Glengarry Highland Games, Maxville, Ontario

[imrichmond]

Just returned from two days at the 70th edition of the Glengarry Highland Games. 1,400 musicians on the field for the massed bands event but I noticed other musicians watching so the total number of musicians was certainly higher.

I wasn't there, so I can't be sure, but an estimate of 1400 musicians in the massed bands seems rather high, given that the report in the usually accurate Pipes/Drums online publication lists only 39 bands having competed at Maxville this year. At an average of 20 members per band, that would put the number in the massed bands at a very respectable 780 + a number of non-band solo players and probably a small number of non-competing bands who joined in for a likely total of 800-850. Certainly, in past years, when Maxville attracted 60-70 competing bands, 1400+ would have been a likely number of massed band pipers and drummers. Still, even at 39 competing bands this year, Maxville, along with Fergus, remains the biggest piping and drumming event in North America and puts to shame our highland games here in BC where even the biggest struggle each year to attract more than half a dozen competing bands.

By the way, those forumites in BC might be interested to learn that, beginning next year, highland games will be held in Campbell River, on Vancouver Island, on the second Saturday in August. It is anticipated that these games will become an annual event.

[Terry Searl]

I wasn't there, so I can't be sure, but an estimate of 1400 musicians in the massed bands seems rather high, given that the report in the usually accurate Pipes/Drums online publication lists only 39 bands having competed at Maxville this year. At an average of 20 members per band, that would put the number in the massed bands at a very respectable 780 + a number of non-band solo players and probably a small number of non-competing bands who joined in for a likely total of 800-850. Certainly, in past years, when Maxville attracted 60-70 competing bands, 1400+ would have been a likely number of massed band pipers and drummers. Still, even at 39 competing bands this year, Maxville, along with Fergus, remains the biggest piping and drumming event in North America and puts to shame our highland games here in BC where even the biggest struggle each year to attract more than half a dozen competing bands.

By the way, those forumites in BC might be interested to learn that, beginning next year, highland games will be held in Campbell River, on Vancouver Island, on the second Saturday in August. It is anticipated that these games will become an annual event.

Well that certainly is great news about the games coming to Campbell River......I will look forward to attending them for sure......we use to have the games held in Courtenay at a perfect park setting right down town, attracting all kinds of business for the downtown merchants, but the city fathers, who profess to be the "common sense " group decided to end them because they had a few complaints about the bagpipe music.........the games and music ended at 5:00 pm ........ did I mention it was the decision of the "common sense" group?

[imrichmond]

Yes, the Comox Valley games in Courtenay were nice games. I took my pipe band over there to compete in 2012 and 2014, just before they ended. We were able to take the first ferry over to Vancouver Island in the morning, compete at the games, and still make it home on the 7:15 pm ferry, the last ferry of the day. We were very disappointed to see them discontinued.