Pomp and pageantry were front and centre at the Calgary Highlanders 70th Grand Highland Military Ball March 2 at the Fairmont Palliser. Coming full circle, the ball returned to the site of its first incarnation in the Crystal Ballroom at the Palliser.
The event recognized the dedication and service of Calgary’s serving men and women. As citizen-soldiers, the Calgary Highlanders are leaders in the Canadian Army Reserve for their contributions in promoting Canada’s national interests overseas, having been awarded the Chief of Defense Staff Unit Commendation in 2015 for deploying more soldiers to Afghanistan than any other reserve regiment.
The Ball raises funds for the Calgary Highlanders Regimental Funds Foundation (CHRFF) which supports the Regiment’s serving soldiers, veterans and their families. Further, funds raised assist in teaching of the affiliated cadet corps including history, outdoor skills, citizenship and music and ensures the preservation of the regiment’s traditions and history through the Regimental Pipes and Drums and the Regiment’s gallery at the Military Museums. This year’s ball raised $100,000.
Highlights of the beautiful ball were numerous including: Scottish country dancing; musical performances by the Massed Cadet Pipes and Drums of the Regiment’s affiliated cadet units; the spirited singing of the Glenwhorple performed by Capt. Andrew Pittet; the Address to the Haggis presented by Maj. Kent Griffiths; poignant performances from the Calgary Girls Choir Viva Ensemble with renditions of The Maple Leaf Forever and Will There Really Be a Morning; the traditional Grand March; and dancing to The Dino Martinis.
Others in attendance included: the host and foundation chair, Hon. Col and ARC Financial CEO Lauchlan Currie and his wife Karen; co-host and president and CEO of Acumen Capital Partners, Hon. Lieut.-Col. Brian Parker and his wife Sharon; ball chair Dr. Gregory Stone and his wife Jennifer; ball vice-chair Lieut.-Col. Kyle Clapperton with Devan Kublik; Lieut.-Col. Ryan Palmer, Commanding Officer of the Calgary Highlanders and his wife Lisa; emcee and Deputy Commanding Officer of the Calgary Highlanders Maj. Andrew Beauchamp; Justice Bruce McDonald and his wife Patricia Forigo; avid supporters Bill and Corinne Macdonald; RSM Canada’s Jennifer Anderson; Cpl. (ret’d) George Morasch and his wife Fern Morasch; ARC Financial’s Kieran Courtright with Bennett Jones’ Julia Pasieka; McCarthy Tetrault’s James Pasieka and his wife, CTV’s Helena Pasieka; Jim Bell and his wife Jennifer Ranger; Alberta Innovates CEO Laura Kilcrease and her husband Worth; invaluable ball committee members Michelle Nikkel and Linsey Gibbons; patron Dame Glynis Grigg and her husband Julien des Shutter; RBC Capital Markets’ Darrel and Debra Law; Carrie and Kent Ferguson; 2137 Cadets Commanding Officer Maj. Julie Sun; and others pictured.
The next major deployment of Calgary Highlanders soldiers will be in 2020 when the unit is tasked to deploy 15 to 20 soldiers to Latvia as part of a platoon with the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.
From left: Corinne Macdonald, Justice Bruce McDonald and his wife Patricia Forigo and Bill Macdonald.
Ball committee members ARC Financial’s Michelle Nikkel (left) and Linsey Gibbons.
From left: Warrant Officer Brad Paul, Maj. Julie Sun, Eau Claire Distillery’s David Farran and Margaret McKenzie.
Lieut.-Col. Ryan Palmer, Commanding Officer of the Calgary Highlanders and his wife Lisa Palmer.
From left: Calgary Highlanders warrant officer Paul Chagnon with Leigh and Guy Anderson.
From left: RBC Capital Markets’ Darrell and Debra Law with Carrie and Kent Ferguson.
Citadel Drilling’s Dan Hoffarth and his wife Holli.
Tasha and Milan Cacic.
Dame Glynis Grigg and her husband Julien des Shutter.
From left: Alister Shepherd-Cross, Elizabeth Stock, Capt. Andrew Pittet, Jennifer Stone and her husband Dr. Gregory Stone, ball chair and CHRFF board director.
Ball co-host and president and CEO, Acumen Capital Partners Hon. Lieut.-Col. Brian Parker with his wife Sharon Parker.
From left: Ann Kennedy, AltoPartners Canadian managing partner Kevin Hall and his wife Diane Hall.
Piper Alfred Miller and Maj. Kent Griffiths, who presented the Address to the Haggis.
From left: ARC Financial’s Kieran Courtright, Bennett Jones’ Julia Pasieka, CTV’s Helena Pasieka and McCarthy Tetrault’s James Pasieka.
From left: Jim Bell, Jennifer Ranger, Alberta Innovates CEO Laura Kilcrease and Worth Kilcrease.
From left: Grand Highland Military Ball vice-chair Lieut.-Col. Kyle Clapperton, The Reading Foundation’s Devan Kublik; RSM Canada’s Jennifer Anderson; and Maj. Andrew Beauchamp, Deputy Commanding Officer of the Calgary Highlanders and the evening’s emcee.
George and Fern Morasch.