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Our band was founded during the fall of
1997, in the Hamlet of Sherwood Park, a community of about fifty
thousand citizens which borders on the Eastern boundary of the City of
Edmonton. It is a Community based - Police sponsored Pipe Band.
The band currently practices at the Sherwood Park RCMP Detachment.
The group is made up of members of the RCMP, civilians & youth.
The skill level of this street band varies from former grade one
competitors to relative beginners. Our primary mandate is to
support various community groups with their endeavors. Recent
performance highlights include performances at the Windspear
Centre, a world class concert hall & the Canmore Tattoo.
I, D.R.(Don) MacMillan, Constable (The
Founder & Director of the Band) am from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, a
community founded by Scotsmen that emigrated from Scotland in the late
1700's on the ship Hector.
We currently have two members that are
directly from Scotland (Dave & Gary Ferguson) and one band member on
a two year sabbatical, roaming the Scottish countryside. Many members
have been to Scotland, in fact, five members are going there this summer
(2000) to compete in the World Championships. We hope to go as a
band in the near future.
One of our chief mandates is to keep alive the
unique genre of Scottish music. In July, in fact, our band is
opening for a folk band that is touring, from Scotland. Scotch
tasting at intermission!
Scots figure prominently in the founding of
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, many of the original recruits were
Scotsmen. Our most famous Commissioner is Comm. MacLeod,
the Scottish born, second Commissioner of the Force, who was responsible
for the peaceful opening up (The March West) & settling of
Western Canada 125 years ago.
Sherwood Park is located in Strathcona
County, named after Lord Strathcona, A native of Scotland.
Visit
their web site here!
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