One of the longest surviving pipe bands in the Province of Nova Scotia is the Gaelic College Pipe Band, of St. Ann’s, Cape Breton. The impetus for the creation of the Gaelic College at St. Ann’s came from Rev. Angus William Rugg (A.W.R.) MacKenzie, a Presbyterian minister who had been born on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Rev. MacKenzie immigrated to Canada by way of the United States and accepted a pastoral charge in Baddeck. He became very interested in the Scottish heritage of Victoria County and Cape Breton in general. Rev. MacKenzie gathered other like-minded people around him, and in 1938, the Cape Breton Island Gaelic Foundation was organized. It was this group who founded the Gaelic College at St. Anns, the first building being opened on July 26th, 1939 on the site of the original settlement of those who had followed Rev. Norman MacLeod from Scotland and later on to New Zealand. Rev. MacKenzie, known by everyone as A.W.R., was the College’s first and long-serving Director.

The Gaelic College of Celtic Folk Arts was founded with the stated objective of preserving and fostering the customs, traditions, culture and particularly the language and music of the pioneering Gael. One step in carrying out this objective was the formation of a Gaelic College Pipe Band in 1950, a move that was probably inspired by a performance at the 1949 Mod by the Ceilidh Girls’ Pipe Band of New Glasgow. Following that performance, A.W.R. visited the home of Mrs. Eileen Pottie in Sydney, whose daughters were then taking Highland dancing. He suggested that the parents of dancers from Sydney should form a girls’ pipe band as had been done in New Glasgow. Mrs. Pottie and other parents (including Mrs. Pat Corbett, Mrs. Ernest Somers, Mrs. Helen Murray, Mrs. Betty Thompson, Mrs. Violet MacPherson, Mrs. E. Prince, Mrs. Geo MacKenzie, Mrs. Annie MacKenzie, Mrs. Jean MacDonald, Mrs. R. Gillis, and Mrs. W. Matheson) established the Celtic Club of Sydney to oversee the formation of the band which was named “The Gaelic College School In Sydney Girls’ Pipe Band”. Soon after, it became generally known as the Sydney Girls’ Pipe Band (not to be confused with a splinter group which called itself the All Sydney Girls’ Pipe Band). Piping instruction was given by Rod Nicholson, assisted by William (Sonny) MacPherson. Dan L. MacDonald taught the drummers.

The band held its Coming Out Performance at the Cape Breton County Mod at the Sydney Sports Centre on July 11th, 1951 with eight pipers and seven drummers. The Mod was sponsored by the Sydney Celtic Culture School, which hoped that it would become an annual event. The band’s first pipe major was Sally MacPherson, who had an earlier start at piping under the tuition of her older brother, piper William “Sonny” MacPherson. The twelve year old was also helping Rod Nicholson teach chanter classes. Other original members of the band included Pipe Sergeant Faye Pottie, and pipers Vivian Morrison, Moira Jean MacLeod, Claire Gillis, Vera MacDonald and Heather MacKenzie. The drummers were Joan Somers (bass), kettle drummers Sandra Pottie and Delores Thompson, tenor drummers Murdo Murray and Charlotte (Lottie) MacKenzie, and snare drummers Chris MacDonald and Ruth MacKenzie. Others who had not made the first cut, but joined soon after, included Geraldine MacSween, Georgina Ramey, Carol Hines, Anne Prince, Johnenna MacKenzie and Bridget Prince. The pipers in the band wore the Royal Stewart tartan and the drummers wore the Dress MacLeod.

That summer, the Ceilidh Girls’ Pipe Band returned to the Gaelic Mod and shared the billing with the new Gaelic College School in Sydney Girls’ Pipe Band. On October 27th, the Sydney band took part in the Highland Scottish Concert at the Venetian Gardens, Sydney.

In 1952, the band members attended the Gaelic College Summer School, but were then called the Gaelic College Chicago Pipe Band, identifying the group that was preparing to travel to the Lion’s Club International Parade in Chicago in 1953. Upon the death of Premier Angus L. Macdonald, who had served on the College Board, the name of the band was changed to “The Gaelic College “Macdonald Hundred” Junior Pipe Band. (Sometimes the word “Girls’” was substituted for the word “Junior” in releases to the press and other publications.) This name was meant to identify the large contingent Rev. MacKenzie was assembling and training for participation in the 1955 Official Opening of the Canso Causeway.

In the excitement leading up to the 1955 event, the Gaelic College offered piping and drumming classes in several communities and, where numbers of students were high enough, community branches of the pipe band were formed. For example, the Students from Glace Bay became known as “The Glace Bay Division - The Macdonald Hundred Junior Pipe Band”. The full band was sometimes referred to as “The Gaelic College Canso Causeway Pipe Band”, though it retained the Macdonald Hundred name until 1968 when it became generally known as “The Gaelic College Pipe Band”.

Now that the various namings of the band has been clarified, we can back up a bit. Piping classes that had begun under the leadership of Rod Nicholson of Sydney (formerly of Big Baddeck) assisted by Sally MacPherson, and followed by Danny MacIntyre of Glace Bay, and his brother, Peter MacIntyre had met with an enthusiastic response. In 1950, twenty-two junior pipers were able to participate in the Gaelic Mod, some of whom were trained by the College. By the fall of 1951, A.W.R. could write to the Honorable Angus L. Macdonald that there were 116 Junior Students enrolled in the Sydney Winter School of Piping and Drumming, this number including seventy-one beginning chanter students, twelve second year piping students, and thirty-three drumming students. He further defined the group as having seventy-two girls and forty-four boys.

It was A.W.R.’s aim at that time to have in place by 1952 a girls’ band with sixteen pipers and eight drummers and a boys’ band with twenty pipers and twelve drummers. He assured the Premier that this was only a first step towards assembling one hundred junior pipers, all from Cape Breton Island, for the upcoming Official Opening of the Canso Causeway. He assured the Premier that there would be no need to import pipers from the mainland for this historic event. The Girls’ Band opened the concert at the Pre-Mod Clan Fraser Gathering at the Gaelic College on Friday, July 18th, 1952. The band went on to win the Maritime Junior Pipe Band Championship at the Mod.

During the Summer School sessions, many of these young pipers came under the tutelage of Seumas MacNeill of Glasgow, Scotland who taught at the College for several summers, and then by his Co-Principal of the College of Piping in Scotland, Thomas Pearston, who came during the summers when Seumas was not able to be there.

Early in the band’s history, there was a dispute that eventually saw the band going to court to achieve a settlement. A.W.R. may have been to some an enlightened despot, but was not always a gentle one, and a number of parents were not satisfied with their children’s continued participation in programs under his jurisdiction. While the majority of members in the first Gaelic College Pipe Band were from the Sydney area, and were kept very busy with fund raising and performances, there were also members from the Baddeck area who, due to the difficulties of travel and other causes, were not able to participate as fully. This caused some dissention, which became more serious when A.W.R. wanted to enlarge the band with more members from the Baddeck area. A couple of special meetings of the Celtic Club were called and when A.W.R. took over as chairman of one of the meetings and re-organized the Club into the Gaelic College Sydney School Auxiliary, battle lines were drawn.

A number of families in the Sydney area decided to break away and form a separate band. This splinter group kept the uniforms and instruments that had been given to eight of the girls, and also demanded most, if not all of the money raised while they were active members of the Celtic Society of Sydney. A.W.R. responded by obtaining a court order to have the local club’s bank assets frozen and issuing a suit on January 15th, 1953 against the break away group for approximately $1,000 worth of pipe band equipment which included one bass drum, eight kilts, eight plaids, eight sporrans, two side drums, one tenor drum, and two sets of bagpipes.

Chief Justice J.L. Ilsley, in a special sitting of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, heard the case in June. The action was brought forward by Rev. A.W.R. MacKenzie, Gaelic College Director, and four trustees of the Sydney Celtic School against Ernest Somers, Joan Somers, Roland Thompson, Delores Thompson, Garfield Murray, Murdo Murray, J.D. Pottie, Sandra Pottie, Faye Pottie, William MacPherson, Sally MacPherson, E.J. Prince, Ann Prince, Harold MacDonald, Christine MacDonald, and Rod Nicholson, who was the fifth trustee of the Sydney Celtic School and its principal piping instructor. In all, fifteen witnesses testified over three days and much conflicting evidence was heard, especially concerning the final two meetings of the Celtic Club before it was re-organized.

