The strong and longstanding relationship between Nova Scotia, StFX, and Scotland was again in evidence on Oct. 10, 2023, when Angus Robertson, MSP, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, visited campus for a reception and meet and greet hosted by StFX’s Celtic Studies Department and the Scottish Government Office in Canada.
Cabinet Secretary Robertson was visiting Nova Scotia with stops at StFX, Cape Breton and Halifax.
Mr. Robertson’s visit to Nova Scotia ties into the Government of Scotland’s Scottish Connection Frameworks, which wants to embrace and encourage just that—connections with and between people linked to Scotland around the globe.
“There’s a strong connection between new Scotland and old Scotland and this visit was reaching out to reinforce those longstanding links,” says StFX Celtic Studies Department chair Dr. Michael Linkletter.
During his visit to Nova Scotia, Mr. Robertson was seeking out and meeting members of the broader Scottish diaspora. StFX, founded by Scottish Gaels, remains today a hub for Celtic scholarship, teaching languages, literature, and history in the Department of Celtic Studies.
Additionally, the department has enjoyed close ties with Scotland through the years.
During his remarks at the reception, Mr. Robertson said, “Not only are we proud of our academic institutions – but we also take pride in our aspiration to build educational links and research partnerships around the world. Perhaps one of the best examples of the pace at which Scotland’s collaboration with Canadian partners has progressed has come from the academic sector. It therefore feels particularly relevant to be welcomed by our friends here in Antigonish – with whom we share such enduring bonds of family and friendship – to highlight the breadth and depth of Scottish-Canadian collaboration in this most important sector.
“Our Gaelic links have long united our peoples on both sides of the Atlantic. […] Truly the affinity shared between Scotland and Nova Scotia […] offers endless opportunities for partnership,” he said.
Dr. Linkletter and StFX Academic Vice-President Dr. Amanda Cockshutt received Mr. Robertson near former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s replica office in the Mulroney Institute of Government. After a short tour, they proceeded through Mulroney Hall to the reception held in the Joyce Family Atrium where Dr. Cockshutt officially welcomed Mr. Robertson to campus.
Attendees included both members of the campus and Antigonish Highland Society.
