The Highland Dancers' Association of Ontario is a volunteer parent organization founded in 1949 to promote Highland Dance and Scottish culture and to improve the conditions for dancers at Highland games in Ontario. Today it continues as a volunteer parent association dedicated to the same goals.

 

Our Mission Statement:

 

To promote interest in and appreciation of the ancient tradition of Highland Dancing.

 

To sponsor exhibitions and competitions of Highland Dancers, and to offer, grant or contribute towards prizes, awards and distinctions.

 

To co-operate with other organizations having similar to, in whole or in part, the objectives of the H.D.A.O.

 

To do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objectives.

 

One of our first steps was to become associated with the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing in Edinburgh, Scotland. The SOBHD is the worldwide governing body for Highland Dance.

 

In 1953, the H.D.A.O. received its Charter from the Province of Ontario and in 1999 we became a Registered Charitable Organization.

 

Over the past 59 years we have worked to promote Highland Dancing in Ontario by organising Highland Dance competitions. We run three indoor Dance Competitions, two Highland Competition in February and March and a Nationals Dance Competition in November. As well, we are proud to present the Ontario Closed Championship, the oldest Championship in Ontario, which, since 1974 has served as the Selection Meet for the Canadian Championships.

 

We also organise the Highland Dance competitions for many of the Ontario Highland Games including  the Cobourg Scottish Festival & Highland Games, the Caledonia Celtic Festival, the Kincardine Scottish Festival & Highland Games, the Cambridge Scottish Festival, the Uxbridge Scottish Festival and the Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games.