The Sydney Post-Record of September 21st carried the banner headline that the court decision favoured the local pipe band group. Chief Justice Ilsley dismissed with costs the action taken by the Executive Board of the Gaelic College Sydney School Auxiliaries. He found that Rev. A.W.R. MacKenzie had acted out of order at the meeting where the Celtic Club of Sydney was re-organized as the Gaelic College Sydney School Auxiliaries. Rev. MacKenzie, he ruled, had not been a member of the Club and had taken over as chairman on a motion by John C. MacMillan, who had not been a member either. Chief Justice Ilsley found, in effect, that the plaintiffs did not have the right to claim the equipment in possession of the eight “infants” named in the action, their parents and Mr. Nicholson. As late as 1963, Rev. MacKenzie was still negotiating with the Canadian Bank of Commerce to have the $365.90, returned to the College, something that the bank manager informed him would not happen until he obtained a directive from the court to do so. The Gaelic College band, however, survived this upheaval, as it would others in its long and distinguished history. (For more information on the splinter group, see the All Sydney Girls’ Pipe Band.)

Under A.W.R.’s re-organizational plan, there were branches of the Gaelic College band’s auxiliary in Baddeck-St. Anns, Ward 3 Sydney, North Side Town, Ashby-Whitney Pier, New Waterford, and Glace Bay, with plans to set up two additional auxiliaries in St. Peters and Sydney River.

According to Dick MacLean, Rev. A.W.R. MacKenzie’s original intent was to have a mixed band, open to both boys and girls. In 1950 Dick enrolled in the winter school at the Lyceum, in Sydney where he received instruction in piping from his cousin, Rod Nicholson. Since he was the only boy in the class, Rod took him for private instruction at his own home. Sally MacPherson also took private instruction from Rod Nicholson at that time. Later, when the classes moved to the Venetian Gardens, Dick attended those classes in addition to his private lessons. About 1953, due to an increase in the number of boys learning to play the pipes, Rev. A.W.R. MacKenzie formed the Gaelic College Boys’ Pipe Band. It consisted of pipers Doug Greene, John MacDow, Duncan Finlayson, Alec Finlayson, Victor MacLeod, Jack MacIsaac, and Bert Miller with Dick MacLean as its pipe major. The drummers included a Lahey fellow from Sidney Mines, Calvin Morrison from Baddeck and Junior Phillips (Jack MacIsaac's cousin). The band wore MacKenzie tartan kilts, jackets and plaids made by Mrs. Whitmore MacLean and Mrs. Kenny Phillips.

The Gaelic College Boys’ Pipe Band was instructed in piping by Roddie Nicholson, followed by Danny MacIntyre, and in drumming by Danny MacDonald and also by Clarence Hunt. The band spent one summer at St. Ann's, but by that time Rev. MacKenzie had decided that girl bands had greater appeal and the Gaelic College focused on them only. The boys’ band was a good little one, but didn’t last much more than two years.

The Gaelic College band performed in Chicago at the 36th Annual Convention of the Lion’s Club International that took place on July 8th, 1953, placing second out of sixty bands and winning a total of $250.00 in prize money. The young Cape Bretoners travelled by train and were featured on The Breakfast Club. When they arrived home, they were escorted through Sydney by a fire truck with the siren going.

The youthful pipe major was Clare Gillis of Sydney, who stayed with the band until she left home to attend university. Clare remembers that the Gaelic College Pipe Band was modeled after the military example and discipline was very strictly enforced. A. W. R. was always concerned about behavior and appearance, and the girls tried hard to meet his exacting standards. On one occasion, she remembers, he caught the band’s drum majorette, Vivian Morrison, twirling the baton with which she led the band. He spoke to her crossly, telling her “There will be no burlesquing in our band!”

Also in 1953, the Gaelic College School In Sydney Girls’ Pipe Band played for the Chief of Clan MacKinnon. Another press release referred to the band as the Gaelic College “Canso Causeway” Junior Pipe Band and mentioned that it had fifty-five members in training with a goal of increasing that number to one hundred who would take part in the Opening Ceremonies in 1955.

That fall, the College marked the fifth year of its winter school in Sydney. 40 pipers and 20 drummers were receiving instruction there. The band owned thirty sets of pipes, valued at $90.00 per set, a bass drum ($110.00), a tenor drum ($70.00) and four snare drums ($55.00 each). In addition, band members privately owned an additional ten sets of pipes and four snare drums. A.W.R. listed this information in an appeal for funds to purchase ten more snare drums and another tenor drum so that all the band members might play together at the same time.

The band started off the new year of 1954 with a January performance in Moncton, New Brunswick. The two pipe majors in attendance were Clare Gillis and Vera MacDonald. Pipe Major Richard (Dick) MacLean of Sydney, the reigning Cape Breton Island Champion, played solo in the concert and also played for the Highland dance numbers on the program.

On April 9th, the band, with pipers dressed in the Royal Stewart tartan while the drummers wore the MacLeod, performed in a concert at the Brookland Street Presbyterian Hall, Sydney, with the proceeds going to help finance their Easter Week Educational Tour. They also performed at the Farewell Ceremony, held at 8:30 AM on the day of their departure, and between the two events, raised $900.00 to help defray some of the costs of the 21-day trip.

The band toured as far south as Fayetteville, North Carolina, where they performed at the Cumberland County Bi-centennial celebrations, and the Cape Fear Valley Festival, and to parts of Canada, travelling more than 4000 miles in 23 days. They presented concerts in the towns and cities along the way, including one very memorable performance on the White House lawn in Washington, DC., after which they took part in the Easter tradition of egg rolling.

One of the younger pipers, Diane MacIsaac of New Victoria, was only nine years old, and was listed as a flag bearer on the tour, but she played a piping solo in the band’s concert at the John Hancock Hall in Boston.

Band members on the tour roster were: Drum Majorette Vivian Morrison of Baddeck; Pipe Majors Clare Gillis of Sydney and Vera MacDonald of Sydney; Pipe Sergeants Norma Morrison and Moira Jean MacLeod of St. Ann’s; Junior Pipe Major Heather MacKenzie of Sydney; pipers Carol Ann MacKenzie, Frances MacLeod, Carol Walker, and Emelie Murphy, all of Sydney, Ann Jackie Oram of Florence, Margaret Lyle of Sydney Mines, Helen MacLeod of Boularderie, Mary Morrison of St. Peters, Bunny MacLeod of Sydney, and Beverly MacIntyre of Whitney Pier; Drum Sergeant Lottie MacKenzie of Whitney Pier, Drum Corporal Judy Sutherland of Sydney, drummers Ruth MacKenzie of Sydney, June Fraser of Baddeck, Edna Leonard and Beverly Cameron of Sydney, Joan Willard-Bonner, of Sydney Mines, Yvonne Collier and Mary Legere of Sydney Mines, and Jean Martell of North Sydney; flag girls: Piper Diane MacIsaac of New Victoria, drummer Avon Burdge of Sydney, and student piper Florie MacDonald of North Sydney. Another group of girls were listed as reserve pipers and drummers, as follows: pipers Gladys Dicks, Peggy Jefferson, and Sylvia Stewart of Sydney; and drummers Don Huestis of Glace Bay, and Carol Embrie of Sydney River. Of this number, however, it appears that only twenty-seven girls actually made the trip.

A.W.R. MacKenzie’s report made upon their return reads as follows:

“A most successful Easter Educational Tour by the 27 member Gaelic College Sydney Girls’ Pipe Band ended in Sydney, Nova Scotia, on May 7th when the band was welcomed home at Sydney River by a large delegation of citizens led by a fire truck in a parade through the business district of the city, after which the band was tendered a banquet at the Isle Royale Hotel, at which Deputy Mayor Seymour Hines was toastmaster.

“The band went to Fayetteville, North Carolina, on the invitation of the Bi-Centennial Committee of Cumberland County, where the band (was) featured in the week-long celebration. Going and returning, the tour was extended to perform at extra engagements at Washington, DC, Flora MacDonald College, Red Springs, NC, New York, Boston and Ottawa. Travelling by chartered bus, the band covered 4000 miles, and played in 25 public appearances before 81,000 people, and were probably seen by over 27,000,000 people on TV from Washington and Ottawa.

