The Calgary Highland Games were good enough for Rick Mercer. He turned up, tossed the caber (admittedly shortened), and generally had a grand old time. You can see for yourself right here. This year, 2013, marks the 100th anniversary of these Scottish games. As luck would have it, this year also marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of John Rae, the Scottish (Orcadian) explorer who solved the two great mysteries of 19th century exploration. Because I wrote a book about that intrepid individual (Fatal Passage), Clan MacRae is bringing me to Calgary to give a presentation about Rae called Return to Rae Strait. It happens August 30, the night before the kickoff of the Highland Games. You have to wonder if somebody planned it that way.