The 29^th Annual George Sherriff Memorial Invitational will held on on November 15 at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Hamilton, Ontario. This year the BC Pipers’ Association will be represented by Grade 1 pipers, Aiden Fowler and Jeff Rowell.

Aiden Fowler, Langley, B.C.

Aiden began bagpiping at age 9 with the White Spot Pipe Band under the instruction of Hal Senyk. He is now an instructor with the White Spot Pipe Band and also enjoys teaching individual students. Aiden currently plays with the Grade 2 Cascadia Pipe Band and competed at the 2025 World Pipe Band Championship. Aiden is happy to have been awarded the British Columbia Pipers’ Association (BCPA) Grade 1 solo piping Grand Aggregate for the 2025 season, including three aggregates. Outside of bagpiping Aiden is a student at Simon Fraser University studying for a degree in criminology. For the past two years he has served as a director on the BCPA board and as Chair of the BCPA Youth Committee.

Jeff Rowell Surrey, British Columbia

Jeff has been piping for 20 years under PM Graham Davidson, the late Alan Walters, and currently, Shaunna Hilder. In the 2025 Season he was the BC Pipers’ Association Annual Gathering & Mini Gathering Grade 1 Piping Aggregate winner, and the recipient of the Grand Aggregate for Grade 1 Piobaireachd. Jeff is the Pipe Major of grade 3A Greighlan Crossing Pipe Band. In Maxville the band was 2nd at the 2025 North American Championships and placed 6th place at the 2024 World Pipe Band Championships. Performance highlights include piping on the Great Wall of China, and more recently playing in the Invictus Games opening ceremony at BC Place. Jeff is a registered speech-language pathologist at Burnaby Hospital specializing in stroke rehabilitation. He also runs a clinic providing speech therapy to children and families across the Lower Mainland. In his spare time, he’s usually playing ball hockey or powerlifting. Jeff is excited for a busy upcoming season, filled with wedding planning for the spring and preparing for another World’s run. He is honoured to be invited to Ontario to compete at the George Sherriff Invitational.

The eleven invited competitors from across Canada and the United States will compete at 10 a.m. in the 6/8 March, Piobaireachd at 12:30 p.m. and the March, Strathspey & Reel at 7:30 p.m. Results to follow.

The adjudicators will be Chris Armstrong, Matt MacIsaac and Sean McKeown, and Master of Ceremonies will be Peter Aumonier.

Thank you to the event organizers and sponsors. The BC Pipers’ Association sends our best wishes to Aiden and Jeff, and all the competitors in Hamilton, Ontario.