“The band played by the personal invitation of President Eisenhower on the White House lawn on Easter Monday between one and two o-clock and were luncheon guests of Dr. Gilbert and Mrs. Grosvenor at the National Geographic Building at noon.

“At Ottawa, the Glebe Collegiate auditorium, seating of 1400 was filled to capacity for a band concert on April 30th and the Ottawa Citizen reporting the show the next day stated - “This group of nearly thirty young girls from Nova Scotia’s Gaelic College is an exceptionally winning, talented and well-disciplined group, one minute fingering an intricate reel on their chanters, the next putting four swords in place for an equally involved double sword dance.” In Ottawa, the band was enthusiastically received, were luncheon guests of the Nova Scotia members in Parliament, were introduced to the Prime Minister and Mr. Drew, and were overnight guests of the host society, the Ottawa Gaelic Society.

“In Boston, Governor Christian Herter of Massachusetts excused himself for a brief time from an important dinner at which General Ridgeway, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, was the feature speaker, that he might pay tribute to the Girls’ Band during the May 3rd concert at John Hancock Hall where, on being introduced by Chairman J. Ernest Kerr, he expressed his admiration of the band’s performance and expressed the hope that he might spend his coming summer holiday in Nova Scotia where he hoped he would hear again the Gaelic College band at the Gaelic Mod in August. Other speakers at the Boston concert were Rev. A.L. MacMillan, of the Scotch Presbyterian Church, Boston, and the band director, Rev. A.W.R. MacKenzie, Gaelic College Director, who organized and directed the Easter Educational Tour for the band.

“While in Boston, the band members were breakfast guests of Mayor John B. Hynes at the Hotel Statler on May 3rd. That evening 1300 people were thrilled with the two hour concert performed entirely by band members, when the solo bagpipe playing of eight-year old, Piper Diane MacIsaac, considered the youngest piper in Canada, and the Gaelic singing of the band chorus group, drew encore after encore from the capacity audience. Band members, led by Drum Majorette Vivian Morrison, and acting Pipe Major Norma Morrison massed and featured Highland dance numbers, Scotch reels and Reel of Tulloch. Drum exhibitions, Sailors’ Hornpipe and Irish Jig rounded out the program. Junior Pipe Instructor Peter MacIntyre supervised pipe tuning for the girl pipers.

“All members of the band are Gaelic College students. Five matrons supervised the girls during the tour. Band concerts were also given at Red Springs, NC, Amherst, NC, Spencerville, Ontario, State House, Raleigh, NC, Shopper’s World, Framingham, Mass., Canadian Legion Auxiliary, New York City, and a command performance at Fort Bragg Headquarters, NC for Major General Joseph P. Cleland, Post and Corps Commanding Officer.”

Spenserville, Ontario was a special stop-over for those on the tour, for it gave them a much-needed rest from travelling, and because the proceeds from their concert went to a special fund for the church, which was Rev. A.W.R. MacKenzie’s first pastoral charge. Band members remember fondly the wonderful hospitality they received there, and especially the ham and scalloped potato supper with homemade pies that was served to them upon their arrival at the church. The band also had the opportunity during this tour to visit such cultural and historical sites as the Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson Monuments, take part in the annual Easter Parade in New York City, visit the Rockafeller Centre and the Empire State Building, Niagara Falls, and the Canadian Parliament Buildings.

Vivian (Morrison) Wyer remembers the 1954 Easter Educational Tour with fondness, and with an adult’s appreciation for the work of Rev. A.W.R. MacKenzie to preserve and promote Scottish culture, not only on Cape Breton Island, but also beyond.

“As a result of the visit to Flora MacDonald College, Red Springs, NC,” she recalls, “I enrolled in a four-year B.Sc. Program there and graduated in l958 with honors. While there, I played the pipes and danced in many public schools, gatherings, and parades, etc.. I was invited to tour with the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra when they played in the public schools particularly. I would play my pipes and also dance the Highland fling accompanied by the piccolo player. I taught some Highland dancing as part of the Phys. Ed. program at the college, as well.

“I had many opportunities thanks to the doors that A.W.R. opened up for me,” she continues. “I know he was not a popular guy at times, but I feel that Nova Scotia owes much to this man. He believed in what he was doing. Thank goodness for that. I often wonder how much progress our Scottish culture would have made without him.”

Later in 1954, Pipe Major Clare Gillis was presented with a special banner that she wore attached to her bass drone to commemorate the visit of Lord Lovat to the Gaelic College. It was reported that the MacDonald Hundred Junior Pipe Band had been named Maritime Junior Champions for the last two years. In actual fact, the College’s records show that there were two bands listed in this event in 1954, the Gaelic College (North Carolina) Girls Pipe Band, and the Gaelic College Boys and Girls Junior Pipe Band. That same year, the Cape Breton Island Junior Pipe Band Championships was hotly contested by no less than three Gaelic College bands - first place going to Pipe Major Norma Morrison’s band, second place to Pipe Major Clare Gillis’ band, and third place going to Pipe Major Moira Jean MacLeod’s pipe band. The records do not tell if there were entries from outside the College in these events.

Things were not all rosy at the College, however, as A.W.R. was once again embroiled in a dispute with at least one parent. This father had withdrawn his children from the band and had sent along a cheque for $55.00 to pay for the pipes one child had been using. It was the band’s policy that instruments and uniforms were to be returned to the band when someone left, so A.W.R. returned the cheque with what appeared to the father as being a rather nasty letter, to which the father responded, advising A.W.R. that his letter would make good reading for a lawyer. He went on to say that “Your mouth could be your worst enemy!” The letter was dated September 2nd, 1954.

Things were not going quite the way A.W.R. had planned for the Gaelic College pipe band’s participation in the Official Opening of the Canso Causeway either. He had renamed the band in honour of the vision of the late Premier, Angus L. Macdonald, calling it the Gaelic College “Macdonald Hundred” Junior Pipe Band - “Macdonald” for the Premier, and “Hundred” for his vision of having one hundred pipers perform at the Official Opening of the Causeway. Major C.I.N. MacLeod had been given the job of arranging for the pipe band presence at the Opening, and he and A.W.R. did not see eye to eye on how it should take place. The Opening Committee, of which Major MacLeod was a member, had determined that male pipers should lead the parade, with A.W.R.’s girls and other junior bands taking a back seat to them.

In March 1955, A.W.R. received an inquiry from Major C.I.N. MacLeod as to whether his band might like to participate, at its own expense, in the Official Opening of the Canso Causeway. This infuriated him, for in more than three dozen letters to various representatives of the Government of Nova Scotia, A.W.R. had been promoting the idea of his “Macdonald Hundred” pipe band leading the parade on Opening day. He was informed on March 24th of “the unanimous decision of the Special Committee, Canso Causeway Opening, that no Junior Girls’ Pipe Band be given a special place in the Line of March at the Official Opening of the Canso Causeway.” The letter went on to say, “The Junior Girls’ Pipe Band under your jurisdiction may participate as a unit in the Line of March if you so desire.”

A.R.W. responded on May 10th - “In response to the vision of the late Premier the Hon. Angus L. Macdonald, who visualized 100 Pipers at the Opening of the Canso Causeway - the Gaelic College notified the late Premier that in addition to the 100 Adult Pipers in his dream - that we would produce, from among Gaelic College students, a 100 member JUNIOR Pipe Band.... We have succeeded and have in training - in our 464-student enrollment - over 300 pipers, drummers, and flag girls.... We go into this Grand Parade... 113 Gaelic College girl students, to honour a Great Nova Scotian... our 100 member student Pipe Band will be named - The Gaelic College “Macdonald Hundred” Junior Pipe Band.”

He ended his letter to Major MacLeod as follows: “If you provoke the leaders of the other bands as you provoke me by your Questionnaire - after the two to three dozen letters written to Government officials offering and in support of our Band - ... well....”

As late as June 27th, 1955, A.W.R. was still fighting to have his Macdonald Hundred Pipe Band accorded a higher place in the ranking of bands who would take part in the August 13th Official Opening of the Canso Causeway. He wrote to Dr. Buchanan following that politician’s visit to the College with the Hon. Paul Martin. He asked that “our Pipe Band especially should receive special consideration - for it is a MEMORIAL PIPE BAND - named in honour of the late Angus L. Macdonald - and 100 strong. Unique in Canadian cultural circles and the largest pipe band outside Scotland.”

