Canadian Landscape

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1st and 2nd couples dance the Tourbillion. 213
9-12 2s+1s+3s Set and Link, all end in lines across (1M between 3s at top facing down, 1L between 2s facing up)
13-16 1s cross RH and cast right to 2nd place own side, while (bars 15-16) 3L and 2M change places diagonally RH
17-20 1s cross RH and cast right into middle while (bars 19-20) 3M and 2L change places diagonally RH (1L between 2s at top facing down, 1M between 3s)
21-24 All three couples set and link. 213
25-32 1s+3s dance the Espagnole. 231

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

Canadian Landscape - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

Recommended tune: "Mickantrish", composed by Ian R. Muir.

It lies approximately halfway between Detroit and Toronto, at the junction of the North and South branches of the Thames River, which converge at a location known as The Forks. The city's land covers roughly 420 square kilometres and, as of the 2021 census, its population stood at about 422,000, making it a mid-sized urban area that has grown steadily over recent years.

The landscape features a mix of forests, bogs, ponds, meadows and fertile farmland, resulting from glacial activity during the last ice age. Fanshawe Lake, created by a dam built to prevent flooding, feeds the North Thames, while the Thames River itself has shaped the city's development and layout.

London's climate is classified as humid continental. Summers are warm and humid, with average July temperatures around 21°C and occasional heatwaves. Winters are cold, cloudy and snowy, with annual average precipitation exceeding 1,000mm and considerable snowfall that can vary significantly from one year to the next. The highest and lowest recorded temperatures are 41.1°C and -32.8°C respectively.

Green spaces are prominent throughout the city. Victoria Park, spanning about 7 hectares in the city centre, hosts numerous public events each year. Other parks and conservation areas include Harris Park, Gibbons Park, Springbank Park, Westminster Ponds and Fanshawe Conservation Area, which also includes a pioneer village. Recreational facilities range from outdoor stages and band shells to dedicated skating rinks and themed gardens.

The city has a long-established transportation network. At the south end of the central area, London station acts as a major Via Rail interchange between Toronto, Sarnia and Windsor, and also connects with local bus services. Historically, the station site dates back to the mid-19th century, and the present accessible building was reconstructed in the early 2000s.

London's economy grew from its early role as a British garrison town and transportation hub and today includes varied industry such as food manufacturing, metal and electrical goods, textiles and vehicle parts. The surrounding agricultural region supports fruit, vegetable, grain and dairy production. The University of Western Ontario, founded in 1878, adds an academic component to the city's profile, with Anglican and Roman Catholic dioceses also based there.

Cultural diversity in London is increasingly visible. In the 2021 census, about 22% of residents identified with English ancestry, 17% Scottish and 17% Irish, along with significant communities of German, French and Dutch heritage. Around 2.6% were Indigenous. Approximately 49% of the population professed Christian faith, with Catholicism as the largest denomination, while 37% reported no religion and others included Muslim, Hindu and Sikh affiliations.

Several historic landmarks reflect the city's heritage. These include Eldon House, a Georgian residence built in 1834 and now a museum with surrounding parkland, the Middlesex County Court House built in Gothic Revival style in the late 1820s, the wrought-iron Blackfriars Bridge from 1875, and Labatt Memorial Park, a baseball ground in continuous use since 1877, one of the oldest of its kind globally.

London, Ontario, Canada

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