Scots vs. Scots

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This article was published 05/10/2015 (3664 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A dispute about women joining the St. Andrew’s Society of Winnipeg which has now escalated to duelling haggis and drams of scotch is heading to the courts.

The St. Andrew’s Society said on Monday it has decided to go to court after a dissident group of members announced it is organizing a men’s only dinner.

Arthur Stacey, vice president of the society, said it has no choice but to go to court to protect the society’s interests and mandate.

“The action of the dissident group is a direct attack on our fundraising efforts,” he said.

“It’s our most significant fundraising event of the year for the society. It helps us continue to promote and preserve Scottish heritage and culture.

“These actions we cannot just ignore.”

Stacey said they have instructed their lawyer to initiate court action and he expects it will be filed in the next few days.

James Christie, the society’s president, said in a statement the dispute “is far more than a minor unpleasantness among differing factors.

“Whenever self perceived, entrenched and entitled privilege seeks to undermine due process in any society, the whole fragile structure of all we hold dear is at risk.”

A spokesman for the dissidents could not be reached for comment.

The St. Andrew’s Society was created in 1871 — two years before Winnipeg was incorporated — and has had numerous illustrious members through the years from founding president Donald Smith and second president Andrew Bannatyne, right up to former NDP MP and MLA Bill Blaikie.

This year’s dinner is scheduled for Nov. 20, one week early because of the Grey Cup being held in Winnipeg, at the Fort Garry Hotel. Guest speaker is Ken McGoogan, author of How the Scots Invented Canada.

For decades the club had been open only to men as members, but after a meeting of the membership last year, a motion was approved that women could join. Last month, four women were accepted into the society and there are more who have applied.

But a group of members, including former presidents, has been objecting for the last year saying not all of the membership had been consulted or voted on the motion.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca