By Donna McMillan
“The Mirth and Fun Grew Fast and Furious
The Piper Loud and Louder Blew
The Dancers Quick and Quicker Flew”
— Robbie Burns
on Scotland’s national instrument
THE Paris Port Dover Pipe Band is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025.
The band, which has performed on stage with Sir Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart and Andre Rieu, has a number of special events planned including the acceptance of an invitation to be Canada’s representative at the 75th anniversary of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo from August 1 to 23 in Scotland.
Founding member, senior pipe major and executive director Gord Black and founding member and director Karen Stewart, both pipers, reflected on the highlights of the 25-year history of the band and shared some exciting events planned for 2025.
And, yes, while they missed the Canada Day Parade in Port Dover in 2024 due to a special invitation to participate in the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Airforce at the Royal Nova Scotia Tattoo in Halifax, they will be back in Port Dover for July 1, 2025. The band has been a regular attendee since their inception.
In 1995–96, Mr. Black shared he was invited by the music department at Port Dover Composite School to teach pipes to high school students. A drummer also taught the snare drums. The Port Dover Lions Club assisted them with space for teaching just before the closing of the high school. A small band performed in their first Port Dover Canada Day parade in 1997.
A similar group was also being taught by Mr. Black in Brant. When they participated in the Port Dover Canada Day event, they carried a Port Dover banner. They would then travel to Paris’ July 1 celebration and carry a Paris band banner.
The group then incorporated a Brantford band that Ms. Stewart performed in and with 24 pipers, four snare drummers and one base drummer, the Paris Port Dover Pipe Band was born.
The band currently has 60 to 65 members, coming from Port Dover, Nanticoke, Paris, Brantford, Cambridge, Hamilton, and more. They have three grades of solo competitors within the band.
In addition, education is part of the mandate of this non-profit, registered charity pipe band. There is an active teaching program in both Norfolk County and Brant County, Ms. Stewart said, with some beginners also coming through.
With 25 years of history, the highlights are many for the group, both Mr. Black and Ms. Stewart said.
The band has performed with Paul McCartney several times. Rod Stewart used a photo capture with the band, who performed with him, in a calendar that was circulated around the world. In 2006, the band travelled to Normandy to take part in the Juno Beach Centre celebrations and performed at official Dieppe ceremonies.
Two different grades in the band placed in the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow.
Paris Port Dover Pipe Band had a very successful two-day run of concerts at the Sanderson Centre in Brantford in 2017 for the 150th Canadian celebration with a Scottish twist. They have performed in Basel, Switzerland, in Crete as guests of the Greek Tourism Department, at the Calgary Stampede, and so much more. The band has won many awards and world championships.
The band has much to look forward to in 2025. They are holding Haggis Fest on February 8 in St. George, a fun night of music with a modernized Robbie Burns feel, Ms. Stewart said.
At the Edinburgh Tattoo from August 1–23, the band will perform every day but Sundays, with two performances on Saturdays. The tattoo’s theme is “The Heroes Who Made Us” and celebrates greatest hits over the last seven decades.
They will relaunch their workshop training with “Fall Fusion,” featuring instructors from Scotland and others from North America. This follows on the success of a workshop and concert with Fred Morrison, a Scottish musician and composer, held in 2024.
Throughout the year, there will be attendance in parades, Remembrance Day services and other events that members make themselves available for, such as requests to participate in weddings, funerals, concerts, plus a number of special opportunities in the works for 2025.
The band also has a Commemorative Challenge Coin coming out for their 25th anniversary.
“The Paris Port Dover Pipe Band is better known abroad than locally,” Mr. Black said. They survived COVID-19 and continue “to keep it strong.”
The band meets for two practices a week and one Saturday a month. Nobody pays for instruction. The band is self-funded. Members are looking forward to another very positive and exciting year and especially happy to be celebrating their 25th anniversary.
For more information on the band, to support them with a donation or to watch for special events, visit their website www.ppdpb.com or their Facebook page.
—
Originally published January 29, 2025
