TARTANTOWN - Key Persons
Alastair is an Honours Graduate in Sound Engineering from the Art Institute of Vancouver. He has been a member of the World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band since 2008 and has appeared with the pipe band at various venues throughout the world including the Lincoln Centre in New York City, and the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow (sometimes on keyboard as well as pipes). Alastair is also a prominent solo piper in the Pacific Northwest and has won many top awards including the prestigious "A Marches" and "A Strathspey & Reel" at the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban, Scotland. Alastair is in charge of accounts, shipping and bagpipe assembly. While piping is his first interest, he enjoys playing many instruments and composing his own music.
Job Titles:
- President
- Owner of the Well
Heather began Highland dancing at an early age by dancing in the "back row" at her mother's class in Victoria, BC. Her father, Ian from Methlick, Aberdeenshire was a piper and her mother, Adeline Duncan, was a well-known and respected Highland dance teacher and judge. It was, therefore, only natural that Heather would be expected to dance. What followed was a very successful competitive career at competitions all over Canada and the US. At 21, and in Scotland for the first time, both Heather and her mother took the new SOBHD Adjudicator's examination and became two of the first Canadians to successfully pass this test.
Heather has followed in her mother's footsteps with teaching being a passion for over fifty years. She has taught dancers, including World Champions, who have won championships in Canada, the USA, Australia and Scotland. Her own travels have extended to judging positions in most of the major competitions worldwide and workshops in many locations. Having lived in various cities in Canada, Heather has taught many dancers who are now internationally recognized in the Highland dancing world and enjoys friendships in most Highland dancing countries.
Heather was instrumental in bringing James L. McKenzie to Canada and many times organized his first tours to conduct medal tests for the Scottish Dance Teachers Alliance all over Canada and the USA. She also was the organizer of the highly successful Banff Gathering, which was probably the first major competition and workshop with Scottish and Australian judges and instructors ever held in Canada.
In 2006 Heather was honoured to be presented with the beautiful Atholl Clasp by the Chairperson of the Scottish Official Board of Highland dancing, Ms. Christine Lacey. The Clasp was initiated by the Atholl Dancing Association and presented to various worldwide individuals for their exemplary life-long service to Highland dancing. She is presently an Independent Member of ScotDance Canada (having been one of its founders and a Past-President). She is also a member of the SOBHD Adjudicator's panel, a Life Member of the BATD and a member of the UKA. In addition, she is still active on the executive of the BC Highland Dancing Association.
Heather is the owner of the well-known Tartantown Ltd., suppliers to all Highland dancers, pipers, drummers and the Scottish community in Vancouver, BC. She continues to teach very successful dancers on a regular basis with assistance from her pupil Jeanette Bonar and her cousin and pupil, World Champion Fiona Lee.