Peter MacInnes

Sport fans may ask on what basis a piper warrants induction into a Sports Hall of Fame. The reason or explanation began several centuries ago in Scotland.

Caber tossing originated, according to a historical legend, as a result of throwing a suitable trimmed tree trunk across a stream of water to form a foot bridge. Young Scottish lads of exceptional brawn converted the method of erecting a foot bridge to a competitive sport. Those mighty songs tell of chiefly crofters who challenged each other as to who could toss a foot bridge log with the most accuracy and distance. Hence Webster defined this ancient sport of tossing a foot bridge log in these words “Caber, a pole tossed as a trail of strength at Highland Games”.

Tossing the caber and throwing the stone was followed by the shot putt and the weights that became highlights of a Highland Games program. Again according to an historical legend, piping, solo and by bands, and Highland dancing became a popular attraction that was preceded by athletics at Highland Games.

That Glengarry County, so rich in Scottish heritage, should add the tradition of staging Highland Games was an idea or shall we say an impossible dream of Peter MacInnes similar to “Gene Sandfield” and a golf club. And also like the golf club, speculation became a reality in 1947-48 with the launching of the first Glengarry Highland Games.

The results were beyond all expectations. The Glengarry Highland Games are today known throughout North America and overseas especially in Scotland. All as a result of executive strength and co-operation carrying out the idea of the sixth of Kenyon farm boy and dedicated piper, Peter MacInnes, born August 9, 1909, the son of Donald MacInnes and his wife the former Anne Campbell.