On Friday November 11, the RCMP E. Division Pipe Band along with a troupe of RCMP members will march our veterans to the cenotaph at the Cloverdale Legion in Surrey. We look forward to playing, and paying our respects to those who have given their lives to protect our freedoms. Cold hands and fingers are a small price to pay. 

The band is busy with fall practices at the Justice Institute of British Columbia in New Westminster. Every Tuesday we gather to run through our tunes on the practice chanter and on the pipes with our drum corps.  With Remembrance Day on Friday, there is an extra effort to ensure all the reeds are functioning properly, the drones are in top shape and the drums tight. Here are a few photos from our most recent practice.  Feel free to drop by for a listen, or join in if you’re looking for a great bunch of people to play the pipes and drums with.

Chanter practice

Pipe Major Hugh Peden

Cameron Ballard & Pipe Sgt. Mike Guillimin.

MIke Chisholm, Julie Guillemin, Cameron Ballard, Rob Smith, Jack Webster Awards, 2011

Twenty five years ago, the Vancouver Police Pipe Band marched in to open the first ever journalism awards ceremony for British Columbia. Today, to celebrate the past quarter century of journalism, the now named Jack Webster Awards ceremony was opened by a quartet of pipers and drummers from the RCMP E. Division Pipe Band. The mini-band marched in head-table guests, lifetime achievement award recipients and other honored guests. It was a fitting tribute to Jack Webster who was well known to celebrate his Scottish heritage.

RCMP E. Division Pipe Band play as the sun shines. Photo by: Russ Samson, for North Shore News

The Bagpipes By The Beach Pipe Band Festival, held June 18 at West Vancouver’s Ambleside Park. Presented by the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 1525 (West Vancouver), the event featured performances by a number of pipe bands, as well as the West Vancouver Youth Band. The event raised approximately $15,000,  supporting the West Vancouver Firefighters Charitable Society. (North Shore News)

Every Tuesday, the band members of the RCMP E. Division Pipe Band gather at our usual spot to practice. The Justice Institute of British Columbia  is in an ideal, central location in New Westminster but you often must expect the unexpected.

Justice Institute of B.C.

The JI teaches public safety. This is where fire, corrections, traffic and police officers receive training and certifications. Throughout the day, various courses take place, including practice in dealing with offenders.  And subduing offenders can require practicing the use of non-lethal force – like pepper spray.  On Tuesday, there must have been a “pepper-spray” practice session in the gym.  Pipe Major Hugh Peden issued new chanter reeds to all band members, and we dutifully inserted them into our chanters and began warming up. Within minutes, most of the band was choking and coughing. We thought it was the new reeds, but soon realized the scratching in the back of our throats was due to something in the air. Was it tear-gas? I’ve experienced tear-gas exposure ( working downtown during the recent Stanley Cup riots) and recall the stinging in the eyes. Maybe it was bear or pepper spray. Whatever it was, it wasn’t pleasant.  The doors were open, the fans turned on and we soldiered on as we prepared for our upcoming concert with the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir.

There were no effects from our experience.  No need to pull out gas masks or cancel practice.  As we approach Remembrance Day 2011, our encounter with the mystery air-borne spray can remind us of the sacrifices made by our fellow pipers who served in the trenches of World War I and who faced deadly gas attacks and endured real danger and harsh conditions. We are certainly lucky to have the comfort of an indoor gym at the JI to practice..despite the occasional minor inconvenience.

RCMP E. Division Pipe Band

The Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir and the RCMP E. Division Pipe Band will present an evening concert on October 22 in Langley that is sure to lift you off your seats and set your hearts soaring.

The Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir (VWMC) is a 100 member, auditioned choir led by professional musicians that has been singing and performing in Vancouver and internationally for more than a quarter century. The band presents 15-18

Vancouver Welsh Men's Choir

concerts a year and this October will be joined by the E. Division Pipe Band at a concert at the Christian Life Assembly, 21277 56^th. Ave, Langley at 8pm.

The E. Division Pipe Band is composed of active and retired RCMP members along with civilian pipers and drummers. The non-profit society is run by volunteers from the Buffalo Celtic Music Society.  The band will perform two sets of music from our repertoire while showcasing the drum corps and individual pipers.

VWMC concerts help to raise thousands of dollars for charitable causes. It also encourages youth involvement in choral music by inviting outstanding secondary school choirs to join them in many of their concerts.

The RCMP E. Division Pipe Band and the VWMC concert will be a great evening of choral and pipe music in a fantastic venue with great acoustics. Contact the band if you would like tickets, or mchisholm@scotia-international.com

RCMP Pipe Band, 2011 Calgary Stampede Parade

event. This year was no different, with a number of RCMP divisions providing musicians for a composite band. The following blog post is from E. Division drummer Chuck Glover who attended on behalf of E. Division.

