Today was a Scottish day in Cobourg. As well as a day for the kids to dress up for Halloween downtown, there were also the Cobourg Legion Pipes and Drums on parade and the Mayor announcing that Cobourg now has its own Tartan. The band marched up Third Street then performed outside Victoria Hall but then moved inside for the Mayor’s announcement. There was a good crowd probably mostly because of the DBIA’s Halloween event on the same day. Mayor Gil Brocanier was born in Scotland although he came to Canada at an early age so it was no surprise to see him wearing a kilt – see photos below.

In his speech, the Mayor said:

…..(Victoria Hall) was opened in 1860 by Edward VII then Prince of Wales. To link with that event, the Cobourg tartan is largely based on the 1853 Balmoral tartan designed by Victoria’s husband Prince Albert. Teamed with that classic design is a distinctive element from the Northumberland Check – a simple shepherd’s plaid that has enjoyed cross-border popularity in Scotland for very many centuries. The colours are from Cobourg’s town logo and its coat of arms granted in 2007 by the College of Arms in London.

The Tartan was woven by Lochcarron of Scotland, the world’s leading manufacturer of tartan and has been registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans.

A special Committee was formed to assist in the development of the Cobourg Tartan: Ian McFarlane, Karen Stinson, Marjorie Hunter, Pauline Davidson, James Bruce and Councillors Suzanne Seguin and Debra McCarthy. They worked with Brian Wilton of Scottish Tartans Authority, an amateur historian and Tartan expert. Working with the Committee, Brian collected information about Cobourg’s geographic location, physical features, history and culture in order to develop the colour palette and design for the Cobourg Tartan. Also assisting with research was Thomas Irvine at the Cobourg Public Library.

The Tartan is shown at right.

Ties & Scarves using the tartan are now available for sale in the Municipal Office at Victoria Hall. Ties: $25; Scarves: $23. Cash Only, HST included.