THE GLENGARRY HIGHLAND GAMES WELCOMES PETER MACKAY AS GUEST OF HONOUR

The Glengarry Highland Games is pleased to announce that the Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. will be the Official Guest of the 2008 Games on Saturday, August 2, 2008. Minister MacKay joins a long list of illustrious Canadians who have opened the Games starting in 1948 with Prime Minister William Lyon MacKenzie King. Since then the Games has welcomed four more Prime Ministers, sports heroes such as Jean Belliveau, media personalities such as Lloyd Robertson, as well as astronaut Steve MacLean and our much decorated Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders Regiment for the Year of the Veteran.

"I'm pleased to be associated with the Glengarry Highland Games," said Minister MacKay, "These games showcase some of the very best in Scottish tradition and culture and are always a highlight of summer."

Peter MacKay was first elected to Parliament in 1997. He was re-elected in 2000, 2004 and 2006. On August 14, 2007, Mr. MacKay was appointed as Minister of National Defence. Prior to his appointment Mr. MacKay served as Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister. He is also the Cabinet Minister responsible for Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and represents the northern Nova Scotia constituency of Central Nova as Member of Parliament.
In his first five years in the House of Commons, Mr. MacKay served as House Leader for the Progressive Conservative caucus.

On May 31, 2003, Mr. MacKay became Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. In March 2004, following the unification of the Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance Party, he was named Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and was renamed Deputy Leader following the June 2004 election.

Mr. MacKay was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. After graduating with an arts degree from Acadia University in 1987, he went on to study law at Dalhousie University. He was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in June 1991.

With strong family ties to the local area, he returned to New Glasgow to open a private law practice specializing in criminal and family law. In 1993, he accepted an appointment as Crown Attorney for the Central Region of Nova Scotia. He prosecuted cases at all levels, including youth and provincial courts as well as the Supreme Court of Canada.

Mr. MacKay has served on volunteer boards including New Leaf and Tearmann House. As well he has been active in Big Brothers-Big Sisters, the Pictou County Senior Rugby Club and the YMCA.

A sports enthusiast, Mr. MacKay enjoys rugby, baseball, football and hockey.

"Peter MacKay's presence at the Games as the Official Guest continues in our tradition of welcoming great Canadians and as well reinforcing our longstanding ties to our country's military, said Dona Cruickshank, Games President, "It is an honour not only for the Games, but all of Glengarry to welcome Peter MacKay to the 2008 Glengarry Highland Games."