Rabbie Burns Day

Immediately after New Years Day, Kathleen O'Keefe of CTV's Canada AM called Roberts to ask if The Toronto Scottish Regiment could assist the program in celebrating Rabbie Burns Day on Tuesday 25th January 1999. After a discussion with the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Julian Chapman it was agree that Padre Captain Gillian Federico would do the address, Pipe Major Rick Dade would pipe, and the Haggis would be carried by Capt Greg Paterson and Capt Dwayne Hobbs.

The day started at 4:45am at a Scottish thyme pub in Pickering, east of Toronto. Initially we were asked to sit in front of the bar behind Jeff Hutchinson, but we declined because of the optics, especially being in uniform at 7:00am in the morning.

Intro from the Pub in Pickering	Jeff Hutchinson displays the ingredients that result in a Haggis	Mixing the indigents

After introducing the segment, Jeff Hutchinson showed the audience the ingredients and how to build a Haggis.

Loading the intestine	Pipe Major, Warrant Officer Rick Dade, Capt Greg Paterson and Capt Dwayne Hobbs enter the set	Jeff Hutchinson places the sacrificial Haggis on the Hod

On cue, a previously prepared and cooked Haggis was piped through the set and out of the building into the parking lot.

Jeff Huthinson ducks out of the way as the Haggis prepares to leave the set.	WO Rick Dade and Capt Greg Paterson.

At approximately 7:20am we loaded the Haggis into our cars and drove west along Highway 401 in rush hour traffic to the CTV studio in Scarborough. There was one slight complication, WO Rick Dade is a camera operator for the Global Television Network and the security guard at the studio gate was curious as to why a car painted in the corporate colours of a rival television network was doing entering the property.

We were met at the studio by Captain Gillian Federico, the Regimental Padre. She took the Haggis and placed it in an oven to keep it warm. Next it was in to make-up and then the Green Room to await the broadcast.

Pipe Major, Warrant Officer Rick Dade, Capt Greg Paterson and Capt Dwayne Hobbs enter the Canada AM set	Padre, Capt Gillian Federico performs Rabbie Burn's Ode to a Haggis	Capt Federico cuts the Haggis wi' ready sleight

Just before 8:42am Pipe Major Rick Dade led the procession on to the Canada AM set and Capt Gillian Federico performed the Address to the Haggis. Afterwards Roberts asked the Canada AM what they were going to do with the Haggis. When he was told throw it out, he asked if he could take it?

A wide angle shot	Reverse angle

That evening because it was a parade night it was re-heated and served in the Officer's Mess.

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed		Capt Federico is interviewed

The segment was so well received that is re-broadcast that night at 11:00 pm on the CTV National News.

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