While such correspondence may have occupied much of A.W.R.’s attention during this time, the band continued to prepare for the big event. In August, The Casket reported that there were 100 pipers and drummers attending the Gaelic College Summer School in preparation for the opening. The classes that had been set up by A.W.R. MacKenzie in Sydney, North Sydney, Baddeck, Glace Bay, New Waterford and other areas almost succeeded in their attempt to provide 100 pipers for the event, though twenty-six dancers and chanter students were brought along to carry flags and to march in the blank spaces in the ranks to build up the numbers. A wonderful colour photograph of the event shows some of the 40,000 spectators lining the road and applauding as piping students Sheila Wood and her cousin Karen Wood carrying a very large banner which read ‘The Gaelic College MacDonald Hundred Junior Pipe Band’ followed by the junior division of the band as they marched in formation eight across, being led by drum majorette Jackie Oran. Some of the pipers in the band for that event were: Vivian Morrison, Norma Morrison, Moira Jean MacLeod and June Fraser, all of Baddeck, Heather MacKenzie, Carol Ann MacKenzie, Frances MacLeod, Emelie Murphy and Carol Walker, all of Sydney, and Bunny MacLeod, Adeline Farrell, Linda Wadden, Norma Neilson, Linda Highman, Judy Sutherland and Ruth MacKenzie.

It was certainly a disappointment for A.W.R. MacKenzie that his MacDonald 100 Pipe Band did not to take a place of honour in the parade. Despite almost thirty letters arguing that the Gaelic College had made the pledge to the late Premier, Angus L. Macdonald to assemble 100 pipers for the opening of the Causeway, and that the Gaelic College pipe bands should lead the parade, all of the junior bands were relegated to what was called the “Second One Hundred” and marched across behind the combined men’s bands. An editorial in one of the papers supported the decision. It stated that the procession would be led by one hundred male pipers, not an organized group, but fairly representative of all of Nova Scotia, brought together only for this occasion to lead the procession across the causeway. This is appropriate - as it should be - keeping in mind the historical annals of the rugged Scottish Highland men pipers in peace and war....”

Perhaps unfairly, as A.W.R. and many others believed, the three “Macdonald Hundred” pipe bands were relegated to the parade of junior bands, which followed the “official” all-male pipe band. The junior bands marched one behind the other and took turns playing. As one band played once through “The Road To The Isles” and then “The Hundred Pipers”, they stopped playing, and the band behind them struck up and played the same tunes. According to the letter from Major C.I.N. MacLeod giving these directions, each of the eight junior bands would play before the cycle would be repeated from the front. The Order of Parade of the junior bands in the Second One Hundred was determined by each band’s formation date, as follows:

1. The New Glasgow Ceilidh Club Girls’ Pipe Band
2. The Gaelic College “Macdonald Hundred” Senior, Junior, and Juvenile Pipe Bands
3. The Dunvegan Girls’ Pipe Band of Westville
4. The Stellarton Balmoral Girls’ Pipe Band
5. The MacDougall Girls’ Pipe Band of Dominion
6. The Truro Girls’ Pipe Band
7. The Stornaway Junior Pipe Band
8. The Sydney Academy School Pipe Band.

A.W.R. was to take some satisfaction, however, when the 72 Gaelic College band members came through the hot, three mile march with flying colours, for they were named by a top ranking CNR official as the pipe band with “Top Performance” among the twenty-five pipe bands in the march.

Later in the month, the Gaelic College Pipe Band was named the Maritime Junior Pipe Band Champions at the Gaelic Mod. In December, the MacDonald 100 Pipe Band performed a full, two-hour concert at Riverview High School in Coxheath.

With the Canso Causeway Opening behind them, the band could focus on other activities. Wherever possible, the band travelled by car and it has been reported, though not confirmed, that the band often left with little or no money, depending on their share of a good gate to pay for meals and gas. During the Easter Break in 1956, the band appeared on television in Moncton on March 29th, the first day of its 13-day Educational Tour. On April 2nd, the band performed in John Hancock Hall in Boston. Travelling on through New York State, it performed in the High School Auditorium in Brockville, Ontario on April 4th, at the town hall in Spencerville on April 5th, in the Glebe Collegiate Auditorium in Ottawa on April 6th, in the Black Watch (RHR) of Canada Armory in Montreal on April 7th, and at the High School Auditorium in Moncton, NB on April 9th. The band arrived back in Sydney on April 10th. A newspaper clipping lists the seven members of the band who were part of the Glace Bay Division of the “Macdonald Hundred” Girls’ Pipe Band - pipers Louise Hopkins, Marjorie McDonald, and Linda Hickman, and drummers Sylvia Shore, Dawn Huestis, Marie Cameron, and Thelma MacLean.

The 1956 tour prompted the composition of the following poem to mark the occasion:

The 1956 Ride of the Macdonald Hundred Gaelic College Pipe Band to Boston

When telling tales of other days,
Here is one you should remember,
‘Tis how the Gaelic College Band
To Boston came and brought every wonderful member.

The year was 1956,
‘Twas in the month of March,
And though cold and snow beset them much,
It did not stay their march.

Bodies grew weary, eyes grew tired,
But onward they did press.
Their Gaelic spirit cheered them on
To a well-earned Boston rest.

Their music lifted many a heart,
Many an eye was dim,
But who could stay glum, when pipe and drum
Stirred the heart of each her and him!

So, to our pride and joy -
A Royal Salute!
And may God Bless, and safely keep
Each and every one of the Gaelic Band,
And your music, the continent sweep!

Composed in Boston, April 5th, 1956

Senator Michael MacIntyre of Ottawa and Lieutenant Governor Sumner H. Whittier of Massachusetts were on hand for the April 2nd concert at the John Hancock Hall in Boston.

In May, the band members were hosted to a special dinner to mark the success of their Easter Educational Tour. 120 students, parents and friends attended, along with guests Deputy Mayor Seymour Hines of Sydney, John C. MacMillan of North Sydney, Chairman of the Gaelic College Board of Directors, Mr. M.R. Chappell of North Sydney, etc.. The speakers lauded the band members and the audience gave standing ovations to the 13-year-old pipe major, Heather MacKenzie and the 12-year-old associate pipe major, Frances MacLeod. Deputy Mayor Hines assured the band of the city’s continued support since it has had such wonderful results in attracting tourists to Sydney and Cape Breton.

The band was named Maritime Junior Champions at the Mod in August.

In July 1957, the band’s 25 pipers and drummers gave concerts in Fredericton, Bathurst, Campbellton, Montreal, Quebec City, Brockville, Spencerville, Alexandria, Cornwall, Dunvegan, Bangor, Summerside, and Tatamagouche. While in Spencerville, the band visited Ottawa and performed on the lawn in front of the Parliament Buildings. The Gaelic College’s Senior Pipe Band placed first in the Maritime Junior Pipe Band Championship competition held at the Gaelic Mod. The Junior Division of the band placed second.

Rev. A.W.R. MacKenzie announced that there would be a new division of the Gaelic College pipe band centered in Glace Bay. It would be called the Glace Bay Division - The MacDonald Hundred Junior Pipe Band. Its members were all third and fourth year students of the Gaelic College’s instructional program. The Glace Bay Police Service Club presented a bass drum to the fledgling group. A recital was held and the proceeds were earmarked for a tour of Scotland, which was to take place in 1958 or 1959. The tour, however, never materialized and this branch of the Gaelic College Pipe Band did not last as a separate entity for very long.

In 1957, the band attended the Highland games in Charlottetown, PEI, placing third in the Junior Band division. That summer, several of the senior members of the Gaelic College Pipe Band were assistant instructors at the summer school. These included Pipe Majors Clare Gillis, C. Ann MacKenzie, and Mora MacLeod. The Principle Piping Instructor was Seumas MacNeill. Others also helped teach the dancing, namely Heather MacKenzie and Pipe Major Norma Morrison. The Principle Dancing Instructor was James L. MacKenzie.

In 1957 and 1958, the band won the Cape Breton County Junior Pipe Band Championship. It also won the highest marks both of those years and again in 1959 at the Cape Breton Festival of Music and Drama held at Sydney.

