BC Pipers’ Association Annual Gathering
The BC Pipers’ Association Annual Gathering (also known as the “Indoor Meet”) is held on the Friday and Saturday of the Easter long weekend each year.
The Friday features Solo Piobaireachd competitions and Open Drumming competitions, as well as drumming workshops.
Saturday events are the remaining solo events, a full band competition, and the Ceilidh afterward including performances by the solo aggregate winners.
93rd BCPA Annual Gathering
will be held on
Friday, April 3 & Saturday, 4, 2026
North Delta Secondary School,
11447 82nd Ave, Delta, BC V4C 5J6
Host Hotel:
Sandman Hotel Vancouver Airport 3233 St. Edwards Drive Richmond BC
April 2 – 5 $189+tax
Competitor Information
Registration opens Jan 30, 2026.
Registration closes March 16, 2026
Purchase Spectator Admission Tickets
Aggregate Results Explained
Volunteers Needed
Order of Play and Schedules
Our Invited Adjudicators
We are pleased to present our invited adjudicators for the annual gathering competition:
Ian K. MacDonald – Piping
“Ian K” began playing at the age of eight years old and was taught by his father, P/M John MacDonald.
At thirteen he received instruction from Jim McGillivray who introduced Ian to Piobaireachd. This was the year he joined the ranks of the Toronto Police Pipe Band where he has remained a member eventually taking over as Pipe Major from his father in 1996. Ian has recently received instruction from Jim McGillivray.
In 2019 he joined Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band along with compatriot and long-time friend Sean McKeown and in 2022, they won the World Pipe Band Championships. Ian is currently playing with the 78th Fraser Highlander’s with his son Cameron.
Ian is a Sergeant with the Toronto Police Service and a proud husband to the beautiful Brenda, and father to Colin, Cameron and the lovely, Ashlyn.
John Cairns – Piping
John Cairns comes from a piping family that has a long and prestigious musical history and
he has studied under the best teachers in both Canada and Scotland.
As a soloist, he has won many major prizes, including:
- Eight Pipers’ and Pipe Band Society of Ontario (PPBSO) Champion Supreme designations,
- Three North American Champion titles,
- The Bratach Gorm,
- The Piobaireachd Society Canadian Gold Medal, Bar to the Gold Medal and Former
Winners March, Strathspey and Reel Contest, - Three Livingstone Invitational Contests, and
- Three Fergus Gold Medals for Light Music.
In 1999, John achieved a feat that every piper dreams of – he became the 10th person in the
history of piping and the first person from outside of Scotland to win the two Highland
Society of London Gold Medals for solo piping at both Oban and Inverness, Scotland in the
same year.
As a teacher, John holds the internationally recognized Institute of Piping’s Senior Teacher’s
Certificate and has taught all over North America.
After a long 17-year career, John just retired as the Pipe Major (director) of the Peel Regional
Police Pipe Band from Toronto, Ontario – winners of 7 North American Championships and 9
PPBSO Champion Supreme title. Before joining Peel, he spent twelve years as the Pipe
Sergeant with the 78th Fraser Highlanders Grade 1 Pipe Band. John’s experience in Grade 1
pipe bands dates to 1982.
John adjudicates regularly throughout North America, is an accomplished composer and is
the owner of Bagpipe Solutions by John Cairns – www.bagpipesolutions.com
ELI FUGATE – Drumming
Eli is a world class Scottish snare drummer who won the World Solo Drumming Championship 18 and under, twice in Glasgow, Scotland (2002 and 2003) and has won several other notable solo drumming championships including the 2020 New York Metro Cup Solo Drumming and in 2004, 2019, 2025 the Gold Medal Snare Drumming prize at Winter Storm in Kansas City.
Eli got his start at the tender age of 6 with the House of Scotland Pipe Band, under the tutelage of the band’s Drum Sergeant, Hamish Yuile. He has played with some of the top pipe bands in the USA, Scotland, and Canada to include Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia, Triumph Street, Alameda County Sheriffs and the LA Scots. Eli served as Drum Sergeant for many years with the San Francisco Grade 2 Prince Charles Pipe Band and Kevin R. Blandford Memorial Grade 3 Pipe Band.
He most recently played with Grade 1 St. Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band (SLOT) from Dublin, Ireland. SLOT won the World Drum Corps Championship in 2019 and 2024. Eli is now back and instructing the House of Scotland Pipe Band. Eli is married to Grade 1 Tenor Drummer Iris Fugate who is also involved with the House of Scotland and their son Jack is currently learning snare drum and working his way toward playing with his parents in the band.
BCPA 93rd ANNUAL GATHERING ADJUDICATORS: John Cairns, David Hilder, Shaunna Hilder, John Fisher, Eli Fugate, John Lee, Terry Lee, Ian K. MacDonald, Colin McWilliams, Keith Paton, Scott Robertson, and John Sutherland.
Special Event: CPA (Competing Pipers Association) Combined B&C Piobaireachd Event
This event is officially sanctioned and recognized by the Competing Pipers Association. The event will be adjudicated by a BCPA or ANAPBA affiliated association “A” Certificate Piobaireachd Adjudicator, an adjudicator from the CPA Supplementary List of Judges or the Solo Piping Judges Association Adjudicators List.
BCPA “After Hours” Ceilidh
The BCPA “After Hours” Ceilidh begins at the Annual Gathering venue immediately after the Saturday band contest and awards presentation. FREE admission.
Cash and credit cards will be accepted for purchases at the Ceilidh.
Admission – included with day gate admission pass $10 Annual gathering Saturday Admission
Annual Gathering Program Advertiser Welcome!
Do you have a related business, an event, competition, a pipe band looking to recruit, that our competitors and spectators need to know about? Send good luck wishes to a competitor or pipe bandLook no further than reaching them here in the BC Pipers’ Association Annual Gathering program.
Annual Gathering Volunteers Welcome!
Admission Desk Friday and/or Saturday
Saturday afternoon and evening
Awards and Trophies
The BC Pipers’ Association is pleased to acknowledge the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia.
