Canadian tartans

**Riverkilt** · 2nd April 10, 11:08 PM

For sure would be interested in the Eastern Townships tartan. My maternal line goes back to that area - Philipsburg, Quebec and Highgate, Vermont...a mix of Loyalists and Palatine Germans. Border kept being resurveyed back when and nationalities changed.

On my father's side been looking for a Gillis tartan. The Gillis clan was one of the first on Cape Breton Island and my great great grandfather married one of the many Mary Gillis's running around. I know some use the Gillies tartan. But found that J. Andrea designed a Gillis tartan for for St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S. Just its only been done as a computer background - did find his sister a few years ago and she said its never actually been woven.

**CMcG** · 3rd April 10, 05:51 AM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

For sure would be interested in the Eastern Townships tartan. <snip>

On page 11 of this newsletter from Kinnear's Mills, there is a bit more info about the Eastern Townshipper's Tartan. Apparently it was recognized by the Lord Lyon, so you might check there. I think there is a charge for those searches though...

Here is the best I could do for an image:

Any historians or tartan experts care to help with this one?

**Lallans** · 3rd April 10, 06:39 AM

Originally Posted by CMcG

On page 11 of this newsletter from Kinnear's Mills, there is a bit more info about the Eastern Townshipper's Tartan. Apparently it was recognized by the Lord Lyon, so you might check there. I think there is a charge for those searches though...

Here is the best I could do for an image:

Any historians or tartan experts care to help with this one?

Amazing, CmcG!

That image is definitely the Eastern Townships tartan, more white in it than I had remembered, but that IS the predominate local colour for about half the year

. I was given a scarf made of the kilt material and have it put away somewhere. Memory is a funny thing but I do have a very clear memory that the tartan was developed and registered by a woman, because I remember a writeup about her in The Sherbrooke Record, and also her appearing at cultural events etc. I must have missed a step somewhere; she must have taken up the cause. Well, I was quite young at the time.

I'm told that an image of the tartan is used by an organization called the Townshippers Association; I'll be getting someone to put me in touch with them, since they might be another source of information. Also, that is one great link, one I managed to miss myself and which I'll be sharing with fellow Appalachians exiles. Thanks very much for that.

**CMcG** · 3rd April 10, 11:16 AM

I'm sad that my University (York) doesn't have a tartan but here are the ones I found:

Queen's University:

University of Alberta (I believe we have a UofA prof amongst the rabble, I hope he's reading this!):

University of Calgary:

Laurentian University:

St. Francis Xavier University:

**NewGuise** · 3rd April 10, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by CMcG

(I believe we have a UofA prof amongst the rabble, I hope he's reading this!)

(Of course he is! And he has posted a picture of a dress in this same tartan in an earlier thread started by CDNSushi.)

**fluter** · 3rd April 10, 07:02 PM

If anyone does not yet know about Matt Newsome's excellent District Tartans Web site, please check it out. You may find a few more tartans under Tartan Finder> Canadian.

Alas, I don't see an Eastern Townships, nor did I find it in a couple of other tartan listings.

**Manitoban Keith** · 3rd April 10, 07:19 PM

actually one of the next kilts i will get will be in Brandon of Manitoba tartan, the city i've lived in for the past several years

**ccga3359** · 3rd April 10, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by fluter

If anyone does not yet know about Matt Newsome's excellent District Tartans Web site, please check it out. You may find a few more tartans under Tartan Finder> Canadian.

Alas, I don't see an Eastern Townships, nor did I find it in a couple of other tartan listings.

Thanks for the link. Alas the Ontario shown is that of Ensign of and not the Official tartan. Probably only important to me.

**CMcG** · 4th April 10, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by NewGuise

(Of course he is! And he has posted a picture of a dress in this same tartan in an earlier thread started by CDNSushi.)

I'm reposting that pic here because I've been having a hard time finding any Canadian tartan (except Maple Leaf) in a kilt! NewGuise mentioned in the other thread that he might be more inclined to get a tie in the UofA tartan... let's open this up: does anyone have photographs of anything (kilt, trews, tie, scarf, doily, etc) in a Canadian tartan?

**ccga3359** · 4th April 10, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by CMcG

let's open this up: does anyone have photographs of anything (kilt, trews, tie, scarf, doily, etc) in a Canadian tartan?

Soon, very soon I'll have a kilt in Official Ontario which since I had to have it custom woven might be the only kilt in this tartan. I'm sure some of the BC rabble have kilts in their provincial tartan, and I sure there's more than a few in Nova Scotia. Bear Kilts of BC, I believe sold kilts in provincial tartans. Burnett's & Struth has offered provincial tartans in the past. A quick check of their online inventory lists BC and Maple Leaf 16oz casuals availiable.