Nearly a Century of Sound: The History of the Kimberley Pipe Band
For generations, the sound of bagpipes and drums has echoed through the streets of Kimberley, marking moments of celebration, remembrance, and community pride. Since its founding in 1927, the Kimberley Pipe Band has played an enduring role in the cultural life of the city and the wider Kootenay region.
Beginnings in 1927
The Kimberley Pipe Band was established in 1927 by brothers Angus and Hamish Scott, with Angus serving as the band’s first Pipe Major. The band made its public debut on July 1, 1927, leading the Kimberley Day Parade — a fitting start for what would become a long-standing community tradition.
Early members included Dick Burke, Jim Ewin, Hugh Fraser, Alex Fergus, and Gordie Taylor, and the band quickly became a familiar sight and sound at parades and events throughout Kimberley and the surrounding Kootenays.

Supporting a Championship Team
One of the band’s earliest highlights came in 1936, when it accompanied the Kimberley Dynamiters hockey team to Calgary. As the Dynamiters captured the Western Finals on their way to winning the Allan Cup National Senior Men’s Hockey Championship, the pipe band performed in support of both the team and the many Kimberley fans who travelled alongside them. This strong connection to local pride and community spirit helped cement the band’s place in Kimberley’s identity.
Growth and Wartime Years
In 1937, the band received important support from Bill Lindsay, Superintendent of the Sullivan Mine. His assistance helped the band expand, with pipers and drummers recruited from across Western Canada and employed at the mine. A successful fundraising campaign followed, allowing the band to outfit its members, and in 1938, an order was placed with Lauries of Glasgow for eleven full uniforms at a cost of $110 each.
When the Second World War began, several band members enlisted in the Canadian Forces. Despite this, the band continued to perform under Pipe Major Alan Graham. In 1943, Mrs. Nessie Oliphant, a Highland dancer and accomplished bagpiper, became Pipe Major — a notable chapter in the band’s history. She led the band until the end of the war, when the Scott brothers returned and Angus Scott once again assumed the role of Pipe Major.
Leadership and Legacy
In later years, Hamish Scott served as Pipe Major until 1968, continuing the family’s deep involvement
with the band. The devotion of the Scott brothers was remembered beyond Kimberley; when a pipe band formed in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in 1955, it chose the name Angus Scott Pipe Band in their honour, with particular recognition of Angus Scott’s contributions. Many of its pipers had been instructed by members of the Kimberley Pipe Band, and that band continues to thrive today as one of the oldest Scottish pipe bands in the Spokane–Coeur d’Alene area. The Angus Scott Pipe Band will be celebrating their 75th Anniversary in 2030!

National and International Performances
In 1968, Gordon Stewart became Pipe Major, and in 1971 he led the band in a performance for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, and Princess Anne at Fort Steele Heritage Park. Jim Warner took over as Pipe Major in 1972, leading the band at a number of high-profile events, including the 1974 World’s Fair in Spokane, the opening of the Libby Dam in Montana attended by U.S. President Gerald Ford and Canada’s Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Donald MacDonald, as well as Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s visit to the Kootenays.
Milestones and Continued Success
The band celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 1977 with a well-attended Tattoo and Ceilidh, reflecting its strong community support. In 1978, David Ekskog, who had joined the band as a drummer, became Pipe Major. Under his leadership, the band won the 1985 Grade 3 Pipe Band competition in Nelson, BC. In 1986 they performed at the Blackfoot Nation Pow-Wow in Browning, Montana – an example of the band’s willingness to share its music across cultures. Throughout the 1990s, the band continued to support the local community through numerous events, parades, & performances. Considerable time and effort have been devoted to planning and presenting a commemorative Tattoo every decade, a tradition that began with the 50th-anniversary celebration in 1977.

The Rhythm Behind the Pipes
The band’s success has always depended on strong drumming leadership. Over the years, Lead Drummers have included Alex Fergus (1927–1929), Archie Tait (1929–1948), Bill MacIntosh (1949–1952), Doug Smith (1953–1955), Jack Neal (1956–1958), and Eric Bisgrove (1959-2010). Don Vandaelle was the Drum Sergeant for many years before moving to Northern BC in 2021.Currently, Laura Cooper is the Drum Sergeant for the Kimberly Pipe Band.
The Pipe Band in the 21st Century
The beginning of the 21st century marked a full-circle moment for the Kimberley Pipe Band, as they played when the last shift of miners emerged from underground, marking the closure of the Cominco Mine in 2002—a truly poignant occasion in the band’s history.
In 2010, under Pipe Major David Ekskog, the band participated in the renowned Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Halifax. Shortly afterwards, Jock MacDonald took over as Pipe Major, assisted by Pipe Sergeants Liela Cooper and Jim Feenstra.
In 2017, the band marked its 90th anniversary with a series of celebratory events, including a Tattoo that set a high standard for plans leading toward its 100th anniversary in 2027. Although the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed many planned activities, the band made up for it by joining the Kelowna Pipe Band Society and several other bands from across British Columbia on a trip to the Netherlands in 2025. There they performed and paraded to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the liberation from Nazism. The band takes great pride in the significant number of women among it’s members. As Pipe Sergeant Liela Cooper proudly said, “We’ve come a long way, baby!” Today, the Kimberley Pipe Band has eighteen members and continues to perform at events in Kimberley, throughout the Kootenays and across British Columbia. Building on decades of planning and performance experience, the band is now preparing for it’s 100th Anniversary in 2027. These preparations include, of course, plans for a grand Tattoo, Saturday, July 24, 2027 to mark this remarkable milestone.

An Enduring Tradition
Nearly a century after its first parade, the Kimberley Pipe Band remains a symbol of dedication, tradition, and community spirit. Through changing times, new generations, and countless performances, the band has carried Kimberley’s name — and its music — far beyond city limits. As long as pipes and drums continue to play, the band’s legacy will remain an integral part of Kimberley’s story.

For more information about the band or the Tattoo, please email: info@kimberleypipeband.ca

References:
Pipe Bands in British Columbia, 1992, Carl Ian Walker
Thank you to Liela Cooper, Pipe Sergeant, Kimberley Pipe Band, and to Debbie Cole and Tyson
Peissig of the Angus Scott Pipe Band for their help in preparing this article. Article submitted by Andrew Moore.