Irene, born and trained in Scotland, is now into her 40th year of Teaching in Winnipeg. She is Director of the Irene Baird School of Highland Dancing; Fellow Examiner SDTA; Fellow UKA; an adjudicator on the SOBHD Judges’ Panel; Founding President and Independent Member ScotDance Canada; Founding President and Honorary Life Member ScotDance Manitoba; and an Honorary Life Member Manitoba Highland Dancers Association.
Irene is currently Past President of ScotDance Manitoba and serves as Executive Member with ScotDance Canada.

She has taught many workshops in various countries and enjoys her teaching, judging and examining tremendously. She is very appreciative of the many many true friends she has made in the World of Highland Dance.

Irene was recently delighted and honoured to be awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Gold Medal. This honour was created by Her Excellency, Governor General of Canada, the Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson and is presented to Canadians who have made a significant contribution to their nation, their community and their fellow Canadians.

Sandra comes from Kirkcaldy, Scotland, and now resides in Hamilton Ontario, Canada. Before emigrating to Canada, she was a competitive Highland Dancer, winning many awards and Championships including two World titles, Junior and Adult. As a dancer, she has been featured on Scottish TV programmes and touring shows, and was presented to the Queen following a Royal performance at Holyrood Palace in Scotland, and again at the Edinburgh Tattoo in 2002.

Over the years, Sandra has choreographed for many groups, both amateur and professional. Her own “Schiehallion Dancers” have carried the banner of Highland Dancing with performances across Canada, United States, Great Britain, Macau and Europe in such venues as the Edinburgh Tattoo, Berlin Tattoo, and Brittany’s L’Orient Celtic Festival. Sandra is a Founder and one of the Directors of the professional dance ensemble, “The Scottish Dance Company of Canada”.  Their production of “Immrama” (Adventurous Journey) received rave reviews wherever they performed. She was also a choreographer for the show “Needfire” where she worked with Director Kelly Robinson. This choreography was chosen for the 1998 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards, and was also nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award. Her most recent work was as Director of a Canadian Highland Dance Team who performed with other Dancers representing Commonwealth Countries at the 2002 Edinburgh Military Tattoo. She was invited to return to the Edinburgh Tattoo in 2003 with her Schiehallion Dancers, and since then the dancers have danced in Bermuda, Virginia U.S., France, Belgium, Holland and Denmark.

Sandra Bald Jones is a Fellow and Examiner of the Scottish Dance Teachers Alliance, Fellow and Life Member of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing, and an adjudicator with the Scottish Official Board’s panel of Judges. Judging, teaching, and choreographing have taken Sandra all over Canada, the United States, Scotland, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. She is also an Independent Member of ScotDance Canada and Life Member of ScotDance Ontario.

The Sandra Bald Jones Dance Studio have over the years, produced many Champion Highland Dancers, who have won major Highland dance titles including the Juvenile, Junior and Adult World Championships.

Barbara is a member of the SOBHD Full Judges' Panel (1988) and a professional Member of the BATD and a member of ScotDance Canada.  She holds a Specialized Honors Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physical and Health Education from York University, specializing in Fitness Assessment and Exercise Counseling.

Born in Scarborough, Ontario, Barbara began dancing under the instruction of Evelyn Murray, until Mrs. Murray's retirement.  Barbara then continued her successful competitive and performance career with Joy (Allen) Tolev in Toronto.  Running the Barbara Brown School of Dance in Markham, Ontario for 8 years , she then moved to Prince Edward Island in February 1992 to take on the position of Director of Dance at the College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada, Summerside, PEI until December 1999.  Barbara now works for Canada  Revenue Agency at the Summerside Tax Centre and runs her own studio and performance group, the Dunvegan Dancers.

Barbara is actively involved in ScotDance Canada and its various committees. She is the SDC Executive Member for PEI, and President of ScotDance PEI, roles she also held from 1995 to 2003, before resuming them in 2005.