The band made its Fifth Annual Easter Week Celtic Cultural Tour in 1958, travelling to and performing in Saint John and Fredericton, NB, Montreal, Quebec, Ottawa and Spencerville, Ontario, and Boston, Massachusetts. Piping instructor Danny MacIntyre, however, was unable to go with the band at the very last moment and so A.W.R. MacKenzie had to arrange for assistance in tuning pipes at every stopping point. Among those who helped the band were Pipe Majors Ivan Downie, of Fredericton, William (Bill) Hannah, of the Black Watch (RHR) of Canada Pipe Band, Montreal, George Fraser, in Ottawa, Thomas Marshall of Brockville, and John Scott Campbell of Boston.

In May 1958 and again in 1959, as guests of the Stephenville Lions Club, the band was airlifted to the E. Harmon US Air Force Base in Stephenville, Newfoundland to take part in the Armed Services Day celebrations there. The band was met by Captain Lois Hartsell who escorted them to the Stephenville Gymnasium where they presented their first performance. Later, they played on the Flight Line for the ceremonies, and then later at the Base Service Club in the evening.

In February of 1959, the band performed during a very cold enactment of the Flight of the Silver Dart in the ice on Baddeck Bay, an event that many of the band members remember to this day, as much for the cold as for the significance of the celebration. They also played at the entrance to the Isle Royal Hotel in Sydney on the occasion of the Royal Visit to Cape Breton by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. The band played at the opening night performance of “The Student Prince” at the Vogue Theatre, playing on the Welcome Mat at the door of the theatre from 7-8 pm.

An article in The Casket that summer states that the band was now in its eighth season of performances and competitions. It won the Junior Pipe Band of the Maritimes Award at the Gaelic College, and was given the Wee MacCrimmon Cup for the sixth consecutive year. That summer, the band made its first recording. The taping was done by technicians from CJCB Radio in Sydney on the last day of the Gaelic Mod, in the classroom with many people in the room watching, and the band had a terrible time getting the chanters set. The recording was released for sale in 1960.

At the end of the summer, the band also travelled to Brookline, Massachusetts to participate in the 70th Annual Scottish Picnic and Highland Games. The nineteen-member band performed a fancy drill routine before 10,000 spectators, and afterwards they were presented with the Massachusetts State Banner that was to be hung in the new Celtic Arts Building to be opened on the Gaelic College campus in 1960.

It appears that there was a levels system in place with a Festival band, a Senior Band, and a Junior Band. In November, Frances MacLeod succeeded Heather MacKenzie as pipe major of the Senior Band, while Avon Burdge succeeded Edna Leonard as lead drummer. Pipe Corporals Ann Shirley Jessome and Sharon Robertson were promoted to the Festival Band, Myrna Buchanan, Lynda Dale MacLeod, Sandra Rose, Lynn MacNeil, and Marion MacNeil were promoted to the Senior Band, and Joan Smith, Lena Maloney, Valerie Kinslow, Larry Jackson, and Janie MacPherson were presented with their bagpipes and accepted into the Junior Band. Dorothy Chisholm and Arthur Jackson were presented with their drums and accepted into the Junior Band and Linda Rigby was presented with kilt, plaid, and pipes and was also accepted into the Junior Band. The Gaelic College bands at that time had twenty-four pipers and eight drummers, with thirty-five chanter students and another sixteen studying drumming.

In 1960, the Gaelic College “Macdonald Hundred” Girls’ Pipe Band placed second in the Maritime Junior Pipe Band Championship. That year, they travelled to Boston, Montreal, Brockville, Spencerville and Stanley, NB on their Sixth Annual Easter Concert Tour. The pipe majors were Frances MacLeod, the seventh pipe major of the band since 1950, and Emelie Murphy. Two of the former pipe majors, Ann Jackie Oran and Heather MacKenzie, also travelled with the band on that occasion.

In 1961, the Gaelic College Pipe Band played to welcome Prime Minister and Mrs. Diefenbaker to Sydney. A press report at the time mentioned that the band had travelled more than 30,000 miles throughout eastern Canada and eastern United States in its ten-year history. In December, the Gaelic College and MacDougall Girls’ Pipe Bands led a motorcade across the Bras D’Or Bridge during the opening ceremonies. The bridge had a 2,500 foot span, with a 2000 foot causeway constructed on the Kelly’s Mountain side and was built at a cost of $8,000,000.

In 1962, the band travelled again at Easter, this time with fifteen girls and four boys accompanied by six adults, including car drivers and matrons. The trip covered a total of some 1600 miles altogether, with performances in Romouski, Quebec, where they also appeared on television, Baie Comeau, Quebec where they staged two concerts, Campbellton, Woodstock, Perth-Andover, Fredericton and Moncton, New Brunswick. A car load of additional players travelled to Moncton to meet up with players from the main tour, so that two concerts were presented in two communities on the same night. About fourteen students from New Brunswick who had attended the summer sessions at the Gaelic College augmented them.

The Piper and Drummer Bulletin of October 1962, reports that the Boys’ Division of the MacDonald Hundred Pipe Band won the Wee MacCrimmon Cup for the Junior Pipe Band Championship of Eastern Canada that year. The Girls’ Division, which had won the cup for the past six years came second, one point behind the boys. Thomas Pearston, of the College of Piping, Glasgow, Scotland was the judge.

The Gaelic College Pipe Band’s annual Easter Educational Tours continued in 1963, and on April 18th, the band performed at the Hampden Auditorium in Bangor, Maine, which prompted the following letter from Mr. R.E. Farnham to the Provincial Tourist Bureau in Halifax:

Dear Sirs,

On April 18th, the Gaelic College Pipe Band put on a concert in our Hampden Auditorium. I simply want you to know that this group of girls and its director - A.W.R. MacKenzie should be a source of great pride to the Province of Nova Scotia. A large crowd was thrilled by their superb performance....”

On April 20th, the Gaelic College Pipe Band stopped in Fredericton, NB. There were twenty-two girls on the tour, accompanied by three lady matrons, Rev. A.W.R. MacKenzie, two other men, and the bus driver. The printed program of the Fredericton concert lists participants in a variety of piping, band, dance, and vocal numbers, illustrating the fact that the girls in the band also studied other disciplines. The program is as follows:

