Organizer Documents
The following documents are specific to Competition Organizers in Canada.
For questions, please contact the Competition Registrar in your province.
New Travel document required for travelling into Canada
There is a new requirement for entry into Canada from Canada Customs. It’s call an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Link and and abbreviated information below:
To apply for an eTA, an applicant must fill out an online form and pay a fee. The link provides a step by step process to complete the application form. The fee is $7.00 Canadian, so nominal. Usually the applicant will receive a confirmation same day, but others may take a few days to process (usually due to same names in the system, etc.).
It is not necessary for US citizens to apply for the Electronic Travel Authorization
“As a U.S. citizen, you are exempt from the eTA requirement. You do not need an eTA to travel to Canada. Make sure to travel with valid proof of U.S. citizenship such as a passport and other acceptable travel documents“
New Scrutineering software- January 29th 2017
There is now an updated version of the Highland Scrutineer 2017 software available, which fixes some minor competition reporting issues and bugs found in the new software.
It is highly recommended that this new version is downloaded and used which fully resolves these issues.
You can download the software from www.toeandheel.com/scrutineer/HighlandScrutineer2017.msi
Please back up all competition data prior to upgrading the software.
Then run the new downloaded installer from above link and select Remove Highland Scrutineer.
Then run the downloaded installer for a 2nd time and this time the software will re-install.
Your competition data will remain unaffected by the above process and there will be no need to re-activate the software
RULE CHANGES 2017
Please note the following rule changes for 2017:
1. Constitution and Rules January 2016, Page 23, Competition Sections
There will be no general “Pre-Premier” events – they will all be one of the following classifications:
1. PRIMARY: This category is designed to assist the introduction of the youngest dancers to competitive dancing. A competitor under seven years of age may compete in this section until the seventh birthday is reached after which that competitor is classified as a Beginner dancer and is not eligible to enter a Primary event. A Primary dancer may elect to compete in more advanced category at any time before reaching the age of seven years but thereafter must continue in this new category and/or advance in accordance with the Pre-Premier Registration Scheme.
Note: Only four events may be provided for the Primary category:
a) Pas de Basques b) Pas de Basques and High Cuts c) Highland Fling d) Sword Dance
In view of the basic level of ability and technique expected in this category, it is not appropriate that trophies be presented and organizers must NOT therefore award trophies either as individual prizes or for most points overall.
2. BEGINNERS: This status is held until the competitor either a) gains first, second or third prize in SIX separate Beginner’s competitions, or b) until 12 months following the first Beginners stamp whichever a or b is the later, after which that competitor is classified as a Novice dancer and is not eligible to enter a Beginner’s event.
3. NOVICE: This status is held until the competitor either a) gains first, second or third prize in SIX separate Novice competitions, or b) until 12 months following the first Novice stamp whichever a or b is the later, after which that competitor is classified as an Intermediate dancer and is not eligible to enter a Novice event.
Beginner and Novice categories are restricted to:
a) Highland Fling b) Sword Dance c) Seann Triubhas d) Reel e) Flora Macdonald’s Fancy f) Scottish Lilt g) Special Fling or Trophy Fling.
***In respect to a “Special” or “Trophy Fling”, 1st place should be awarded a trophy or special award of some description. The trophy should be a “KEEPER” style or a perpetual trophy. All awards following 1st place can be at the Organisers’ discretion. No other dances are competed as a trophy or special dance in the Beginner or Novice category.
In respect of the Beginner category, their card will be stamped at every competition where they win a first, second or third prize in ANY of the Highland dances – Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Triubhas, Reel or Special or Trophy Fling.
In respect of the Novice category, their card will be stamped at every competition where they win a first, second or third prize in any dance.
2. Constitution and Rules January 2016, page 25, AUTOMATIC ADVANCE
A competitor entering and dancing in a Premier event automatically becomes a Premier dancer.
An event not advertised to be a “Pre-Premier” event is automatically a “Premier” event. Events confined to an area, or confined to Boys are “Premier” events, unless otherwise stated.
Add new paragraphs after current wording:
***This also applies to a Pre-Premier competitor entering and dancing in any Pre-Premier category higher than their current category, i.e. a Beginner entering and dancing in an Intermediate event automatically becomes an Intermediate dancer.
For any dancers choosing to enter and dance in a higher category, the organizer of the competition in which the dancer competed must issue a temporary card to the dancer. The Organiser must also notify the competitor’s Registration Agent who will issue the competitor a new card for the higher category.
***In Canada, organizes should issue a temporary card to any competitor who enters and dances in a category higher than their current category. They should record the name of the dancer and the category change (ex. currently Beginner dancer; competed as an Intermediate dancer) on Form 14 and submit the form to the provincial competition organizer registrar immediately after the event. The CO registrar will forward the information to the provincial dancer registrar.
3. Constitution and Rules January 2016, page 41, C – RECOMMENDATIONS
4. Maximum number of dancers on platform
Delete current wording and replace with:
***4. The organizer in consultation with the judge(s) may determine the maximum number (3 or 4) on a platform in all Highland and national dances, except the Strathspey and/or Reel, taking into consideration the available space on the platform and the safety and optimum performance of the dancers.
In the Fling, if 5 dancers are recalled for a final, all may dance together provided there is ample platform space.
Strathspey and/or Reels: one set only