Gail is one of the founding members of ScotDance Canada and the current chair of the ScotDance Canada Judges Committee.  Through the years, she served as ScotDance Canada’s Secretary and as the Executive Committee Member for Alberta.   A school teacher by profession, she is currently the Kindergarten Specialist for the Calgary Board of Education, supporting, advising and providing professional development for Calgary’s Kindergarten teachers. 

Highland Dancing has filled Gail’s life as a teacher, judge, and more recently as an examiner with the SDTA.  She was the original director of the Gillie Callum Highland Dancers in Calgary, and now enjoys her role as a guest instructor, regularly teaching at the Championship level, filling in for her daughter, Pierie, and her one time student, Keltie Stowkowy.  Gail has judged and taught workshops throughout Canada and the United States and in Australia, and has chaired the ScotDance Canada Championship Series three times.  Gail also shared in the initiation, design and official legislative adoption of the Dress Alberta Tartan.

Pierie began dancing in Calgary at the age of 4 with Evelyn Leinweber and began a successful competitive dancing career. At the age of 15 she joined her mother (and teacher) Gail Danysk in starting the Gillie Callum Highland Dancers.  At the age of 24, with many championship titles to her credit throughout Alberta, Canada and North America, she made the decision to retire from competitive dancing and focus on teaching. Pierie, Gail and current teaching partner, Keltie Stowkowy, have produced several Provincial and Canadian champions over the years and continue to run a successful dance school in Calgary.

Pierie is an SDTA Fellow, a member of the SOBHD Judges' Panel and ScotDance Canada Website editor. She also has a passion for choreography and is the SDC Choreography Committee member for Alberta. She has entered groups in the choreography event at SDCCS for 13 consecutive years, placing first 8 times.

Outside of dancing, Pierie and her husband, Steve Tronnes, are the proud parents of 2 sons, Hayden & Carson.

Heather has been involved with Highland dancing since she was an infant, her mother being Adeline Duncan from Victoria, BC. As a child she was trained in ballet with Highland being almost an afterthought, however, Highland became her passion. A member of the SOBHD Adjudicator’s Panel, Life Member of the BATD, and an Examiner for UKA, Heather has done workshops and adjudicated in Scotland, Australia, the US and numerous Canadian cities. A past president and Independent Member of ScotDance Canada, she was presented with the Athol Clasp in 2007 by Ms. Christine Lacey, representing the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing, for her contribution to Highland Dancing worldwide.

A very active teacher for many years, Heather has taught numerous Champions including two World Champions – Estelle Clewes and this years (2007) Under 18 winner, Fiona Lee. Heather, as choreographer/instructor, along with her dancers has traveled to major concert locations such as the Sydney Opera House, Belfast Waterfront Theatre, Massie Hall in Toronto, Glasgow Concert Hall, and Carnegie Hall in New York City with the Simon Fraser University Dance Pipe Band.

Heather is presently a doll house miniature enthusiast having been given an large empty doll house by her students! She is also the Owner of the popular Scottish outfitters “Tartantown Ltd.”

Kendra enjoyed a competitive career spanning 20 years which included 7 Saskatchewan provincial championships, a Cowal medal, and opportunities to perform in Disney World, Japan and, in 2002, was a member of the Canadian contingent who performed at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo for H.M. Queen Elizabeth II.  She is a member of the SOBHD Adjudicators Panel, a Fellow of the SDTA, a BATD Member and in 2002/03 held the position of Highland Instructor at the College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada in Summerside, PEI. Returning to her hometown of Saskatoon from 2003 –2006 she was the Assistant Director of the Wendy Wilson School of Highland Dance and also completed her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. Now living in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan Kendra is a Certified Exercise Physiologist with the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology and owns and operates her own Pilates & Highland dance studio. 

