BC Pipers’ Association Life Member, City of Victoria Grade 1 Pipe Band Pipe Major James W Troy.
The BC Pipers’ Association has lost a long-time friend, Life Member, Pipe Major James W. Troy. Indeed, the world has lost someone who meant so much to so many, our art and our music. We grieve alongside Jamie’s wife of 50 years, Louise (“Troys Wedding” written by brother in law Colin Magee), their children, James P. Troy, Jacquie Troy Carter, and their families.
James W. was a larger-than-life personality and a towering figure in piping, drumming, and pipe bands. His relentless pursuit of excellence was second to none. Anyone who knew him, knew him as a man of integrity, with a deep love for his family, his students, and the music to which he devoted his life.
With the permission of the family, the BC Pipers’ Association has gathered a few words from those who knew him well—reflections that speak more deeply to the legacy Jamie built over a lifetime and now leaves behind. We invite you to take a moment to appreciate these meaningful reflections, shared by a few of Jim’s longtime students of the art.
A Celebration of Life will be held at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC on April 1st, 2026 at 2:00 pm. https://www.mccallgardens.com/obituaries/james-w-jamie-troy/
Submitted by Peter Aumonier
The Leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old.
But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul.
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man.
I’m just a living legacy to the Leader of the band.
I thank you for the music and your stories of the road.
I thank you for the freedom when it came my time to go.
I thank you for the kindness and the times when you got tough.
And Jamie, I don’t think I said I love you near enough.
The Leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old.
But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul.
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man.
I’m just a living legacy to the Leader of the band……..
P/M James W. Troy
Rest in Peace.
Every young man needs a mentor and a hero. You were mine.
Submitted by Rene Cusson
Jamie was very much like a father to me when I regularly travelled from Lantzville to Victoria to take lessons or travel to the games with him. I often stayed with him in those days.
Between the age of 14 and 15, Jamie began working with me on band skills in the hope we could find a couple of other pipers to make a quartet—the precursor to the C of V pipe band. As many of you know, he has also talked Colin Magee and Steve Geddes into this exciting venture.
For me, around Jamie, there was nothing but amazing learning and lots of piping excitement during this period.
Submitted by David Hilder
I’ll never forget being a 14-year-old kid down at the Bay Street Armories in Victoria, at the Vancouver Island Pipers Club. I’d admired the City of Victoria Pipe Band from afar for as long as I could remember, and with Jamie as my teacher, they felt like giants. Jamie was always my giant.
One night, I finally worked up the nerve. I walked over to Jamie and said, “Hey Jamie… what do I have to do to join the City of Victoria Pipe Band?”
He didn’t hesitate. He just said, “Come with me.”
He walked me over to the cloakroom where all the pipe cases were. He grabbed his own case—this big, old, black, handmade wooden box with metal corners. The Pipe Major’s case. Years later, I got one just like it. I wish I still had it.
Inside, it had cutouts for every drone, little leather straps to hold your chanter, a spot for reeds, red lining, and straps inside the lid for music. He opened it up, reached inside, and pulled out a booklet of tunes.
Then he turned to me and said, “This has been sitting in my case… waiting for you to ask. That’s how you join the City of Victoria.”
And just like that, he handed me a bag cover and the book of music and told me to get to work.
That was Jamie. He always had the guts—and the heart—to give kids an opportunity. He always took a chance on us. Me, Bruce Gandy, Peter Aumonier, Gord Pollock … we were all just kids. Years later, he did the same for his own son, James P., who I think was about twelve at the time. Jamie never missed a chance to spot talent and pay it forward. He gave everything, and he never held knowledge back. Jim taught from the soul.
He taught me everything I know about sound—how to manipulate reeds, how to push for better and better tone, and to never give up on getting the best sound you possibly could. He drilled into me that you never, ever stop trying to make it better. “Is that bridle tight enough/too tight ?” “Cut it off and redo it” “Could you get a little bit more out of that ?” “Then do it” “Side two track 4” and for those that know ….. Low G
My dad used to drive me to his place on Prior Street and drop me at the door. Years later I would train down and Jamie would pick me up. Jamie would spend the whole Saturday working with me. Louise would make lunch, Jaquie and James P would be at the table. It was like being welcomed into their family.