1. Opening Pipe Band Numbers:
Led by Co-Pipe Majors Barbara Burdge and Adeline Farrell
(1) “Bonnie Dundee”, “Scotland The Brave”, “Seumas MacNeill”.
(2) (Circle) - “Major Norman”, “My Home”, “Skye Boat Song”, “The 43rd”.
(Pipe Band enters in a Two Line March from the rear of the Hall.)
2. Introductions:
(1) Chairman: Lt. Col. M. Y. McLean, President, Fredericton Society of St. Andrew.
(2) Master of Ceremonies: Rev. Angus W. R. MacKenzie.
3. Seann Triubhas: By Five Senior Champion Highland Dancers: Sharon Forbes, Frances MacLeod, Barbara Burdge, Ann S. Jessome, and Sharon Robertson. Piper: P/M Emelie Murphy.
4. Massed Highland Fling: By the Junior Pipers and Drummers - Betty Ann Lachowiez, Nancy Woolgar, Ruby Ann Teeft, Dorothy Chisholm, Catherine Ann Flemming, Margaret Chisholm, Mary MacDougall, Betty Lou Legge, Rita MacDonald, Audrey MacDonald, Mary Chisholm. Piper: P/M Adeline Farrell.
5. The Pipers Harmony Quartette: “Green Hills” P/M Adeline Farrell, P/M Barbara Burdge, P/M Sharon Robertson, P/M Ann Shirley Jessome.
6. Hail to the Highlands - Gaelic Milling Numbers. By the senior students Pipers and Drummers - Barbara Burdge, Debbie MacInnis, Adeline Farrell, Lynda Dale MacLeod, Avon Burdge, Ann S. Jessome, Sharon Robertson, Frances MacLeod, Emelie Murphy, Penny MacLeod. (1) “Chi Mi Na Mor-Bheanna” 2. “Fear A’Bhata” 3. “Mo Dhachaidh” 4. “Mo Nighean Donn, Bhoideach” 5. “Am Fleasgach Donn”
7. Scotch Reel and Reel of Tulloch. By Senior Students - Barbara Burdge, Sharon Robertson, Ann Shirley Jessome, and Frances MacLeod. Piper: P/M Adeline Farrell.
8. Bagpipe Duet: By P/M Frances MacLeod and P/M Emelie Murphy.
9. Exhibition Drumming: By the Senior Drummers led by Drum Sergeant. Avon Burdge, Debbie MacDonald, Penny MacLeod, Dorothy Chisholm, Ruby Ann Teeft, Margaret Chisholm, Nancy Woolgar. (Junior Students Change to “Aboyne” Costume)
10. Local Number - The Campbellton Boy’s Pipe Band - Quartette
11. Sword Dance: (Double Swords) By Senior Students - (NS Champion Dancers) - Sharon Forbes, Ann Shirley Jessome, Barbara Burdge, Frances MacLeod, Sharon Robertson. Piper: P/M Emelie Murphy.
12. Massed Flora MacDonald’s Fancy: By Gaelic College Junior Students in the “Aboyne” Highland Dress. Mary MacDougall, Ruby Teeft, Dorothy Chisholm, Margaret Chisholm, Catherine Ann Flemming, Betty Lou Legge, Mary Chisholm, Betty Ann Lachowiez, Nancy Woolgar, Audrey MacDonald, Rita MacDonald. Piper: P/M Adeline Farrell.
13. Pipe Band Numbers: (1) “79th Farewell” 2. “Earl of Mansfield” 3. “Brown Haired Maiden”
(Intermission - 10 Minutes)
Part 2
1. Honour The Piper: (Senior Students) Gowned - Barbara Burdge, Sharon Robertson, Betty Lou Legge, Debbie MacInnis. Highland - Ann Shirley Jessome, Frances MacLeod, Avon Burdge, (Sharon Forbes). Piper: P/M Emelie Murphy
2. Jacobite Song Numbers: By the Senior Students - Barbara Burdge, Debbie MacInnis, Adeline Farrell, Lynda Dale MacLeod, Avon Burdge, Frances MacLeod, Penny MacLeod, Ann Shirley Jessome, Sharon Robertson, P/M Emelie Murphy. (1) “Bonnie Charlie’s Noo Awa’” (2) “Over the Sea To Skye”
3. Local Number: Society of St. Andrew Fredericton Pipe Band - P/M I.M. Downie. (1) “Corn Rigs are Bonnie” (2) “Caledonian Canal” (3) “The Khaki Apron” (4) “Leaving Port Askaig”
4. Twasome: (Senior Students) - (Two Couples) By Ann Shirley Jessome and Sharon Robertson, Barbara Burdge and Frances MacLeod.
5. Pipe and Drum Number: (The Drunken Piper) By P/M Adeline Farrell, Bass Drummer D/S Lynda Dale MacLeod, and Side Drummer D/S Avon Burdge.
6. Shepherd’s Crook: (Three Groups of Students) By 1. Barbara Burdge, Ann Shirley Jessome, Sharon Forbes, 2. Betty L. Legge, Lynda Dale MacLeod, Debbie MacInnis, 3. Frances MacLeod, Sharon Forbes, Penny MacLeod.
7. Sailors’ Hornpipe: Sharon Forbes, Penny MacLeod, Ruby Ann Teeft, Bonnie MacFarlane. Piper: P/M Adeline Farrell.
8. Irish Jig: Paulette MacKinnon, Catherine Ann Fleming, Barbara Burdge, Betty Ann Lachoweiz, Nancy Woolgar. Piper: P/M Emelie Murphy.
9. Appreciation - by the Chairman
10. Final Band Numbers: 1. Atholl Highlanders 2. Drummers Retreat
The concert concluded with the National Anthem.

This concert was presented in other centers too, including Brockville, Montreal, Rumouski, Campbellton, and Andover.

During this time, A.W.R. was still trying to settle the ownership of funds on deposit at the Canadian Bank of Commerce in Sydney, stemming from the breaking away of a five-family splinter group in the early 50s who became the All Sydney Girls’ Pipe Band, and later were known as the Stornaway Girls’ Pipe Band. The bank was still refusing to hand over a sum of $365.90 to the College without a court order.

The Gaelic College Pipe Band won the Wee MacCrimmon Cup again in 1964.

In 1965, the band returned to Fayetteville, NC, with additional performances in Washington, DC, Murray Hill, NJ, New York City, Boston, Mass., Wilmington, Delaware, and Bangor, Maine. The band had been rehearsing at the Steelworkers’ Hall in Sydney that fall and winter leading up to their Easter tour. The band members who went on the 1965 tour included pipers Frances MacLeod, Joan Smith, Faye MacMillan, Cecilia Campbell, Linda Matheson, Eileen MacNeil, Janette MacPherson, Emily MacLeod, Rita MacDonald, Catherine Ann Fleming, Leslie White, Sandra MacLean, Shirley Keenan, Robert (Ned) Smith, Bill Polk and Scott Emmans. The drummers were Debbie MacInnis, Penny MacLeod, Norma Adams, Margaret (Peggy) MacNeil, Rita MacPherson, Betty Lou Legge, Ruby Ann Teeft, Dorothy Chisholm, Margaret Chisholm, and Drum Major Betty Ann Lachewiez. There were additional dancers along as well, including Jeanne Polk, and Sharon Forbes. All together, the group travelled about 3500 miles, at a cost to the College of $2950, and revenues of about $2000. The band raised the remaining funds.

At the Gaelic Mod that summer, the Gaelic College bands’ pipe majors were listed in the program as being Joan Smith and Betty Lou Legge.

In 1966, the band toured with performances in Truro and Windsor, Nova Scotia. They also travelled to Moncton, Andover, Loring Air Force Base, Grand Falls, Florenceville and Saint John, NB. That summer, the band, with Rita MacDonald as pipe major, once again won the Wee MacCrimmon Cup at the Mod.

The sudden death of Rev. A.W.R. MacKenzie in May 1967 came as a blow to the band and its many supporters. He had driven to Sydney to attend the Saturday classes, and later that day suffered a fatal heart attack. His funeral was held in Sydney on May 24th, and he was buried in South Haven. For nearly thirty years, Rev. A.W.R. had worked tirelessly for the College and his enthusiasm for the band and its role in public relations for the College had kept it going through good times and bad. Hundreds of young musicians owed him a great debt of gratitude, as they were the recipients of all of the benefits of his efforts. An administration committee ran the College for the early part of 1967.

At the 1967 Mod, the Gaelic College Girls’ Pipe Band won the Open Junior Pipe Band Championship, with a band comprised of boys, placing second. A quartet consisting of Eileen and Patricia MacNeil, Janette MacPherson and Betty Lou Legge placed second to the MacDougall Girls.

That August, Nova Scotia participated in Canada’s Centennial Celebrations by hosting the Nova Scotia Centennial Spectacular Folk Arts Festival and Highland Games at the Wanderer’s Grounds, Halifax, from August 23rd to 26th, and the Gaelic College band travelled to Halifax to compete in the Canadian Centennial Highland Games. The band members were under the direction of Danny MacIntyre and included pipers Joan Smith, Lynda Matheson, Janette MacPherson, Eileen MacNeil, Patricia MacNeil, Emily MacLeod, Katherine Ann Fleming, Cecilia Campbell, Faye MacMillan and Rita MacDonald, and drummers Rita MacPherson, Peggy MacNeil, Henry Matheson, and Mary MacLeod on Bass. There were seven junior bands entered in their event, some of whom were from other parts of Canada, including British Columbia and Ontario.

This was the band’s first time competing off the Island for many years, and, like many of their Nova Scotian counterparts, its members were unfamiliar with the procedure to follow when preparing for competition. Instead of practicing their pieces, settling their instruments, setting chanters, and tuning drones, for example, the young pipers sat at the edge of the competition area watching as the other bands played. When their turn came, they stood up, straightened their uniforms, had their drones tuned, and marched onto the competition field to play their tunes. They did not place in the prizes, which was a great shock to the College and its many supporters, though no shock at all to those who had more competitive experience outside of Nova Scotia. The fact that many of the young pipers were well taught, despite their lack of competitive band experience, did not go unnoticed, however. Janette MacPherson and Eileen MacNeil placed first in the Girls 14 and Under Duet event and placed second and third respectively after champion Gail Brown of Ontario in the Girls’ Solo Piping event.

The Gaelic College pipe band was no different from other Nova Scotian bands of that era. Few had competed away from the province, except in the north eastern United States where bands at that time perhaps knew even less about what was required to produce a prize-winning performance. Their eyes and ears were opened, however, and as much as anything else, the Centennial Games experience produced a desire to bring about improvements in piping, drumming and pipe band performances throughout Nova Scotia.