Ann is a member of the SOBHD Full Judges' Panel since 2000, a professional Member of the SDTA and a member of ScotDance Canada.  She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical and Health Education and has had a competitive Highland Dance School in New Brunswick for the past 21 years.  

Born in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Ann began dancing at a very early age with her mom, Kay Batherson, who ran her School of Dance for 45 years before retiring.   Since starting her own Dance School in New Brunswick, Ann has helped develop numerous Provincial Champions and Atlantic Champions.  She started a performance group called “Echoes of New Brunswick” that performed in Scotland, Cape Breton and various parts of New Brunswick.  Ann’s passion for dance has been carried into her teaching position in New Brunswick, where she is a Physical Education Specialist in an Elementary School.

Ann is actively involved in ScotDance Canada and has been the New Brunswick Executive member since 1996.  She is currently the President of ScotDance New Brunswick and was the Co Chairperson for the ScotDance Championship Series in 2007.

Ann currently lives in Moncton, New Brunswick with her husband, son and daughter.

Christa started Highland dancing at the age of 9 and enjoyed a successful competitive career winning numerous championships including the Canadian Championship, the North American Championship, the British Overseas Championship and finished 3^rd Runner Up at the World Championships.  Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Christa taught dancing for 10 years prior to moving to Montreal and then Toronto. Christa is Past-President of ScotDance Canada, a Member of the SOBHD Adjudicators Panel, Fellow of the SDTA and Member of the BATD.  Outside of the dance environment, Christa has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and holds her Certified Human Resource Professional designation.  Currently, Christa is on maternity leave from her Consulting position enjoying time with her son.

Loree is a past president of ScotDance Canada and recent recipient of Honourary/Independent Member status in this National organization. She is a past member of the SOBHD Judges' Panel, a life member and Fellow of the SDTA and a life member of her province's association.

Loree is an accredited teacher and adjudicator of several dance disciplines, as well as highland dance. She has trained in may parts of the dance world and applies her studies of kinesthetic sense to her work with dancers and other athletes, prescribing individual training and rehabilitation programs by contract.

Her dance background includes competitive dancing, professional performing (both as a child and as an adult, teaching and choreographing for theatre and television. Her city has honoured her on three occasions with official acknowledgement of her achievements.

Rebecca McKinnon began dancing at the age of 4 and enjoyed a successful competitive dancing career for over 20 years. She is a member of the SOBHD adjudicator’s panel and is also a member of both the BATD and the SDTA. In September of 2003, she became the Executive Member for Alberta with Scotdance Canada.

Donna is a member of the Worldwide Adjudicators' Panel of the SOBHD, a Fellow Member and Examiner of the SDTA, an Independent Member of ScotDance Canada and a Life Member of ScotDance Ontario and the Ottawa Highland Dancing Association.  She has instructed at many workshops and summer schools throughout Canada and the United States and has judged at numerous Highland Games, Championships and competitions in Canada, the United States, Scotland and South Africa. 

Donna was born and presently resides in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada where she instructed in Highland Dancing for more than thirty years during which time her pupils met with considerable success. For many years Donna was the Director and Choreographer of the Anabarrach Highland Dancers, an accomplished Scottish performing dance group whose many performances locally, nationally and internationally included two engagements at the prestigious Edinburgh Military Tattoo. In addition to teaching, judging and examining, Donna has served professionally in many other capacities including Chairperson of the Professional Highland Dance Association (Ottawa-Cornwall-Montreal Area) for many years.  From 1974-1976 she served as Highland Dancing Co-Chairperson for the City of Ottawa Highland Games at which the Canadian Inter-Provincial Championships originated.  Donna was Vice-Chairperson for the 1988 Canadian Inter-Provincial Championships held in Hamilton, Ontario and has served on the Advisory Committee for InterProv '95 held in London, Ontario and the ScotDance Canada Championship Series – Ottawa, ON,  1999 and St. Catharines, ON, 2003.  She is currently acting on the 2009 SDCCS – Toronto, ON Advisory Committee. Over the years Donna has held a number of positions in ScotDance Canada:  Vice-President, Secretary, Newsletter Editor.  Currently, she continues to play an active role in the activities of ScotDance Canada in the capacity of Independent Member, Historian and Advisory Committee Chairperson. 

