President’s Winter Report – PPBSO
- Malkie Bow
- 20 hours ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 12 hours ago
Isn’t the Winter supposed to be piping & drumming’s quiet season? Not in Ontario - our branches are currently bustling with indoor activities and with further plans to keep us busy right through until the Spring. Meanwhile, bands are busy getting their repertoire ready for a new season that will be upon us before you know it.
Board & Committee Activity
Let’s start this update with what’s going on behind the scenes with your Board of Directors and the various committees.
At our December board meeting the board elected three officers: Brad Davidson as Vice President, Brian Philip as Secretary and John Allen as Treasurer, all for two-year terms.
Recently the Board also approved the hiring of a communications company to assist us in developing an enhanced communications strategy. This move will improve our communications with our membership through a variety of social media platforms as well as through our website and email channels. Our aim is also to reach outside our organization for potential new members, especially youth and parents. Another goal is to assist bands with teaching programs to develop outreach opportunities to new audiences. This will be a one-year pilot project to be re-evaluated in early 2027.
I would like to personally thank the members of the various committees that help keep this organization running behind the scenes. Without your work, we could not function - Thank You!
The Governance Committee is finalizing some changes to the 2026 Competition Rule Book which will be out by Spring. The proposed changes are mostly very minor in nature - such as some new rules about massed bands, bands challenging up and the definition of march medley for grade 5 and juvenile bands clarified as: "tunes that are ‘march-able’ in simple or compound time signatures, played in quick time" - more details on changes to follow.
The Music Committee Chair, Jim McGillivray, advises that there have been some changes of membership on the committee with Kate Dudek and Kyle Heaney departing after several years of excellent work, while Joe Biggs and Dan Bist have been newly appointed to the committee.
The grading sub-committee have done an amazing job, starting in September, with the mandatory upgrades. The option to apply for consideration to re-grade has now opened with a deadline of April 13th for solo competitors and March 31st for bands. It is important that competitors complete an honest self-assessment by reviewing their results and seeking advice from a mentor before applying.
The annual Judges seminar, which will be held entirely online this year, is scheduled for April 18th in partnership with the BC Pipers Association. Judges will be contacted directly with more details.
One of our long-time drumming judges, Greg Dinsdale, has announced his retirement after more than three decades of judging. We wish Greg all the best and thank him for his many years of service in Ontario and beyond.
The Youth Development Committee, under the leadership of Tyler Bridge, will be looking at repeating the Summer youth workshop in conjunction with the Ontario Youth Pipe Band as well as run another teaching seminar in partnership with the BC Piper’s Association.
We realize that the best place to “get more sticks and chanters in hands” is at the grass-roots pipe band level so the board has also asked the Youth Development Committee to convene a pipe band leadership roundtable to discuss teaching programs – successes, organization and best practices, so that we can help each other improve and encourage the development of new programs.
The PPBSO wants to further support any teaching programs currently in place, such as the programs being run by: Glengarry PB, Durham Regional Police P&D, London Firefighters PB, Hamilton Police PB, Peel Regional Police PB and Guelph PB. The PPBSO will be highlighting each of these programs in the coming months on our website and social media and will continue to feature and promote teaching programs often throughout the year.
Highland Games 2026
A solid slate of highland games is scheduled for 2026 with the return of the Hamilton Highland Gathering on June 6th and the Kingsville HG on June 27th. Both of these events will feature grade 3, 4 & 5 pipe bands and amateur solo events only.
The North American Pipe Band Championships (The Glengarry Highland Games) at Maxville this year will feature three overseas judges with Barry Donaldson (RSPBA piping) and Paul Turner (RSPBA drumming) joining the judging panel for Friday & Saturday and Dr. Angus MacDonald, (who will be judging the gold medal on Friday), will join the solo judging panel for Saturdays competitions.
Another feature receiving serious consideration for 2026 is to have Grade 3 bands play twice on Saturday. Details and logistics are still being worked out with more information to follow.
Branches
We are fortunate to have such a dedicated group of branch committees that have organized a multitude of events throughout the indoor season.
Knock-outs are well under way at the Ottawa branch and Toronto branch and the Niagara-Hamilton branch will be offering three dates of amateur piping, snare, tenor and bass competitions. These competitions have been very popular so if you’re thinking about it, get your entry in. Dates are: January 17th, February 21st and March 21st.
Further indoor contests will be offered by the Western branch in London, the Toronto branch and the Ottawa branch in the early Spring, so stand-by for more details on those.
The Niagara-Hamilton branch is also planning a couple of interesting workshops this Winter and Spring. The first, on February 28th, is titled “Learn Faster, Perform Better” and is presented by Dr. Molly Gebrian. (Word on the street: this is amazing workshop and not to be missed). It's online so available to anyone anywhere!
On April 11th snare drummers from all over will converge on the Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders armouries in Hamilton for this prestigious drumming competition. Amateurs grades 1-5 will compete during the day while the professionals will compete in the evening.
Niagara-Hamilton branch president, Brittany Wright, states: “Invitations have gone out to competitors and judges with J. Reid Maxwell, Chris Bell and Craig Stewart already confirmed to judge. This will be a great day of drumming competition”.
Mark your calendars for a day of professional piping at the 47th Annual Livingstone Invitational to be held on Saturday, May 9th, 2025 in the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders Officer's Mess of the John Weir Foote Armoury in Hamilton.
10 of the best North American professional pipers will play for the top prizes. This years judging panel is confirmed as: Robert Wallace, Michael Grey and Ann Gray.
Invitations for competitors are based on results from competitions across North America. Competitors will be announced officially over the coming weeks.
This event is proudly hosted by the Niagara-Hamilton branch of the PPBSO and supported by Lillian Livingstone, the Piobaireachd Society and the Piper’s and Pipe Band Society of Ontario.
A piobaireachd workshop by Piobaireachd Society President, Robert Wallace, is being planned for the same weekend, stand by for more details on that.
Great Spring & Summer Season Ahead
As you can see, 2026 is so far shaping up to be another great year of piping & drumming in Ontario, so I look forward to seeing you out there.
Malkie Bow
President