Shortly thereafter, in March 1968, Leonard Jones took over as Director of the College, and hired a young amateur champion piper named Barry Ewen. Barry’s influence was felt immediately and that summer the band placed second in the Junior Mini Band event at the Antigonish Highland Games. Thereafter, the band was simply called the Gaelic College Pipe Band. Having a great piping instructor was only half the battle, however, and Barry was able to convince Leonard Jones that he should bring in Scottish champion drummer Joe Noble as a summer school instructor in 1969. After only a short time with Joe, the band returned to the Antigonish Highland Games and placed first in what was to that point the largest Junior Pipe Band competition held in Nova Scotia with seven entries. The band also entered the Mini Band event and won that event as well.

In 1970, the Gaelic College Pipe Band entered the Maritime Senior Pipe Band Championship held at the Antigonish Highland Games placing first.

In 1971, the band attended the very first Antigonish Indoor Piping and Drumming Meet in May, tying for second place in the Open Quartet competition. In Pugwash, on July 1st, the band entered the Senior Pipe Band event, and was awarded first place. The band returned to Antigonish for the Highland Games where they placed third in the Maritime Junior Pipe Band Championship, first in the Mini Band event, and first in the Maritime Senior Pipe Band Championship.

In 1972, the Gaelic College entered a quartet in the Atlantic Quartet Championships at the Antigonish Indoor Meet, placing third behind two Antigonish Legion contingents. In July, the band placed second in the Grade 2 competition and won the Open Slow March/Six-Eight event. The band wore kilts in the Hunting MacLeod tartan, hand-woven and sewn at the Gaelic College Craft Centre.

In 1973, Finlay MacNeill of Inverness, Scotland came to teach at the Gaelic College Summer School for the first time. A Gold Medal piobaireachd player, he was also a Gold Medal Mod singer, a big bear of a man with a gentle heart, and he made an immediate impact on his young charges at St. Ann’s. Many of the pipers became seriously interested in learning piobaireachd for the first time, largely due to Finlay’s way of singing the tunes as he taught the pipers to play them.

That summer, the Gaelic College Pipe Band performed under the leadership of co-pipe majors Emily MacLeod and Anna Marie Kaiser, and Drum Sergeant Kathy Kaiser. Other members included pipers Eileen MacNeil, Patricia MacNeil, Robyn Sutherland, Ruth MacAulay, Patty Lou MacLeod, and Deidre MacLeod, and drummers Joanne MacAskill, Todd MacAulay, Laurie MacDonald, Cathy Ross and Virginia Whitty. That year, the band made its second recording that featured the following selections: Side 1: 1. 4/4 Marches: Murdo’s Wedding and The Sands of Loch Bee; 2. Slow March: The Highland Cradle Song; 6/8 Marches: MacNeil of Ugadale and Angus MacKinnon; 3. Retreat Airs: My Land and Castle Dangerous; 4. Medley: The Royal Scots Polka, Campbellton Kilty Ball, Sporting Jamie, Devil Among the Tailors, The Waters of Kylesku and The Duck; 5. Hornpipes: The Circassian Circle and Drummond Castle Laundry; 6. M/S/R: The Conundrum, Cameronian Rant, and Lexie MacAskill; 7. 2/4 Marches: The Brown Haired Maiden and The Highland Laddie. Side 2: 1. Slow March: The Mist Covered Mountains, and 6/8 Marches: Captain Craig Brown and Lady Dorothea Stewart Murray; 2. 4/4 Marches: The Road to Garinish, The 79th Highlanders; 3. M/S/R: Lord Alexander Kennedy, Captain Colin Campbell, and Willie Davie; 4. Retreat Airs: The Green Hills of Tyrol and When the Battle Is O’er; 5. M/S/R: Father John MacMillan of Barra, Roddy MacDonald’s Strathspey, and Roddy MacDonald’s Reel; 6. Hornpipes: He Ro Hi-ram and The Wee Man From Uist; and 7. 4/4 March: Scotland The Brave, and 2/4 March: The High Road To Gairloch.

In 1976, the band listed nine pipers and eight drummers on its NSPPBA roster, as follows: pipers Anna Marie Kaiser, Emily MacLeod, Leslie Roberts, Robyn Sutherland, Ruth MacInnis, Virginia Murray, Lynette MacDonald, Ian Parsons, and Dana MacAulay, drummers Virginia Whitty, Joanne MacAskill, Todd MacAulay, Gerianne Alexander, Jason Cook, Karen Anne Campbell and Jocelyn Campbell, with Cathy Ross listed as both piper and drummer.

In 1977, the band was falling on hard times, with reduced numbers, and reduced support from management. Leonard Jones, in an article published in the Halifax Herald on August 12th, described them as a “motley but enthusiastic” group, who had been performing three times each day during the Mod.

In the period leading up to the summer of 1978, the Gaelic College was in turmoil. With a very large deficit, the College could not meet the demands of its creditors without substantial government assistance. The assistance came, but with a very high price tag as the College’s administrator, Mr. Leonard Jones, was replaced by Evan Lloyd. The band, which had just about collapsed under the financial strain of the previous few years, and had been reduced to performing on the front lawn for the tourists during the summer months, was rejuvenated by the energy and drive Joan Smith brought to her new position as Summer School Director. In June, the band came under the direction of Scott Williams from Antigonish who was hired as an assistant piping instructor for the summer. In addition to supervising practice classes, and directing the student band performances, Scott took over the training of the Gaelic College competition band and led them back onto the competition field with very good results. That fall, he continued to come to the College on weekends and the band planned for vigorous winter rehearsals to prepare for even better competition results the next year. The band registered the following members with the Nova Scotia Pipers and Pipe Band Association: Pipe Major Scott Williams, pipers Leslie Roberts, Diedre MacLeod, Robyn Sutherland, Ruth MacInnis, Bill Beavers, Cathy Ross, Lynette MacDonald, Virginia Murray, Jamie Matheson, Sandi Roberts, Valerie Bruce, Barbara MacLeod, Patricia Vickers and Roblyn Ballam, Drumming Instructor Joanne MacAskill, drummers Karenanne Campbell, John Perry, Gerianne Alexander, Jocelyn Campbell, Virginia Whitty, Tanya Grant, Peggi MacInnis, Kim Ingraham, Neila MacInnis, Lynn Douglas, Kim Timmons, Joan MacLean and Patsy Fazekas.

In November, the band played at a Remembrance Day Ceremony in Baddeck. By December, however, a shift in the political wind brought about a reversal in the administration of the College. Evan Lloyd was out, Leonard Jones was back in, Joan Smith went to work for a year in Scotland, and Scott Williams left. It seemed that the band would once again be relegated to a summer school promotional performance group.

By the spring of 1979, however, pressure from parents and the general public insured that the band would have a higher profile, and a competition unit was registered with the NSPPBA. In 1980, Ann Robinson of Stellarton became pipe major and the band saw another rise in its level of activity. They played at the 25th Anniversary of the Opening of the Canso Causeway as well as taking part in most of the NSPPBA competitions that season as a Grade 4 band.

In May 1981, bagpipes were issued to Barbara MacLeod, Roblyn Ballam, Patricia Vickers, Donna MacIntosh, Jimmy Skinner, Michelle MacKenzie and Mark Buell. The band had another two sets on hand, plus one incomplete set. The band travelled to Pugwash for an Indoor Meet, and experienced a wild night at their motel - between drunks next door wanting to spend time with the young girls and a car load of teenage boys wanting much the same thing in the parking lot outside, the girls were all taken into one room with their mattresses and they slept on the floors, protected by their chaperones. The band placed third the next day, with nine solo players capturing awards as well.

In June, the band, now outfitted in MacKenzie tartan kilts, took part in the 32nd Annual Cabot Day Celebrations at Cabot Landing, Cape North. In July, Doug Boyd of Antigonish took over as pipe major and the lead drummer was Robbie MacQuarrie, of North Sydney. In addition to those new members listed above, other band members were Pipers Holly Hynes, Sandi Roberts, Doug Stewart, Valerie Bruce, Denise MacDonald, Perley MacBride, and Ann Robinson, drummers Kim Ingraham, Neila MacInnis, Kim Timmons, Lynn Douglas, Peggy MacInnis, Tanya Grant, Patricia Ross, Carol MacIver, Juanita Simpson, and M. MacDonald. Angus MacLellan, Pipe Sergeant of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band of Glasgow, Scotland joined Finlay MacNeill as a summer school piping instructor and his interest and assistance gave the band an additional boost. That summer, the band captured six first places and one second place, winning the Grade 4 Champion Supreme award for the season, and being declared the Nova Scotia Champions as a result of their victory at the Antigonish Highland Games. That fall, Jan Menard, of Truro, took over as the band’s drumming instructor. This change prompted much controversy and at least two of the members decided to leave the band.

