Band History:

The Sons of Scotland, formed in 1896 by D.L. McLean, is Canada's oldest civilian pipe band. James Anderson led the band in the early 1900s. The band played in Ottawa for the first time in 1896 in celebration of the death of Robert Burns. It was in fact the first pipe band to be heard in the nation's capital. Unfortunately, little is known about the band's early activities.

Jumping ahead, Pipe Major Alan Quinn breathed new life into the Sons of Scotland by forming a successful junior band in 1969. Under PM Quinn, the kids won best intermediate pipe band at the 1972 Landsdowne Park Highland Games in Ottawa and competed at the World Championships in Scotland in the early '70s.

Morag Jamieson took over from Alan Quinn as Pipe Major in 1976. Under PM Jamieson, the band took second and fifth place in Grade 4 competitions in Cobourg, Cambridge, and at the Canadian National Exhibition. She also ran a private school of piping which had many talented and challenging individuals including Rob Crabtree, Bethany Bisaillion, Ross May, Lochie Bisaillion, Chris Bisaillion, Greg MacPherson and many others. Her work and legacy has continued in the area through the teachers and students, and she is a mentor to many.

Alan Quinn was again Pipe Major in 1980 when he formed a senior teaching band.

John Hodgins, a long-time band member, manager and supporter, booked an incredible 33 gigs for the Sons in a single year (1985). Quinn and Hodgins started the tradition of having the band play at the Sons of Scotland Camp Argyle #26's glamorous, annual Burns Banquet, which attracts several hundred people yearly.

Liz McLeod took over as Pipe Major in 1990 and led the band until 1995, when Gord McNaule took over. Pipe Major McNaule appointed Fred Kuzniarz Lead Drummer. Both Gord and Fred were dedicated to raising the standard of the band, a trend that has continued through to today.

In 1997, PM McNaule led the band into competition for the fist time in many years. By 1999, the Sons had won two firsts and a third in parade competitions in New York and entered the PPBSO Highland games circuit, facing very stiff competition.

In September 2000, Bethany Bisaillion joined on as Pipe Major. A dedicated teacher, PM Bisaillion has brought many new players to the band and has established a strong, organized learning environment for band practices.

In 2003 and 2004 the band added a trip to Scotland to their schedule.  They traveled with dancers, parents and guests and played to appreciative audiences at spectacular venues such as Stirling and Edinburgh Castles.  The band also performed on behalf of the Caledonia Brewery of Edinburgh and looks forward to their continued support.  Both trips were made complete by great results at the World Pipe Band Championships at Glasgow Green.

The band is proud to support many area charities and community events - ALS Canada, the Sons of Scotland Benevolent Association, the Alzheimers Sociatey of Canada, the Fallen Firefighters Memorial and the City of Ottawa are a few examples.  The band also competes at highland games throughout the summer in Grades IV and V.  The Sons do their own fundraising to purchase uniforms and instruments and offset travel costs.

The band now has numerous officers and teachers, and strives to present excellent music to its audiences,  The Sons provide free training in piping and drumming to all of its members, and encourages all players to participate in parades, shows and concerts. The band is also a proud supporter of the Ottawa Fire Services, and often play at their events in support of their members and their many great charitable causes.

The band also takes trips to interesting places-their UK trips have become full of great friends, venues, and performance opportunities. The band started taking trips to Scotland in 2003, and they make their home base in Edinburgh. Each year the band makes plans to play at places including Stirling, Edinburgh and Blair Atholl Castles, at the Palace of HolyroodHouse and in the Pipefest Parade. We've been guests of The Highlanders at Redford Barracks, and played with the members of the Caledonian Brewery Pipe Band in informal parades and in pubs, kitted out in the world's best kilts made by 21st Century Kilts of Edinburgh courtesy of Howie Nicholsby. Our friends at Caledonian-Shakey, Boffin and all the staff are generous with their hospitality and good beer - and we show our support as often as we can both here and abroad. We've played at Edinburgh City Chambers for Lord Provost Hinds, at the home of Sir John A MacDonald in Glasgow along with Lord Provost Cameron, and at Belfast City Hall in celebration of that building's 100 year anniversary. But one of the best highlights for the band has to be the private performance we gave for Her Majesty The Queen at Balmoral Castle in 2005. The band, dancers and guests made their way from Edinburgh to Balmoral on August 11 to play on the back lawn for a 45 minute show. In attendance were Her Majesty The Queen, Princess Beatrice, and the Queen's Equerry and Lady In Waiting. The band played a great performance along with the MacCulloch Dancers whose founder Rae MacCulloch and daughter Heather Forbes had the chance to meet The Queen and present her with a lovely gift. Rae had been a big fan of The Queen, and this was the first time in her school's 51 year history that they had danced for her. Rae, Heather, and the Pipe Major had the chance to have a nice walkabout with The Queen where she spent time speaking with many members of the band, the dancers, and then our guests! It truly was a grand occasion, one we'll all never forget.

2007 is the bands' 111th year, and we will celebrate with a return trip to New York for Tartan Week in April, and will be going to the UK again in August to compete and play at shows in Stirling, Edinburgh, Drummond Castle, and Glasgow and for the first time in London. Please visit our calendar page for updates on the band's shows. We'd love to see you!