RCMP Pipe Band to perform at West Van’s “Bagpipes by the Beach”

The RCMP Pipe Band played as the sun shines. Photograph by: Russ Samson, for North Shore News

In the world of pipe bands, there are only a few occasions when both competitive and performance pipe bands play together. The June 14 “Bagpipes by the Beach” in West Vancouver is one of those rare occasions.

In the Lower Mainland of BC, we are fortunate to be a hotbed of both competitive and performance pipe bands, with two top-level, competitive Grade I bands (Simon Fraser University Pipe Band and Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Band) and a number of bands in Grade II, III & IV divisions.  Along with these competition bands, there are a number of performance bands, including the RCMP E. Division Pipe Band, the Vancouver Police, Delta Police pipe bands, J.P. Fell Pipe Band of North Vancouver and the Irish Regiment, to name a few.

2014 Tartan Day Dinner and concert

The RCMP E. Division Pipe Band had a very successful, and fun, evening of piping, dancing, scotch tasting and general merriment on Saturday, April 5. The Tartan Day event was hopefully the first of many more to come. The crowd was appreciative, the food was great and of course the music and dancing fantastic.  Here are a few photos from the evening, courtesy of Sgt. Ed. MacKenzie.

RCMP E. Division Pipe Band in concert.

RCMP Tartan Day Concert April 5

The RCMP E. Division Pipe Band and the Buffalo Celtic Music Society are proud to present:

  Tartan Day Concert 2014

          “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
• The Tam O’Shanter Dancers,
• Stave Falls Highland Dancers
• Scotch tasting, silent auction, DJ Pavel and maybe a square set or two.

Dress:  Highland formal, military, Red Serge & tartan.

Cost: $60

Tickets available by calling: 604-308-1424 or 778-838-6366

Getting down to business in 2014: Suppers, concerts and tattoo’s.

The last Christmas lights have been taken down, the plastic Santa Claus and his elves packed away and the tree chipped into mulch. It’s time to get down to the business of 2014.

With the memories of Christmas and New Year starting to fade, it’s band preparation time for a very busy 2014, starting with the traditional Robert Burns Dinner celebrations at the end of January. This year the RCMP E. Division Pipe Band will kick off the new year on January 25 as part of the 2014 Tam O’Shanter Dancers Burns Night celebration at the Star of the Sea Community Hall on Pacific Ave., in White Rock. This is always an entertaining and enjoyable night of music and dancing, and will be the first public event for the E. Division Pipe Band in 2014.

Preparing for Robbie Burns and world class tennis

Ah, the new year. Time to take down the Christmas tree, pack away the decorations and settle in for the long haul to spring. Kids are

Piper leading in haggis at Robert Burns supper

back in school, swimming lessons, music lessons, the list goes on. What really is there to look forward to in January?  More cold weather and clouds. Well, if you’re Scottish or someone who appreciates a great night out, there is one bright spot on the January calendar, and we can thank a well known Scottish chap for that.

January 25 is the birthday of the bard of Scotland, Robert Burns. And what a great time to have a birthday. It’s a month since Christmas and a long way to anything else of note in the new year. Pipe bands around the Lower Mainland are preparing for the celebration, with music, dancing, speeches and of course haggis. The Delta Police Pipe Band, the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band and the Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Bands are just three of the bands hosting Robert Burns suppers.