BAND WEBSITE: http://www.calgaryfirepipesanddrums.com
Your name and Position?
Lt. Paul Wilkinson, President
How long have you been with Calgary Fire Department Pipes and Drums?
20 years with the department, one of four founding members of the Piping Society in 2000.
Calgary Fire Department Pipes and Drums were established in 2005 but it was born out of another organization. Can you tell us how and why the change occurred?
We began the organization with four pipers and in all honesty we thought that might be as large as it would ever get. Since the word "band" seemed a bit much for four guys we went with "society". Technically the society is still functioning as the governing body for the band. We are registered as an official “Society" with the Provincial Government of Alberta.
The 4 original members of the Piping Society
Where the goals or objectives for the Piping Society different that that of the Fire Department Pipes and Drums?
We originally went with "society" to give our small group some credibility; we thought it sounded a bit more dignified than "those four pipers from the Fire Dept." As for changing goals or objectives, our original goal was to supply Fire Department pipers for Fire Department funerals. While our role as a Fire Department band has certainly expanded, the original goal remains the same.
You guys pay tribute to history with the design of your coat of arms can you tell us how you guys came to design the Coat of Arms?
Honestly, we could write a book on the design of our Coat of Arms....it was a long drawn out affair with almost everyone contributing something. The guiding principal that was very important to us was to have a connection to our past. We know that pipers and drummers have been in and around the Calgary Fire Department for over a hundred years so reflecting that history was very important to us. The design is based on a hose coupling competition awarded in the 1920's. We also owe a great deal to a handful of civilians who also contributed their time and talent.
Hose Coupling Competition Award Calgary Fire Department Pipes and Drums Coat of Arms
How many members are in your band?
We presently have 11 members and a handful of student pipers and drummers.
How many were there when the Society formed?
Four
Did you lose or gain members when you guys changed to the fire department name?
No, like any group, people have come and gone, we’ve had as many as 16, but the name change was not a factor.
Can you tell us about the Memorial Fund you guys have established?
The Memorial fund was established to help us cover the personal costs of our members traveling to play at a line of duty death or a firefighter(s) memorial. It was established shortly after we were asked to play for the line of duty deaths of two firefighters in Winnipeg, Manitoba. While the department and our local certainly helped out with getting our band there, our members were still shelling out hundreds of dollars each to attend. As you know there is not a lot of time between the death of a firefighter and the funeral so having the funding already in place makes our ability to commit to something like that a lot easier. We have received corporate and private donations since its inception and we also contribute ourselves with fundraisers etc.
Do you guys hold fundraisers for the band?
We have two major fundraisers; a "Christmas Ceilidh" when every fall we invite a wide variety of entertainment to perform, at what is basically a big house party. We also host a "Rig Pull" every spring (for more info on that, please check with our friends in Orlando, that's who we stole the idea from).
Does the Fire Department or the Local support the band financially?
Both the department and the local have been big supporters of our band, we are very grateful for their support, financial and otherwise.
Are you guys strictly Calgary Firefighters?
Yes, we are all firefighters employed with the City of Calgary. We have had, and our bylaws allow, civilian members to play with us as an instructor or as a guest.
What was your first performance as a band?
That's very hard to say, our band slowly evolved from a group of pipers to a band, so an actual start date would be hard to pick.
How where you guys received?
We have always been well received....well, at least people have always been nice to us and said nice things.....to our face anyway.
What are some of the larger events you guys like to play?
I'm not sure "like to play" can be put in the same question as "large events" We have played in front of ten thousand for the home opener of the Calgary Roughnecks Lacrosse season and we were nervous wrecks and this summer we are making an appearance in the Stampede Parade, we're talking hundreds of thousands and a TV audience of millions.....I'm breathing into a paper bag right now just thinking about it.
Calgary Fire Department Pipes and Drums Playing at the Calgary Roughnecks Game
What are some of the bands favorite local events you guys like to play?
We do over well over 30 events a year and we have an exceptional group of guys. While we occasionally have "disagreements" for the most part we have a lot of laughs and try not to take ourselves too seriously. In other words we try and have fun where ever we go.
How did you go about approaching the Chief about starting a Pipe and Drum band?
When we started the band, we had a different Chief and while we asked for his support, and the support of local 255, we probably would have gone ahead with some type of pipe band regardless. Fortunately the former Chief, his successor, administration as well as Local 255 continue to be very supportive of our group.
What was his reaction?
Very positive
Do you think there is any difference between United States fire Service bands and Canadian fire service bands?
The only difference I see is that the American bands tend to lean toward the Irish traditions while the Canadian reflect their Scottish roots. Other than that, firefighters are firefighters.
In the US we are experiencing a huge increase in Pipe and Drum bands as well as Piping and Drumming in general are you guys experiencing the same things in Canada?
Yes, while perhaps not to the extent you are seeing in the States. Canadians have a strong tradition of piping already. There are probably 6 to 8 pipe bands active in Calgary alone. The Calgary Police Service and Calgary Highlanders (military) are both large, excellent pipe bands and then there are at least 6 civilian bands of various sizes and skill levels.
Can someone with no musical experience take lessons with your band?
Are there some minimum qualifications to join the band?
Everyone employed by the Fire Department is welcome. We ask that anyone interested in joining our band take private lessons and learn at least the basics of piping and drumming before coming out to practices. When they do show up, they are evaluated by our Pipe Major and/or Drum Sergeant and then slowly integrated into our group based on their level of play and the events we are involved in. We do try and avoid the "drone only" players and make sure that everyone contributes.
When do you allow a student to perform in public with the band or when do they become a full performing member?
It's at the Pipe Major’s discretion.
Was there a defining moment for your band, the moment you guys knew you were doing great things?
I can't speak for the band about defining moments; I think everyone has their own. I can certainly point to a time when I personally thought "hey, this has become a real pipe band". It was at the "West Vancouver Firefighters - Pipes by the Sea" concert in the spring of 2007. We shared the stage with some of the best Police, Military and Civilian Pipe Bands in British Columbia.
What is the history behind "Morley's March"?
At the request of our band's piping instructor, Mary Ann Houston, Vancouver piper and writer J. L. McWilliams wrote a 6/8 March and very generously presented the unnamed tune to us in the spring of 2005. Our band members agreed to name the tune:
"Morley's March; The Official March Past of the Calgary Fire Department Pipes & Drums"
John Morley James was a popular Calgary Firefighter who was killed fighting a hotel fire on July 13, 1992. Morley is the most recent Calgary Firefighter to be taken from us "on duty" and is one of nine comrades we have lost to "line of duty" deaths. We have also lost countless others to a variety of cancers directly caused by the environment we work in. Morley's March is dedicated to all Calgary Firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the the lives and property of the citizens of Calgary.
The band with J.L. McWilliams at Ambleside Beach in 2007
When the band started out I assume there was a vision of what it would turn into. Has the vision become a reality?
Our Vision when we started was matching uniforms....So we have gone way beyond anything we could have imagined
You guys wear the “Calgary Tartan” can you give us some insight as to the design and meaning of the tartan?
The tartan was a project of the St Andrew Caledonian Society (Calgary has a rich Scottish history). We were just in the right place at the right time and managed to be the first band to grab onto it.
The tartan's colours represent:
RED - a Calgary colour from the North West Mounted Police
BLUE - for Calgary's rivers - the Bow and Elbow
YELLOW - for the prairie and wheat fields that are found to the east
GREY - for the Rocky Mountains to the west
BLACK - for the oil and gas industry which has made Calgary prosper
WHITE - represents Calgary's pride in, and the symbolism, of the white Stetson and White Hatter Awards