In 1982, the band was competing at the Grade 3 level and managed to take two firsts and eight seconds. Their win in the medley event at the Antigonish Highland Games made them the Atlantic Canadian Champions.

In 1983, the Gaelic College band was again under the leadership of Ann Robinson. Its members included Roblyn Ballam, Kim Ingraham, Denise MacDonald, Marie Elaina MacDonald, Neila MacInnis, Donna MacIntosh, Brenda Nash, Sandi Roberts, Jimmy Skinner, Kim Timmons, Patricia Vickers, and Kim MacRae. It was still competing at the Grade 3 level, and it made a clean sweep, taking seven first place awards and being named the Nova Scotia Grade 3 Champions, the Atlantic Canadian Grade 3 Champions, and the NSPPBA Grade 3 Champions Supreme.

Eleven members of the band travelled to Ontario where they took part in the Ontario Gaelic Mod. As a choir, they took top honours, while a quartet placed third, a duet placed fifth, and a soloist, Lynn Douglas, placed third. Most of the female members of the band were also accomplished Highland dancers, and had reached the Open class in competition, though most had stopped dancing by then as to continue would have interfered with their participation in the band’s competitions.

In addition to travelling to numerous competitions across the province and beyond, the band accepted a number of annual engagements, such as the Cabot Day Parade at Cabot’s Landing, the Memorial Day Parade in Baddeck, the Bar 90+ Parade in North Sydney, the Colliery Days Parade in Sydney Mines and the Festival of the Strait Parade in Port Hawkesbury. It also performed in the Closing Ceremonies of the International Gathering of the Clans held at the Gaelic College.

In 1984, the band was advanced to the Grade 2 level. The Medley was new in the region as a competitive event and a special Open category was instituted by the NSPPBA, with the Gaelic College being named the Open Medley Champions Supreme at the end of the season. The band’s pipe major, Ann Robinson was named the Pipe Major of the Year by the NSPPBA. That July, the band travelled to Richmond, Quebec.

In 1985, the band was still competing at the Grade 2 level, but many of its senior members had moved on. Brenda Nash took over as pipe major and molded the younger players into a very fine pipe section indeed. The band placed second in the March, Strathspey and Reel event in Pugwash, third in Halifax, and took another two thirds at the Antigonish Highland Games. The members at that time were: Pipe Major Brenda Nash, pipers Sandi Roberts, Craig Jobe, Patricia Vickers, Denise MacDonald, Barbara Stewart, Doug Stewart, Mark Buell, Bonnie Jean MacDonald, Audrey Buchanan, Erin Bradley, Debbie MacAulay, Thea Gillis, Jennifer Cameron, Roblyn Ballam, Donna MacIntosh, Cheryl Ryan, and Ann Robinson, drummers Kim Ingraham, Alex DuBois, Lianne Bradshaw, Karen Stewart, Sharon MacDonald, Kelly Ryan, Trish MacDonald, Patricia MacAualy, and Mary Elena MacDonald.

The Gaelic College Pipe Band has not always been supported by the College administration. In May 1985, the President of the College, Norman MacDonald, prepared a paper that he called “Some Thoughts on a Pipe Band Policy for the Gaelic College” and presented it to the Board of Governors of the College. In it, he gave his own interpretation of the historical role of the band at the College, playing down any early competitive activities and stressing that the band’s main function was to serve as a promotional tool for the College. He went on to report that the role of the band changed when the Nova Scotia Pipers and Pipe Band Association was formed in 1966 after which time the band began to take a more active interest in entering competitions, a change in the role of the Gaelic College Pipe Band “... to which neither the Band nor the College have quite adjusted.”

MacDonald went on to suggest that “NSPPBA involvement is not, on the long-term basis, compatible with a band which draws its students largely from Summer School: NSPPBA competing is not compatible with local parades as all tend to be on Saturdays in July and August. Workshop development is incompatible with the existence of a Band....” He goes on to write “It is difficult to defend any College financing whatsoever of a Gaelic College Pipe Band.... The only means around this dilemma in a way that is fair to all, is to totally separate Gaelic College Pipe Band funding from the rest of the Gaelic College operation.” He continued to downplay the significance of the band by writing “no Gaelic College Pipe Band has ever gone on to Senior level, and no Gaelic College student has, to date, competed successfully at National level in Canada, far less at World level with pipers from Scotland, Ontario, Australia, British Columbia, or the US.” Luckily, for the band at any rate, MacDonald did not last much longer as the College’s President.

1986 saw another mass exodus from the band’s senior ranks, and an application to the NSPPBA to drop to Grade 4 was accepted. As sometimes happened, however, many of the members who had left to go to university returned for the summer and the band was a very good Grade 4 unit by mid-July. There was serious discussion about boosting the band back up the grades, but this revival was short-lived and the Association allowed them to stay in Grade 4. In 1987, the band placed first at the Gaelic Mod, and was later named Grade 4 Champions Supreme.

In 1990 and 1991, Sean MacNeil of Sydney was the pipe major of the Gaelic College Pipe Band, which was then competing at the Grade 3 level. In 1992, the band registered the following members with the NSPPBA: pipers: Jennifer Anderson, Lindsay Bradley, Robyn Bruce, Sheila Cameron, Fiona Fitzgerald, Thea Gillis, Alasdair Kennedy, Debbie MacAulay, Nadia MacAulay, Ryan MacDonald, Christine Pelly, and Sean Phillips, drummers Tammy Boutilier, Patricia Gillis, Nancy Jennex, Doreen MacAulay, Shannon MacDonald, Carol Stubbert, and Janet Whatley.

In 1993, Bruce MacPhee became the pipe major of the band, with John Walsh doing much of the teaching. This proved to be an excellent combination, as the band won the North American Grade 3 Championship in Maxville, Ontario. The following year, in 1994, with Sean Morton coming on board as the drumming instructor, the band competed in seven Maritime competitions, placing first in six of them and winning the Grade 3 Champions Supreme award. The highlight, however, occurred when the band won the Grade 3 contest at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. While in Scotland, the band performed at the unveiling of a memorial to Rev. Norman MacLeod at Point of Stoer on August 2nd. In addition to winning the World Championship, the band placed first in Grade 3 and 4th in the Grade 2 event at the Inverkeithing Highland Games on August 6th. Upon its return to Cape Breton, the band produced a CD, the third recording by the band in its long history.

In 1995, the Gaelic College band was promoted to Grade 2. It attracted many young pipers from other bands who were willing to make the long drive to St. Ann’s for band practices in hopes of sharing in the band’s future successes. There was even serious discussion about taking the band to New Zealand. This new influx of pipers and drummers meant that the band had so many members that it split into two competing units. The Grade 2 band competed in five events, taking three firsts and two seconds, but finishing second overall in the Champions Supreme standings. The Grade 4 Band competed at three events, but did not make it into the prizes.

In 1996, a young Scot named Mark Stewart immigrated from the Perth area of Scotland and took over the reigns of the rapidly declining bands. Despite the best efforts of this very capable young man, the decline continued. The Gaelic College Grade 4 Pipe Band placed third overall for the season while the senior group dropped back to Grade 3 and placed second overall in their category. As had happened so many times before, a large number of the more senior members from the year before had left to attend university or to find employment outside the region. Efforts to augment the band with new recruits from Antigonish, Stellarton, and other areas did not succeed in bolstering the band this time, and it continued to decline in numbers and performance quality until the fall of 1998, when it disbanded.

There was no Gaelic College Pipe Band for the 1999 season, and the supporters of the Gaelic College were anxious to see it revived. Discussions in August with John MacLean resulted in the re-formation of the Gaelic College Pipe Band, with weekend workshops during the winter months. With a pipe section ready to go, the next obstacle was to rebuild a drum section. It is hoped that a newly revived Gaelic College Pipe Band will be ready before the competition season begins in the year 2001.