What a guy. We all loved him in our own way. He knew it by watching us all still play the sweet music…….
Gonna miss him.
Submitted by Corey Tillyer
The City of Victoria Pipe Band family have lost our mentor, our friend, our leader.
“As Pipe Major of the City of Victoria Pipe Band, Jamie was an extraordinary piper and a compelling leader—full of personality, discipline, and the unmistakable presence of a true master. Though I had heard many tales about his fiery language and strong opinions, he was always gentle, thoughtful, and soft-spoken with me.
“Although Jamie was not initially in favor of having women in the CVPB, he grew to truly embrace the women in the band. As the first female piper to compete with CVPB, I always felt welcomed and supported by him. When I became pregnant, Jamie immediately put together a comfortable maternity uniform so I could continue competing—at a time when many women stopped competing or stopped piping altogether during pregnancy.
He considered himself a ‘lifer’ in piping, and standing in his presence often felt daunting, and a little scary, simply because of the sheer skill and authority he carried. The lessons I had with him were among the most influential of my life, shaping the pipe band leader I am today. He enjoyed a good red wine, a sharp pair of shoes, and the company of his family—both his own and the piping family he helped build. His legacy will endure in every player he guided.”
“Play the sweet music” Jamie, we are listening
Submitted by Rob Barrick
“It’s amazing what one person can accomplish. Besides all the pipe band related achievements, he instilled in a lot of us a genuine love of music and sound. To say he was inspiring is such a severe understatement. “
Pictured left – right back row: David Watling, Bill Wishart, P/S Steve Geddes, L/D Colin Magee, Bob Hislop, Dave Martin, Ken Wilson, Terry Dalziel, Lionel Gandy, Dave Hilder Sr. Jimmy Hardie, David Hilder, P/M James W. Troy. Middle row left – right: Warren Fells, Dave Hennigan, Rob McKendrick, Dave Horsborough, Dave Stewart, Bill Mossie, Tom Jones, Dave Fells, Shaunna Hilder. Front row left – right: Gord Pollock, Lynn Fells, Andrew Hart, Rob Barrick, Corey Tillyer, Jacquie Troy, James P. Troy, Gord Magee.
submitted by Bruce Gandy
Jamie Troy, a man of many things to me. This will be long so bear with me.
It was sometime in 1971 when my parents, with some help from Hal Senyk persuaded Jamie into taking on a new student. I was just a kid, 8 years old and Troy was not interested in dealing with a young kid. He was busy enjoying his life and piping and teaching some people already. They persuaded him to take me for a couple of weeks and something worked ( it wasn’t the basically non existent lessons fee for sure) but he decided to keep me on and I am 100% here today because of that decision. Anything or anyone else would not have cast the spell that he did to keep me going like he did.
Jamie would come to my house at the beginning and teach at the table but we had a pretty full and noisy house so most often, I had my lesson at his one and only house ever on Prior St in Victoria. I used to start right after dinner there and we would go on until 9:30 or 10, even later sometimes. I can remember being so tired after some of those Tuesdays nights that it was tough getting up for school the next day. He decided and told Mom and Dad that it would be a good idea for him to just pick me up at 4:15 right after work and take me to the house so we could do some work, eat dinner and finish up at a more sensible time.
Well, that worked for a month or two maybe and then lessons just got later and later. I do think he kind of liked having me over there at times, it gave him a bit of “training” into what becoming a dad might look like, but more so , a grandad as he got to “give me back “ each week haha. The most amazing Louise was in the picture by now also so these lessons became marathon events although most of the time, I didn’t realize it.
He always had some cool music on and it was Jamie, that introduced me to my favourite group “Steely Dan” . We’d listen and then he would begin to dissect what was going on, and point out small things that they did. He was also a big Tower of Power fan. I never really got it then, but I get it now. Much as I use visuals in my own teachings, Jamie used other music and songs and especially rhythms to drive an idea into me.
