President's Message
Welcome to the Clan MacLeod Societies of Canada website. I hope you find it helpful in learning more about your heritage and what we have to offer. Our purpose is to preserve, present, and promote the culture, traditions, and customs of Clan MacLeod, while also strengthening bonds between family, friends, and fellow Clan MacLeod members.
Many thanks are due to Past President Carol MacCrimmon for all the work she has done for us, and to all the local Societies whose members always ‘keep the light shining’.
I am honored to introduce myself as the President of Clan MacLeod Societies of Canada. I look forward to the interesting times ahead and will build on the leadership of past presidents and council members. In my time as president, I hope to connect with fellow MacLeods, and also build and foster connections with other Scottish Clans, Associations, and Societies. We must all work together to move forward into the future.
Many of you may have noticed that Clan Societies and Scottish Associations in general have faced challenges since the Covid pandemic, particularly in engaging the younger generations. Our mission must be to showcase our rich and deep heritage as a wonderful and meaningful celebration. It is essential that we share our symbols, like the famous MacLeod tartans, the Fairy Flag, the stories of our mottos and crests, and others in a way that resonates. Instead of forcing these traditions on our next generation, we invite them to discover the stories and pride behind them. I hope to help promote Clan MacLeod in a new way – through social media, in an effort to foster curiosity, interest, engagement, and involvement from the younger MacLeods. I invite you all to follow our accounts on the various social media platforms.
What can we do all do to promote interest?
Keep us updated: We would love to hear from you. Keep us updated on everything Clan MacLeod-related that you do. Send us photos for the magazine and share them on social media to get people excited. We love to see what Scottish activities our members get up to.
Educate: Bring the tales of our clan and of Scotland into conversations with family and friends. Encourage them to join you at local games. Stirring bagpipes, highland dancing, whisky, cultural events, and the heavy games are infectious – get people interested and they will be eager to explore our shared ancestry.
Volunteer: If you feel inspired, come forward to be member of council for your local society, serve on the national council, or consider filling one of our volunteer positions. Small acts can make all the difference. Every effort is appreciated, and there is always a role for you.
Our local Clan MacLeod Societies across Canada welcome members to attend highland games, ceilidhs, dinners, balls, gatherings, and seasonal programs for one and all. Members volunteering at Clan tents at Highland Games, festivals, and Scottish events are eager to answer questions and share information, stories, clan history, and more about Clan MacLeod. Drop by and say hi!
On behalf of Chief Hugh Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod, Torquil Donald Macleod - Chief of the Lewes, and John Macleod - Chief of the MacLeods of Raasay, I invite you to join fellow clans folk from England, Scotland, France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States of America. We work co-operatively with the other international Clan MacLeod Societies, operating collectively as The Associated Clan MacLeod Societies. Membership recruitment is a focus of each Clan MacLeod Society, with the ultimate goal of extending, strengthening, and enriching the ties we all have though our shared heritage and history.
Young people are especially welcome as they are the future of our organization through whom the legacy of our heritage is passed. Many young adults have made strong friendships through their participation in our Gatherings and Parliament.
I look forward to connecting with MacLeods from across Canada and around the world. If you have questions, comments, or feedback, please let me know through our “CONTACT” page and I, or one of the local Canadian Society Presidents, will be happy to respond to you. My Clan is your Clan; we are one family, and together we will thrive. Here’s to a fantastic 2025 and beyond!
HOLD FAST,
Chris Hodge
President of Clan MacLeod Societies of Canada – CMSC