Donna is married to Gil Ostrander who is the Chairman of Business Education International. Much of Gil’s time is spent in Europe and Donna joins him whenever possible.  Donna’s son, Jamie Ritchie, is a member of the Ottawa Police Services and Pipe Major of the Ottawa Police Pipes and Drums.  Jamie’s wife, Fay, is also a member of the Ottawa Police Services.  In addition to his pipe band duties, Jamie is a popular piper at Highland Dancing competitions in and around the Ottawa area.  Gil’s son, Brian Ostrander, lives in Brighton, ON with his wife, Tammy, and their two daughters, Kaitlyn and Megan.

Cheryl Rafter has been involved with highland dancing for over 40 years. She began competing at age 4 _ in Edmonton, Alberta, under the direction of the late Helen Turvey. Cheryl’s family moved to Victoria, BC where she received most of her highland training from Mrs. Adeline Duncan. On the move again, Cheryl and her family re-located to Vancouver, Regina, and Winnipeg. During these 17 years Cheryl won numerous Regional, Canadian and International championships, including the Canadian Inter-Provincial,Inter-Continental, and Western United States Championships. She also had the opportunity to dance in the professional production of Brigadoon at Rainbow Stage in Winnipeg which was a great experience.

After graduating from the University of Manitoba, Cheryl’s career in the insurance industry took her back to Vancouver, BC where she currently resides with her husband, John Fisher. Her career path changed to sales with a custom-manufacturing company in 1989, where she currently is employed.

Cheryl is a Lifetime Member of the SDTA and has been a member of the SOBHD World Wide Judges Panel for over 20 years.

Cheryl is the President of ScotDance BC and she is the BC liaison for the ScotDance Canada Judges’ Committee. In 2002, Cheryl was Chairperson of the ScotDance Canada Championship Series at the Plaza of Nations in Vancouver, BC., and is Chairperson for the series in 2008 in Victoria, BC at the Victoria Conference Centre.

Kathy started her highland dance experience in Winnipeg at the age of four, enjoying instruction from Gloria Fenny, Irene Baird and Donna Cove Cram. She felt fortunate to compete throughout North America and Scotland, and for several years, represented Manitoba at the Canadian Inter-Provincial Championships. She continues to occasionally perform with the Ena Sutton Highland Dancers of Winnipeg. Kathy began teaching Highland at the age of 17, and continues to run her own dance school as well as holding positions with ScotDance Manitoba, the Winnipeg Scottish Festival Highland Dance Committee and the Manitoba Highland Dancers’ Association.  Outside of dance, Kathy is a nurse clinician on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, and the mother of two daughters, Stephanie and Erika.

Jennifer started her dance career at age six and competed for over twenty years.  She has performed throughout North America and in Scotland, and was Quebec champion several times, representing that province at the Canadian Championships.

Jennifer started the Stephenson School of Dance in 1977, and several of her students have gone on to establish successful schools of their own.  She has trained a number of champion dancers, and her students compete regularly across Canada and the United States.  She is a member of the Scottish Official Board Adjudicator's Panel and a Fellow of the Scottish Dance Teachers? Alliance.

Active in all aspects of highland dancing, Jennifer is currently a delegate for ScotDance Quebec and Vice-President of the Montreal Highland Dancing Association.  She also served as Treasurer of ScotDance Canada, Vice-President of the Professional Highland Dance Association (Ottawa, Cornwall, Montreal), Chairperson of Interprov 93 (Canadian Interprovincial Championships), and Chairperson of the ScotDance Canada Championship Series in Montreal in 2001.