For Troy, you could not be musical unless you had absolute control of time and embellishments within that time. It could be two bars of a jig, or a phrase of march, but if you looked at a note on an X axis, up being pointed, down being rounder, to the left being slow and right being quick, I had better be able to play any tune any way in case the situation called for it. Jamie knew I enjoyed math and puzzles and
saw this as a way to keep me entertained if we were on the x number of times playing through a tune. He taught me playing with control and I have lived and taught by that method my entire life, expanding on it as I need.
In 1975 After hearing my “later mentor” Bill Livingstone play In Praise of Morag in summer of 73, he finally agreed along with Bob Hardie to teach it to me. Yes, it was too big a tune but I think they sometimes felt, “ well that will keep him occupied a while” and on June 7th of that year, he Married Louise at Hollywood House in Victoria and I played the ground of the tune. I felt proud but it was some years before it really kicked in and I still have the Angus Mackay book he gave me, a 12 year old for playing at their wedding. What 12 year wants a big long boring Piob book haha. But once again, he was right and I cherish it right next to other Piob books.
Unfortunately, on Dec 20 1976, my dad passed on and once again Jamie was there, often making sure I was emotionally okay but also really took on a bit of a role, rather big actually of making sure I was looked after at the games and keeping out of the “big” trouble. I very easily could have strayed far off base but Troy seemed to have people out there and they all knew if I was up to no good and he certainly
knew if I wasn’t working at the music.
I remember him being pretty loud at band practice but didn’t know different as that was fairly common in the 70’s. I joined the band in late 74 as I was already hanging around anyway, due to not having a ride home haha so I learned tunes and was shown how to become a bands person learning about blowing tone, playing in time and making sure your dress was in order. My god theres a nasty story about him
and dress code but that is for another time. I always found it amazing that he could be so forceful with everyone to “play the bloody thing better” but then literally, within two minutes of practice over, he was this come mellow person, ready to talk about tunes, or cars or sports or renovations or electronics, they guy seemed to know everything about everything and I could never keep up as it was always so intense.
I was scared sometimes to tell him what I was doing at school in case he asked more questions than I had answers to. But that was Jamie, always interested in every possible topic going. It was like he had some news sent to him the day before on who he would be seeing and then he’d go study up. I remember Louise talking about cameras one day ( her passion along with my sister). He managed about 30 seconds before he was into all sorts to heavy duty details about exposure and lenses talking away as if I was a photographer for Time Life.
But one of his best loves, and great for us, whenever anyone in the band was going to get stereo equipment, well, you just brought it up casually and Jamie had all the scoop on whatever it was you were needing and how to set it up( in a budget that was usually totally prohibitive). But I’m sure Louise could write a more humorous article on this one!! I remember laughing so hard one year to find out that at the
top stereo shop in Victoria, ( Sound hounds) Troy was one of their best and most loyal customers, to the point that I believe he was the only “non employee” invited to the Christmas party. But that was Jamie, even when talk was way over my head, he still made it interesting.
But, he wasn’t perfect and this story is true, and too funny as my great friend Pete Aumonier and I were laughing just the other day about this. I can’t remember the year, but I’ll say about 1978 or 79. BC Pipers had a Trio contest going and Troy thought “oh hell, I’ll take the 2 young guys with me and the others can do as they please” well, if you entered to play somewhere, you were made sure that you were prepared and we had extra Practices and Jamie got Pete and I into pretty good shape. I can honestly, remember that, it was a blast. Clearer piping, less than a full band and a cool sort of tension, and we had the king in our corner. Well, we got through the first round ( or maybe it was two) but ended up in the final. Now, as well called him when he was this way, “Troy” , really wants to win this now since we made it to the final, so he’s dealing in our chanters and touching up our drones and making sure we know to hold this not or that note more and informing us that this should now be no problem to wipe the floor with the others etc. ( I’m laughing away typing this) Well we get out there to start and guess who starts into the wrong March ! Jamie! Pete and I somehow just playing through the first phrase without a meltdown and I remember thinking dammit, all that work, and I thought it was Pete, cause I knew it wasn’t me, we walked off and I said. “WHAT THEF#$#K WAS THAT” and Pete’s looking going “don’t look here, wasn’t me” and Troy had this ‘oops’ look on his face and a very quiet “sorry boys” and I’m thinking uh oh, he’ll be mad that we lost and I just said “what the F$#$K was that” to Jamie.