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The band was a combination of the K Division band (Alberta), the F Div. band (Sask) and me from the  E Div. band (BC).  The band was 15 pipers, four sides, one tenor and one bass, and two Drum Majors. The Pipe Sgt for this parade was Brent Blanchard, the Pipe Major from the F Div. band.  There were two troops of Red Serge members, 70 in all, along with Asst. Commissioner Peter German, and Asst. Commissioner Dale McGowan.  The RCMP was well represented throughout the parade in various historical entries. There were a few hundred horses throughout the parade, so trying to side step “road apples” was a lost cause. The parade was very well attended, with reports of over 400,000 spectators, as the Royals, Kate and William, were in attendance.  Passing the reviewing stand we played the RCMP Regimental March/ Maple Leaf Forever at an up tempo of 105 to 107 steps. The RCMP Regimental March/Maple Leaf Forever was played about every third set, so came up often.
The parade started at 8:55am; we were #18 and stepped off about 9:15.  We finished at 11:05 and it was solid playing with very few breaks for the entire parade route of well over a mile or so.  We actually finished the route about a half hour before the final entry stepped off.  The weather wasn’t hot, about 20 degrees, but there was a wind.  The bass drum was blown around several times causing me to quickly reset my feet for balance more than once as I marched.

RCMP Members, Calgary Stampede Parade 2011

The K Div. mess sponsored a burger lunch after the parade before the Regina crew headed East and the Edmonton crew north. It was a good group to play along with and both ‘K’ and ‘F’ bands are composed of great folks who enjoy playing parades on a regular base and do so around their respective provinces.

2012 is the 100^th anniversary for the Calgary Stampede so I suspect the parade will be bigger and organizers will want another strong showing from the RCMP.  If anyone wants to play a long, but very rewarding, parade with some really good, down to earth people, I would recommend the Calgary Stampede parade in association with the K and F Div. bands.  It’s worth the effort and time.

Chuck Glover

E. Division Pipe Band Member

RCMP E. Division Bagpipes by the Beach, June 18

A usual this spring, we woke up to a cloudy day with rain threatening on the morning of June 18. And as usual, it cleared off somewhat by late afternoon. As the RCMP E. Division Pipe Band marched onto the field at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver on Saturday, however, the sun was finally out. The crowd was large and appreciative of the pipe bands which showed up to perform for the West Vancouver Fire Fighters Charitable Society.

Along with the RCMP E. Division Pipe Band, those bands included JP Fell Pipe Band, the Seaforth Highlanders Regimental Pipes and Drums, the West Vancouver Youth Band,  Greighlan Crossing Pipe Band and the Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Band.

Double Beats! Wrapping up our performance

participating. This is the middle of the competition season and for Greighlan Crossing and Triumph Street to take the time and provide entertainment, it says a lot about these bands. Speaking with DTSPB  PM Dave Hilder and he mentioned this was an opportunity for the band to give back to the community. I believe I also heard he cancelled Sunday practice, so having a Saturday night to spend with other musicians while enjoying the hospitality of the West Van fire fighters no doubt made for a great late evening.  I had bedtime stories on my late night dance card. Maybe next year.

Many thanks to the West Van Fire Fighters volunteers who did a great job taking care of the bands, friends and families and to the organizers for a well run, fun event.

Bagpipes by the Beach

It’s been a record cold spring here in Vancouver (there always seems to be a record of something or another falling in this city) and this weekend of June 3rd is the first sunny weekend of the year. We’re supposed to wake up Saturday morning with sunshine and birds singing, and it’s supposed to be blue skies all day long. And it’s supposed to be warm. Imagine that?  Could our spring or early summer finally be arriving? We don’t get much snow in Vancouver, but we sure pay for it in sunshine. So tomorrow in the predicted sunshine and spring warmth, I’m off to my favourite practice spot, among the Garry and Scarlet Oaks of Coquitlam. I’m sure the trees can wait. It’s great to practice the nice sets that our band has put together and get ready to perform at Bagpipes at the Beach, at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver, June 18.  The event brings together a number of the performance bands in the area, in an event organized by the West Vancouver Fire Department to raise funds for their charitable society. The evening is by donation. Bring the kids, a blanket, lawn chair, drinks for everyone, and sit back, listen and watch the sun set over Georgia Strait.  If it’s not raining, of course.

Darleen (Miharija) Milloy, 1963-2011

Members of the RCMP E. Division Pipe Band were saddened on Tuesday by the news from Pipe Sergeant Mike Guillemin that former well-known and respected Vancouver piper Darleen (Miharija) Milloy has passed away.

Darlene was a key member of the SFU Pipe Band and Vancouver piping scene in the 1980’s before she eased out of the competitive scene due to the onset of multiple sclerosis.

Darleen’s passing has been recognized in a number of online sites, including the City of Regina Pipe Band blog and a write-up in Piper & Drummer.  I include the P&D obituary here. On online guest book of condolences can be found here for those who would like to share their thoughts and memories of Darleen.

Darleen Miharija/Milloy, 1963-2011

Published: Piper and Drummer: May 12, 2011

Darleen Milloy (nee Miharija) of Vancouver died on May 11, 2011, after living with multiple sclerosis for more than 20 years, and leading a fight against the condition that was an inspiration to all who knew her.

Milloy”]

Darleen [Miharija

Darleen Miharija was taught piobaireachd primarily by James MacMillan. Even after her competing days had finished, she continued to teach and compose, and a number of her works are included in published collections.

Before her MS affected her ability to play, Darleen Miharija was regarded as one of the most talented pipers to come from the British Columbia area.

On behalf of the piping and drumming world, our condolences to her survivors and many friends at this sad time.