Scout Bands: Canada

Figure 1.-- The only Canadian Scout band know to HBU is a pipe band in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

HBU has little information on Canadian Scout bands. I'm not sure if Scout bands were formed in Canada like England and the United States. HBU knows of no current full Canadian Scout bands. There is at least one active Scout pipe band that perform in a kilt uniform.

Chronolgy

HBU has little information on Canadian Scout bands. I'm not sure if Scout bands were formed in Canada like England and the United States. HBU knows of no current full Canadian Scout bands. The Lord Selkirk Boy Scout Pipe Band is a grade four competition pipe band that makes its home in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The band was formed in 1957 by Pipe Major Robert Fraser and continues to have a strong presence throughout Manitoba and on the prairies. The band strives to do its best in teaching the art of the highland bagpipe and drum. Over 600 boys have gone through this band and have been enriched by their experiences with it.

Inspiration

Popularity

Members

Units

Figure 2.--The Lord Selkirk Boy Scout Pipe Band wears a kilt uniform Douglas Tartan, because it was the tartan of Lord Selkirk..

Activities

The one pipe band participates in competitions, not with other Scout bands, but with Scottish and Irish Scout bands.

Repertoire

Frederick playlist for the 10,000 piper and drummer march August 5, 2000 Farewell to the Creeks Cock of the North Glendaruel Highlanders Blue Bonnets Hot Punch Bugle Horn Wings Flett From Flotta Killiecrankie A Hundred Pipers Bonnie Dundee Atholl Highlanders Scotland Repertoire August 2 - 17, 2000 2/4: Highland Laddie, Brown Haired Maidan, Mairi Bhan, The Barren Rocks of Aden 2/4: The Earl of Mansfield, Dornoch Links, Invercauld House 3/4: Green Hills, After the Battle, Lochanside 4/4: The Maple Leaf, Farewell to Nova Scotia 4/4: Maggie, Silver Threads, The Tartan 4/4: Flett From Flotta, Lord Lovats Lament, The Battle of Waterloo, Wings 4/4: Will Ye No Come Back Again, Auld Lang Syne, The Black Bear 4/4: Minstrel Boy, Scotland The Brave, The 51st Highland Division 6/8: Steamboat, Bonnie Dundee 6/8: The Quaker's Wife, A Hundred Pipers Slow Marches: My Home, Morag of Dunvagen, Highland Cathedral Waltzes: The Rye Waltz, Ye Banks and Braes, Rothsay Bay Strathspeys: Loudon's Bonnie Woods and Braes, Because He Was a Bonnie Lad, Orange and Blue, Keel Row Reels: The Highroad to Linton, The Piper of Drummond, Tail Toddle, The Kilt Is My Delight Competition Tunes: Slow March / 6/8: Rhu Vaternish and Redford Cottage 2/4: Carradale Bay, Pipe Major Robert Fraser, Pipe Major John Elliot 6/8: Leaving Port Askaig, Dovecote Park MSR: Donald MacLean's Farewell To Oban Captain Colin Campbell Over The Isles To America Medley: The Red Fox A.A. Cameron, The Braes of Mar The Flesh Market Close, Malt On The Optics Goodbye To Skye The Duck

Actual Bands

Lord Selkirk Boy Scout Pipe Band began in the fall of 1957 at the Mafeking Hall in East Kildonan. Mr. Robert Fraser was approached by Ronald Lamb about starting a Boy Scout Pipe Band. Mr. Fraser had been in the Boys Brigade in Scotland. In the fall of 1957 the Pipe Band moved to St. Cuthbert's Church. Mr. Fraser teamed up with Doug Will as a second pipe instructor. He also enlisted Art Wooster a retired Sergeant Major of the Camerons ( of which Mr. Fraser was also a member) as the band drill instructor. When it started out the band had nothing in the way of equipment or uniforms, there wasn't a chanter to be heard. Instead the instructors whittled dummy chanters out of sticks of wood and pencils and drew in finger holes. In the early 1960's the Camerons loaned whole sets of pipes to the band because Mr. Fraser was a member of the Cameron Highlanders. In 1965 the Band was presented with pipes from the Kiwanis group. At that time they cost $85.00 apiece. Now they are approximately $1,4000. The band moved to Minto Armouries in the early 60's and got their uniforms at that time. The band enjoyed another singular honour in 1962 when, on a trip across Canada, Lord and Lady Selkirk inspected the band. In 1963 there were 24 band members at Minto Amouries. In the mid 60's they moved to the Kirkfield Westwood Arena in St. James. The following year they moved to their current home in the Christian Centre. The boys stay in the band until age 18, at which time they graduate out but quite often return as volunteer instructors. A unique feature of this band is the fact that many of the fathers of band members were once a band member themselves. Mr. Fraser is a prime example of this as both his sons and grandsons were former band member

Associations

Uniform

The only Canadian SDcout band know to the authors is a Scout pipe band that perform in a kilt uniform, with a green shirt and balmoral caps with ared pom. The band wears the Douglas Tartan, because it was the tartan of Lord Selkirk. It was a mark of achievement in 1962 to have Hugh MacPherson travel from Edinburgh, Scotland for the express purpose of measuring the boys for the initial purchase of kilts.