris Hunt, Commanding Officer of 41 Canadian Brigade Group, and his wife Danielle Lamoureux; Lt.-Col. Drew Beauchamp, commanding officer with the Calgary Highlanders; Maj. Andrew Pittet, deputy commanding officer of Calgary Highlanders; Pat Carlson, Kiwetinohk Energy CEO and his wife Connie Carlson; Chief Constable Mark Neufeld and his wife Lynn Neufeld; MLA Ric McIver and his wife Christine McIver; Hon. Col. Michael Shaw (retd) and his wife Linda; Scottish country dance instructors John and Janyn Bertram; ARC Financial’s Michelle Nikkel; and others pictured.
Funds are still being tallied, but it appears more than $200,000 was raised this night. Funds will be directed to the Calgary Highlanders Regimental Funds Foundation (CHRFF), helping to sustain soldiers and their families of the Calgary Highlanders. The Foundation provides for the needs of these remarkable citizen-soldiers, whether it’s sending care packages to deployed soldiers, funding the cadet program for future leaders, or supporting the family association.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.