Bagpipes & grand piano’s: Welcome to Vancouver’s Rocky Mountaineer.

For the past four years during the summer months, I have been fortunate to play pipes for the Rocky Mountaineer Rail Company. The tourist passenger train with the amazing views takes travellers through the spectacular Rocky Mountains to Banff and Jasper, Calgary and Whistler. And this year, the company has added an additional train, the …

Thwarting US border guards on high alert for “ivory” bagpipes.

Bob Gillies classic bagpipes are safe and sound – and back in British Columbia. In the fall of 2013, retiree Bob and his wife took a leave of absence from the Delta Police Pipe Band.  They packed their RV for a long journey and as usual, Bob tossed in his pipes for their yearlong adventure. The …

Antigonish Highland Games Reunion Pipe Band hits the street again

After a very successful 150th anniversary celebration of the Antigonish Highland Games, the AHG Reunion Pipe Band returned to the streets of Antigonish, Nova Scotia for another stroll down Main Street. For pipers and drummers in the region, this is the grand daddy of street parades. Thousand of people turn out, many cheering and clapping …

Music, dancing and whisky tasting scheduled for Tartan Day 2014

The RCMP E. Division Pipe Band and the Buffalo Celtic Music Society are proud to present: Tartan Day 2014 Concert “A Highland Celebration” Saturday, April 5, 2014 Riverside Palace Banquet Hall, 14431 Knox Way, Richmond, BC V6V 2Z1 Cocktails: 6pm. Dinner: 7pm Featuring: RCMP E. Division Pipe Band, under PM Hugh Peden The Tam O’Shanter …

Six Robert Burns Suppers in Vancouver, with Bagpipers

In an entertaining evening filled with highlights, the grand entrance of the haggis is the marquis moment of a traditional Robert Burns Supper. The great highland bagpipes strike in from the distance, and moments later a door flings open and in marches the piper playing ‘A Man’s A Man For A’ That‘, the legendary 18th …

Remembering veterans in Vancouver and beyond with bagpipes

The weather forecast is ominous. November 11th is usually the last day of the year that most pipers and pipe bands venture into the great outdoors to perform one last time before winter winds sweep down and snow, rain and ice envelope our small part of the globe.  This year the forecast, as usual, is …

A loyal, generous and infamous Vancouver pipe major passes into history

The story about Ian Millman that sticks with me is the time the mayor of Vancouver announced at a crowded formal dinner that the City had decided to fund the Vancouver Police Pipe Band’s upcoming trip to Edinburgh, Scotland. The fully-kilted pipe major Ian Millman got out of his seat, marched over to the mayor …