CAPITOL ONE CURLING EVENT

In December 2010, a major curling event featuring the top curlers in the world was held in Vernon at the Wesbild Centre.

The Kalamalka Highlanders played for the opening and closing ceremonies and got to meet several of the world’s best curlers.
 

   
 

---

THE FORD WORLD WOMEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS, 2009

In the spring of 2009 the Ford World Women’s Curling championships came to Vernon. Our band was contracted to play at many events over the 10 day event. There were several banquets, the opening and closing ceremonies as well as small groups playing the teams onto the ice for every draw.

It was a very intense week and a half but a lot of fun as we got to meet the top female curlers in the world and interact with them throughout the event.

The youth band met a new friend as the son of the skip from Scotland was here and as he was the same age as some of our members AND he played the pipes, we invited him to play with us on several occasions. Young Mark Monroe was quite happy to play with the group of youth and came to a practice as well. Several of the youth members begrudgingly took a day off school to take Mark up Silverstar Mountain for a day of skiing and just getting away from the curling for a bit. A great way to cement a lifelong friendship.
 

   
   

---

A TRIP TO POWELL RIVER

In July of 2008, we once again borrowed the Schubert Centre bus to go on a trip. This trip to Powell River was a homecoming for Kieth Matterson and Don MacLeod who were both born and raised there. Don learned the pipes there and was involved with the Highland Laddie Pipe Band as a youth.

We left Vernon in the early hours of Thursday morning to catch the 12:00 ferry from Horseshoe Bay. Unfortunately we had a flat tire on the highway and were delayed so that we just missed that ferry. It was a 2 hour wait and then the trip continued.

When we arrived, we suited up and went to the local Legion to meet up with the Clansmen, the local pipe band, and tipped a pint or two and played some tunes. Friday we went to Lund, a small fishing community just north of town, performed on the pier for about an hour then had a marvellous meal at the Lund hotel. That evening we performed at an opening ceremony at Willingdon Beach.

Saturday saw us lead the annual Seafair Parade through downtown Westview, starting at the hotel we stayed at and ended at the south end of the business district. We then walked back to the Legion where they had a lunch and beverages for us all. Later we performed again at Willingdon Beach. Sunday saw a worn out group of band members heading back to Vernon with many great memories and stories to tell.
 

   
 

---

THE CARAVAN FARM’S PRODUCTION OF “MACBETH”

In the summer of 2006 the Caravan Farms Theatre contracted our band to provide music throughout the play, “MacBeth”. Pipe Major Don MacLeod was hired as an everyday part of the show and several pipers and drummers alternated and provided music every night for 6 weeks.

At first band members were sceptical of such a long engagement but after a “taste” of the show EVERYONE wanted to participate almost every night. Many times band members were told that they couldn’t come out as there was limited space and a small group was all that was required.

Each night we would tune up on the hill above the cookhouse then lead all the spectators across the field to the stage area. The PM was a big part of the show each night but the group of musicians would go back to the cookhouse to wait for the second part of the show. A short piece was played off in the distance then the group hiked up the hill in the dark, found our mark and waited for a signal. At that time we would fire up our drones and walk towards the hill overlooking the stage. As we got to the top of the hill the lights would come on and we’d lead MacDuff’s men and horses to the stage for the final battle. We’d play for the curtain call then walk off to play for the spectators as they left. MANY people expressed that we were the highlight of the show. The actors stated that they now knew why the Scottish regiments were so fierce as they felt like THEY wanted to do battle when being led down the hill by the pipes. All in all, a GREAT experience.
 

---

TRIP TO NOVA SCOTIA JULY 2006

A small group of the band went on a memorable trip to the Maritimes for a two week trip. Six pipers and three drummers went along. It was unfortunate that the numbers were so small, but a GREAT time was had by those who did make the trip.

The group competed at two highland games, Halifax and Antigonish and toured extensively. They visited Peggy’s Cove and sailed on the schooner Bluenose.
 

   
   
   
   
 

---