Heather MacLeod
Born to Campbell and Lois MacLeod on February 2, 1977, Heather grew up on the family dairy farm near Dominionville with her older brothers Willian and Robert, grandparents William and Grace (Campbell). The family farm was established in 1826, the original Campbell homestead.
Heather attended Maxville Public School and later graduated from Tagwi Secondary School in Avonmore. Following High School she attended The University of Ottawa and graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics and in 2003 she graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. Through the educational years, Heather was dedicated to many extra-curricular activities, school sports, musical bands, voice and piano lessons, and her passion of Highland Dancing.
A former Highland dancer herself, her mother Lois began teaching Heather at the age of four. Recognizing a natural talent, Lois enrolled Heather at the Kathy Coleman School of Dance, where she quickly flourished under the distinguished guidance of Kathy. Heather danced competitively for over 20 years, winning numerous local, national and international titles along the way. She represented Ontario at the Canadian championships for nine years, and remained a top six nationally ranked dancer during that time. In 1996, Heather won the North American Championship title in Houston, Texas. Her dancing granted her numerous opportunities to travel across Canada, the United States and to Scotland. Heather’s most acclaimed accomplishment came in 1999 in which she came sixth at the World Highland Dancing Championships, held in Dunoon, Scotland. The dedication and supportive nature of her parents and family allowed her to enjoy a very successful career in dancing. Every weekend involved dancing competitions or lessons. Lois was always busy driving Heather or her sons to hockey, soccer, music lessons, or band practice. Campbell could say ‘I’m glad it is you keeping track of them; I would have the wrong one at the wrong place and at the wrong time”.
In addition to dancing herself, Heather enjoyed teaching others as well. An extension of her passion, she joined the Ottawa Police Pipe Band in 1997, and performed at various Military Tattoos, fundraisers, charity and delegate events for 11 years, including our very own Glengarry Highland Games Tattoo. In 2003, the Pipe band was invited to perform at New York’s prestigious Carnegie Hall. Heather, alongside her mother, was also a member of the Glengarry Highland Games Dance committee, and was involved in establishing the highly respected Dancing Championship the Games offers today.
Heather married Massi Tarakhel in 2010, and now resides in Kanata with their daughters Layla and Farah. Her husband Massi is a five time Canadian National Karate Team member, and has a successful Martial Arts studio. Heather currently works as a Registered Physiotherapist where she combines her health and physical expertise with the dance community. She remains committed to the growth and development of the Highland tradition through her work and home life, encouraging her daughter Layla to follow in her mother’s ‘dancing’ shoes.
