Hi Sevenoaks,

Here in the UK, as per the Criminal Justice Act 1988


139 Offence of having article with blade or point in public place.

(1) Subject to subsections (4) and (5) below, any person who has an article to which this section applies with him in a public place shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, this section applies to any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed except a folding pocketknife.
(3) This section applies to a folding pocketknife if the cutting edge of its blade exceeds 3 inches.
(4) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had good reason or lawful authority for having the article with him in a public place.
(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4) above, it shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had the article with him—
(a) for use at work;
(b) for religious reasons; or
(c) as part of any national costume.

Under paragraph (4), it is legally accepted that a Scottish heritage is good reason and under paragraph (5)(c), it is legally accepted that the wearing of a kilt (in itself, without accessories) will constitute a national dress.

That is the law as it stands in the UK. Having said that, local Magistrates can deem specific areas as knife 'no-go' areas, because of a localised crime level. Paragraphs (4) and (5) would be suspended, but the whole 'no-go' Order would have to be re-newed every three months and is not indefinite.

As far as I am aware, the definition of a 'Public Place' is the same in Canada as it is in the UK. That is to say, any place to which the general public has access freely or by the payment of a fee. So your "Art Galleries, Highland Events, hiking, fishing" all take place in public places.

When I am kilted, unless in a restricted area, I wear a sgian duhb.

Regards

Chas