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The White Hackle Pipe Band - 1970s+

The White Hackle Pipe Band was a new name for the St. Andrew's Boy's Pipe Band of old, and in the 1970s the band developed an ambitious program of competing, performance and travel that saw the band travel first to central Canada to challenge at Maxville, and then eventually all across the country and beyond. They undertook tours to Scotland, the USA, Australia and many parts of Canada.

The P-M for many years was James L. McWilliams, and he had a strong interest in composing and arranging that saw the band take on some unusual challenges for the day, but always rounded off with a great competitive presence. After Jim retired from the band, he eventually moved to British Columbia, and the White Hackle had a number of pipe majors, including:

• Valerie Gray

• Mary Ann Houston

• Betty Anne Sinclair

• Dan Matheson

• Dan Robinson 

MJ Archive 1 | MJ Archive 2
These clippings are from the Robinson family collection, and feature results and stories about The White Hackle Pipe Band
from the Moose Jaw Times-Herald.
70s quartet 
A quartet of pipers competing at the Moose Jaw Kinsmen International Band Festival. {L-R] Barry Robinson, Ed Helm, Gord Cowie, Rick Helm.
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Clipping from MJ International Band Festival coverage in the Moose Jaw Times-Herald.  
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 Clipping from MJ International Band Festival coverage in the Moose Jaw Times-Herald. mjbandfestival2
Clipping from MJ International Band Festival coverage in the Moose Jaw Times-Herald. 
mjbandfestival 
Clipping from MJ International Band Festival coverage in the Moose Jaw Times-Herald.
White Hackle Drum Corps1000

L to R: Michael Wiseman, Marshall Patterson, Andy Vadesz, Jeff McMurdo. Bass drummer = Ron McGeachy

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The White Hackle
At this time, the band was partly sponsored by the Moose Jaw Optimist Club.
Photo: courtesy Jim McWilliams

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Two Moose Jaw Pipe Bands - 1983
Jim McWilliams and Lachlan McWilliams of the White Hackle; Wendy and Sharon Lee of the Sprigs o' Heather Girls' Pipe Band.
Photo: courtesy Jim McWilliams
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The White Hackle
The band travelled widely in the 1980s, attending the Expo in Sydney, Australia and the one in Vancouver. They also travelled to Scotland, and to various locations in the USA. The small drummer at right is Ryan Sullivan (former L/D of City of Regina, Rocky Mountain and member of Alberta Caledonia and 78th Halifax Citadel) and the tall drummer beside him is ex-L/D for Alberta Caledonia, Tim Boan.

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The White Hackle Pipe Band Drum Corps
Saskatchewan Grade 3 Champions, 1996
(L-R) Kenna Whelan, Sunil Pandila, Mark Benson, Dan McDougall (L/D), Andy Kopciuck, Arvid Nash, Joyce Nash.

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Competing at Regina Highland Games, 1996.
Regina Games1996
Competing at Regina Highland Games, 1996. 
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Performing at Moose Jaw Sidewalk Days, 2008.
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Performing at Moose Jaw Sidewalk Days, 2008.