40th Anniversaries of the CP Air and Triumph Street Pipe Bands Cowal and European Championships prizes

CP Air and Triumph Street PBs logos 1976 thumbnailIt was the summer of 1976. The Olympics were in Montreal. The United States was celebrating its bi-centennial. Long hair and disco music were in fashion.

And in mid August, the Canadian Pacific Airlines Pipe Band under Pipe Major Jack Lee and Drum Sergeant Keith Manifold and the Triumph Street Pipe Band under Pipe Major Hal Senyk and Drum Sergeant Willie McErlean departed for Scotland on a three week trip that would cover the World, Cowal, European Championships and become the breakthrough for BC bands on the world stage.

That year, on August 28 the Canadian Pacific Airlines Pipe Band captured the Grade 2 Cowal Championship and on September 4, the band won the Grade 2 European Championship while the Triumph Street Pipe Band captured 4th prize in the Grade 1 European Championship.

Watch the BCPA website on August 28 and September 4 this year for 40th anniversary commemorative articles on these significant achievements that monumentally shaped the future of BC piping and drumming.