The Historical Newsletters page has been updated with the release of archival B.C. Pipers’ Newsletters from 1973.
Besides the regular news of competitions and results, BCPA Life Member Bill Elder has compiled the following interesting news of that year:
- Results of the inaugural 1972 Triumph Street Pipe Band competition, which included unique events, the debut of the Vancouver Island Pipers’ band (which became the City of Victoria Pipe Band shortly thereafter) under PM James Troy and DS Colin Magee, and the first competition performance of the Triumph Street Pipe Band under new PM Hal Senyk and DS Willie McErlean
- John MacDougall of Arbroath to judge at the Annual Gathering.
- Famous Pipers – John MacAskill
- Plans are drawn up for a B.C. Pipers’ Club
- Reports on the monthly Vancouver Island Pipers’ Club
- Numerous advertisements for pipe bands dances (the major social events and fundraisers of the day)
- Early Pipe Bands in Vancouver by Ed Esson, which includes a 1905 picture of the Vancouver Pipe Band
- Announcement of a new Donald Shaw Ramsay composition: Calum McErlean, for Willie & Therese McErlean first born son
- B.C. Pipers’ Winter School, in numerous newsletters
- Letters to the Editor: Dress & Deportment (numerous), grievances with the Western Pipe Band Association
- Knockout competition winner: Steve Geddes
- Knockouts change to adult age trios beginning with the 1973/74 season. Drummer Colin Magee plays pipes in the City of Victoria trio
- Editorial, The Western Pipe Band Association
- The College of Piping A.G.M.
- Alexander Brothers headline the White Heather Concert
- Great Pipers – Great Music
- Highlights and results of the 41st Annual Gathering
- The Memorial Cairn of the MacCrimmons
- Diary of a Band – Triumph Street Pipe Band, including an early picture of the band, their introduction of “matched chanters” to the BC pipe band scene, and being the first co-ed competition pipe band in the BCPA region
- Governor General Roland Michener awards BCPA member Dick Swanson the Star of Courage for rescuing a drowning woman from the Fraser River
- Bruce Gandy appears in the Novice grade prize list for the first time (March and Strathspey & Reel events, Victoria Highland Games)
- Particular pipers (now BCPA adjudicators) begin to appear as prize winners in the Juvenile grade (Warren Fells, David Hennigan, Rob Barrick) and in the Professional grade (Colin Gemmell from Connecticut, Alan Walters from Alberta)
- Blue Heron Bay Pipe Band from Lake Oswego, Oregon
- Article on Gail Brown of Ontario (mother of BCPA adjudicator Blair Brown) becoming the first female piper to win a Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championship (with Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band in 1973)
- Progressive points system introduced for promotions: the higher the grade, more points from prizes required
- John Pearson’s Pipe Dream Comes True
- The Spokane Piobaireachd Society Summer School of Piping – two two-week sessions, and for each session $75 tuition and $22 dormitory. Two charter buses took 80 students to the Portland Highland Games on the second session weekend. William Livingstone wins the Banner and Brian Carse wins the Medallion
- Report on the Vancouver Ladies Pipe Band trip to Hawaii, including multiple performances on Oahu and Hawaii, the 1st Hawaiian-Scottish Highland Games, and an appearance with entertainer Don Ho
- Recital in Victoria by PM Donald MacLeod
- A Piping Visit to North America, Capt. John MacLellan
- An article on Rona Lightfoot (nee MacDonald) of South Uist being the first female piper permitted entry to a major UK piping competition (the 1973 Bratach Gorm in London)
- City of Victoria Pipe Band wins the Grade 1 event at the 1973 Triumph Street Pipe Band competition, beating City of Port Moody Pipe Band for the first time
