The inaugural "Edinburgh-style" Hogmanay Street Party in Canada's capital, is a free event organised by the Scottish Society of Ottawa.

The line-up will include fireworks, Celtic bands, ice-skating on the Rink of Dreams, ice-sculpting, Highland dancing, Scotch-tasting, and naturally bagpipes.

Music is also being provided by local folkies Ecosse, Celtic fusion Cape Breton-style from Sprag Session and a surprise special guest headline act.

Other performers include the Sons of Scotland, Glengarry, and Kemptville Legion pipe bands, the Celtic Cross Dancers and the Katharine Robinson Dancers.

The proceedings get underway with pipe bands at 6pm EST and continue past the bells, the firework display, and singing of Auld Lang Syne at midnight, til 12.45am.

"The hope is that this event grows to become an Ottawa institution," say the organisers.

One of the key organisers is National Post journalist and "accidental volunteer" John Ivison, who suggests that the "dominant Canadian psyche is Scottish", and one that possesses qualities such as "lack of pretension about class, perseverance in a harsh climate, pragmatism, strong work ethic and an inferiority complex about a larger neighbour to the south".

He adds, "The experience of ageing Caledonian societies suggests there is a need for a more contemporary expression of modern Scottish culture than an evening that appears to have leapt off the side of a shortbread tin."

It was with this realisation that the seeds were sown for this the first Ottawa Hogmanay.