There were many good laughs. I traveled on BC ferries more times that I can imagine, and we stayed over at whatever hotel for the contests and bi monthly events, it was great. Jamie never changed. He drove his 66 chevy van, we’d meet downstairs and immaculately turned out Jamie would be at the table ordering
“Ham and eggs scrambled, coffee black , thank you” it never changed.
I also have so many great memories of being at Couer d’Alene school with him and other life long friends now that this would go on forever. Because of Jamie, and my young age I was made to sit in the instructor class at the end of the day often. Didn’t love it then, but sure glad I did now as I learned so much music when Bob Hardie and Andrew Wright taught those classes , most of the time not realizing how much I was taking in.
He was a hero to me growing up but at the same time, it took many years to be able to properly open up to him about life and me and so on. I left Victoria in 1982 and he was not a happy person. I had to go, it was just my time but he did not accept that well and it took a few years there for us to come back together, for him to see me married to the girl I left for and to get it, that staying in Victoria was just
not in the game plan at the time. I missed him and I was seriously hurt for a few years until we talked it out basically. I know he was upset cause he had put so much time, effort, and work into me, and I probably never thanked him at the time for that as I didn’t know how to tell him of this upcoming plan of mine. But that was just a short blip in the 54 great years overall that I knew and loved the man. I have been able to come back home most years and we have had wonderful visits. Always seems like I just talked to him when I arrive back and the past few years started playing at the house for my benefit and his. It was soothing, rewarding, educating, friendly, inspiring and so many other descriptors.
This past June (2025) I knew Jamie was not in the best of health and I just got it in my system and told Bev, I have to go out and see him, and play tunes for him and make peace with what could possibly be the last time. I’ve missed a few important passings, and I’ve had a terrible time dealing with them over the years so I felt that I needed to do this and Beverley was 100% on board.Today, as I try to write this, I am just so grateful that I got to do that and with luck give me some peace in the near future.
I was at the house twice and played all 6 piobaireachds and at least 4 or 5 of the MSRs I was preparing for upcoming event. Jamie was not physically top notch, but by gosh, he was totally sharp, not missing a dam thing. He said at one point- “I like what you’re doing in the ground, but why wouldn’t you try to do it something like this”? I was like “Bastard, he’s giving me hell here, and being nice about it at the same time” and another was “I know you like to do this in the variation but would you consider that to be a bit quick in the Taorluath” Dammit, caught again! He wouldn’t say, “hey, its okay to move through the doubling with more gusto as you are, but you need to take it back a notch when you get to the variation” No, that would be too easy, he made me answer the question and realize that he had a good point OR,,, he also respected one of the few times that I said “yes, but I’m doing it this way because of this reason or that reason” which became wonderfully deep musical discussion.
I didn’t want to leave each day but for me, I needed to as I also felt he was getting a bit tired and I was certainly worn out after a few hours of playing and discussing. In the end, it was one ( two actually) of the greatest days of music I have had in my life. Louise and Jamie were near insistent on driving me back to my brothers but I kept saying no. 1- because it was nice and I really do enjoy walking, especially when back in Victoria but 2- because I was just so high on life and music and jazzed about those two lessons and talking into my phone trying to remember everything that went on the past couple of hours, I was practically vibrating. That is the kind of power Jamie Troy had over many people, not just me.
I am glad he is at peace and out of pain but I am so selfishly angry at the moment and missing having “one more time” to ask those important questions. He loved me like I was one of his own and I felt the same. Such a huge lifelong mentor who I am sure I didn’t tell him anywhere near enough how thankful I was that he came into my life.
Rest in peace, I am going to miss you !
Love Bruce
The family would like to sincerely thank everyone for their kind messages, for sharing love and stories including the many tributes and articles written from around the world. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in Jamie’s name to the B.C. Lung Foundation https://bclung.ca A celebration of life will take place closer to Spring.
Jamie’s 80th Birthday Salute