Keltie is a Fellow Member of the S.D.T.A. and a Judge on the panel of the S.O.B.H.D.  She also holds her Elementary R.A.D.  She is a graduate of the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

Keltie began her dancing career at age 5 in Calgary with Gail Danysk and is currently an instructor with the Gillie Callum Highland Dancers along side Gail's daughter, Pierie Danysk.

Member of the Worldwide Judges Panel of the S.O.B.H.D.

Fellow, Examiner and Life Member of the British Association Teachers of Dancing

Past President ScotDance Canada

Past President ScotDance Ontario

Honorary Life Member ScotDance Ontario

Member ScotDance Canada Advisory Committee

Member SDCCS 2009 Committee

Owner and Teacher Sutherland Studio of Dance London Ontario

Pupil of the late Janet Thompson MacLachlan

Artistic Director and Chairman of the Celtic Dance Company of Western Ontario

BATD Western ON Regional Chairman

BATD Western ON Highland Dancing Festival Organizer

Founding Member and Professional Advisor Western Ontario Highland Dancing Association

Anne has produced many Highland Dancers who have won Championship and Runner-up Titles in Canada, United States, Australia and Scotland some of whom have gone on to teaching and judging careers. She currently lives in London Ontario with her husband Gerry. Their three children Kerri, Kelly, Ian and their spouses continue to be involved with Highland Dancing and Piping. They have six grandchildren Cameron, Callum, Spencer, Kayla, Garrett and William.

Born and raised in Edmonton Alberta, Bill has been an active teacher, adjudicator and choreographer for over 29 years.  His students have won many championship titles throughout North America and Scotland, including two Canadian Interprovincial titles.  In addition, his students have successfully finished in the top six in the Juvenile, Junior and Adult World Championships.

Bill began dancing at the age of 6 with Pat Horlor.  Over the years, his teachers have included Kathryn Horlor, Angus MacKenzie, Heather McGregor and Evelyn Jones. 

He is a Member of the World Wide Judges’ Panel of the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing; a Fellow member and Examiner with the Scottish Dance Teachers’ Alliance and a Member with the British Association of Teachers of Dancing. 

In 1996, Bill was awarded an Honorary Life Membership with the Alberta Highland Dancing Association for his contributions to Highland Dancing in Alberta.  In 1986 & 2000, he chaired the ScotDance Canada Championship Series held in Edmonton.  Bill currently holds an Executive position with ScotDance Canada as National Chair for Competition Organizers.  He also sits on the ScotDance Canada Advisory Committee.    

Bill has traveled extensively throughout Canada, United States, Australia, South Africa and Scotland adjudicating, examining and conducting workshops.   Most recently, Bill traveled to New Zealand to conduct workshops and had the honour of judging their first SOBHD Championship. 

In 1995 along with his teaching partners Kelly Abrahart and Jacques Bourgouin, they opened the Strathcona School of Dancing where they continue to teach together.   Bill works full-time with Sabre Inc. as a Senior Sales Manager.

Deborah Wardrope, B.P. &H.E., M.S.D.T.A. , SOBHD Adjudicators’ Panel

Deborah studied dance along with her four sisters in the Toronto area. She studied ballet, tap and jazz in addition to her Highland Dance specialization. Her academic background includes a degree in Physical and Health Education from the University of Toronto and a business diploma from Ryerson College.

Deborah taught both dancing and Human Biology for many years. She combined these two passions with her knowledge of training principles and wrote a book for dancers, which was published in 1997. This book aids the dancer in the development of both psychological and physical skills necessary to advance potential into reality.

Deborah ran a successful dance studio for many years and her dancers won Provincial, National and International Championships including Canadian, Commonwealth and Scottish Open titles. She is the secretary for ScotDance Canada and the chair for the Champions Series in Toronto in 2009. Deborah also developed and moderates an on-line course, through the ScotDance Canada web site, for members wishing to prepare for the judges exam.