The second most photographed man in North America – a bagpiper.

As I mention just to the right, I like to connect the West coast with the East – sharing stories of bagpipers and events from both coasts.  So here’s a story about a piper from the Maritimes. My home town is well known for its bagpipers. I remember growing up in Antigonish and often hearing …

Vancouver St. Patrick’s Day Party at Atlantic Trap and Gill

It’s a bit of an unknown fact out here in Vancouver, that in Newfoundland, St. Patrick’s Day is more than just an opportunity to get together with friends for a few pints after work . In Newfoundland – there is no work on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s a provincial holiday. The bars open around 11am, …

Bagpipes for weddings, St. Patricks and Vancouver parties

With only a few more days to go before St. Patrick’s Day, 2011 is upon us, the countdown clocks in Irish bars, pubs in a box and plastic Paddy bars are working overtime. A few more days and the Irish and those with the “Irish” in’em will be joining the throngs of green-clad people headed …

Bagpipes and Americans: There’s work to be done here.

The United States may be a super power and a great neighbour, but the naiveté among some of its citizens can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. In a country raising many of its children to the glare of the flat screen TV, an addiction to video games, the histrionics and bad behavior of Snookies and pals …

Robert Burns suppers, bagpiping and Vancouver

The Christmas lights and wreaths are down, the house decorations safely packed away in their boxes for another year and the final dregs of eggnog are being drained from the bottle. It’s time to begin the long, dreary winter haul to Easter But wait! This is January, and despite the rain, snow and cold, by …

Vancouver bagpiper joins “holy grail” of bagpiping battle

It is considered one of the most famous Great Highland Bagpipe chanters on the globe, and now the Iain Dall MacKay instrument has left the shores of Nova Scotia for Scotland. The bagpipers of Nova Scotia are not amused. Iain Dall Mackay (1656-1754), known as the Blind Piper of Gairloch, was a pupil of the …

STOLEN: Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Regimental Mace

It is Vancouver’s most historic and decorated infantry regiment, with battle honours that reach back to World War I and three Victoria Cross recipients, including one for Bagpiper James Cleland Richardson.  Now the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, who celebrates their 100th anniversary this month, is battling to recover one of their most historic artefacts. The …