Peel Regional Police Pipe Band
| Peel Regional Police Pipe Band | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada |
| Grade | 2, 4, 5 |
| Pipe major | John Cairns |
| Drum sergeant | Harvey Dawson |
| Tartan | Red MacPherson (Modern) |
| Notable honours | Grade 1 Finishes at the World's: 1998: 11th Grade 1 North American Champions: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Grade 1 PPBSO Champions Supreme: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Grade 2 North American Champions: 2019 Grade 2 PPBSO Champions Supreme: 2018 Grade 2 Finishes at the World's:2018: 6th 2019: 5th |
The Peel Regional Police Pipe Band is a Canadian pipe band organization consisting of grades 2, 4 and 5 competition pipe bands based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.[1][2]
History
The band was formed in 1976.
The band's senior Pipe Major is John Cairns; the senior lead drummer is Harvey Dawson. The band has been a frequent competitor at the World Championship in the grade 1 level from 2010-2017 and in the grade 2 level since 2018.
In 2002, the band accompanied Paul McCartney during his song Mull of Kintyre at a concert at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.[3][4]
In 2009 the band participated in the Kincardine Scottish Festival,[5]"Pipes and Drums results". Kincardine News, July 7, 2009 and in 2012 they took first place in the Grade One competition at the Kingston Scottish Festival.[6]
Between 2010 and 2013, Peel dominated the grade 1 field, as North American Champions and PPBSO Champion Supreme. However, a string of successful runs for the 78th Fraser Highlanders in following years severely impacted Peel, and relegated the band to or near the bottom of grade 1 standings in Ontario. They remained in the grade 1 level until the end of the 2017 season.
In 2017, the band was downgraded to grade 2 by the RSPBA after a dismal finish in Glasgow at the World Pipe Band Championships. Band leadership soon embraced the idea of a teaching program, which promptly started competition in grade 5. They achieved some success as the runners up to the Guelph Pipe Band, who won Champion Supreme that year.
The following 2 years saw the grade 2 band place within the top 6 at the Worlds.
Pipe Majors
- John Elliot (1998-2009)[7]
- John Cairns (2010-present)
Leading Drummers
- Doug Stronach (2000-2003)[7]
- Craig Stewart (2004-2007)
- Graham Brown (2008-2012)
- Graham Kirkwood (2013-2016)
- Harvey Dawson (2016-present)[8]
Recent achievements
Peel has fared well in grade 2 on the Ontario pipe band circuit, besting the 400 Tactical Squadron and Hamilton Police in the 2018 season. However, they lost the North American Championship to the City of Dunedin, the grade 2 World Champions of 2018.
Their beginning ensemble began at the grade 5 level and qualified to compete in the grade 4 level in the 2019 season after a successful first season. The grade 2 ensemble were Ontario champions and placed sixth at the World's in the 2018 season.
In the 2019 season, the grade 2 ensemble won the North American Championship, finished as PPBSO Champion Supreme in the grade and they finished in 5th place at the World's. The grade 4 ensemble achieved a respectable finish in 3rd place overall.
Organization
The band consists of its premier band, currently competing in grade 2; a band in grade 4; a band in grade 5; and a learning program.
References
- ^ "78th Frasers take both days at Alma". Pipes and Drums, May 30, 2016
- ^ "Peel Police Continue Winning Trend At Chatham". Pipes and Drums, July 31, 2003
- ^ Tony Barrow; Robin Bextor (2004). Paul McCartney: Now and Then. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 136–. ISBN 978-0-634-06919-2.
- ^ "Air Canada Centre, Toronto - Apr 13, 2002: McCartney's getting better all the time". By JANE STEVENSON -- Toronto Sun, via Canoe. April 14, 2002
- ^ "Drummers & Pipe Bands". Saugeen Times,
- ^ "Peel Police on top at Kingston all-ensemble contest". Pipes and Drums, May 31, 2012
- ^ a b "Elliott leaves Peel Police; Watson joins". Retrieved 2020-08-15.
- ^ "Kirkwood resigns as Peel Police L-D". Retrieved 2020-08-15.