by Pierre Forgues, Executive Director, Air Cadet League of Canada
WHAT IS A TARTAN? In many countries today, the pattern of interlocking stripes called a tartan is often mistakenly known as “plaid.” Plaid comes from the Gaelic word for a blanket and is specifically used in the context of Highland dress to refer to a large length of material. The original kilt was known as the “belted plaid” and consisted of a length of cloth (basically a large blanket) that was gathered and belted at the waist. The plaids were most often made from a tartan cloth, and so the confusion between the two terms is understandable.
Textile historians have found evidence of tartan design in ancient Celtic populations, some going back about 3000 years. Early modern tartan has evolved in Scotland since about the 16th century, but it was not until the late 17th or early 18th century that any degree of uniformity of pattern, and a system of registration, was established. Since then, in addition to clan tartans, numerous countries, provinces, regions, cities, military units, societies, individuals, and organizations, have created distinctive tartans. Well over 4000 tartans have been registered, but only about 500 have been woven.
ACL President Hille Viita is pictured with ACL Honorary Secretary Len Jenk.
As a proud and distinctive organization, it is reasonable and appropriate that the Air Cadet League of Canada (ACL) should have a tartan. The ACL Advisory Council, comprised of past League presidents, took on the challenge to determine and recommend an appropriate pattern design. With the help of GK Textiles in Burnaby, BC, five possible designs were reviewed by the Advisory Council and a pattern design was proposed and approved by our National Board.
The ACL tartan was registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans on 26 January 2021. The registration note explains the significance of the tartan.
The Air Cadet League of Canada is a proud civilian non-profit organisation whose mission is to promote and encourage the nation’s youth to develop and maintain an interest in aviation, leadership and citizenship, in partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces and other organisations. The colours in this tartan reflect the long association that the Air Cadet League of Canada has enjoyed with the Royal Canadian Air Force and with Canadian aviation, in general. Their motto is “To learn, to serve, to advance”.
An order was placed thru GK Textiles to have the tartan woven and articles of clothing produced for sale to ACL members. The items are now available for purchase online at the ACL Kit Shop and include a bow tie, a men’s tie and a ladies’ neckband, a scarf (shown here), and a cummerbund.
HH Russ Mirasty is pictured with ACL President Hille Viita, and our newly elected National Board of Governors.
Following a three-year hiatus, when the ACL Annual General Meetings (AGM) were held virtually due to COVID, members very much enjoyed an in-person AGM once again in Saskatoon, 9-11 June 2022. The opportunity to have face-to-face discussions clearly demonstrated how much more effective this type of gathering is, as compared to virtual meetings, to deliberate and find solutions to various issues and challenges.
In concert with the AGM, a banquet was held to celebrate the achievements of our volunteers and cadets and many of our members were wearing the new tartan bow ties and cummerbunds. President Viita thanked the ACL Honourary Secretary, Len Jenks, who championed the acquisition of the ACL tartan.
The guest speaker was His Honour the Honourable Russ Mirasty, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, who attended with his wife Her Honour Donna Mirasty. HH Russ Mirasty is pictured on opposite page with ACL President Hille Viita, and our newly elected National Board of Governors.