Pipers & Drummers

Saskatchewan Pipers & Band Musicians

There are many Saskatchewan players who have contributed to maintaining Highland culture in a distinctly non-Highland environment. This is not meant to be comprehensive, but we have added people we know about. Can you supply photos or biographical information?

Beaton Family [St. Andrews]	Scots who settled in the St. Andrews/Wapella region.
Robert Blaikie	Bob was a veteran of WWI and P-M of the Biggar Pipe Band.
Jim Carnegie	Jim Carnegie was a member of the early Edinburgh Police Pipe Band, and he farmed near Moose Jaw.
Jock Chalmers	A Scot who played in the Sask. Horse Regiment Pipe Band and later was instrumental in forming bands and teaching in Weyburn and Estevan.
Howard Chamberlain	Long-time drummer and drum teacher in Regina.
George Crawford	A Regina piper who was pipe-major of the 10th Field Regiment RCA Pipes & Drums, and later helped form and teach the Regina Police Service Pipes & Drums.
Nellie [Forrest] Dunville	Nellie was the daughter of P-M James Forrest of Prince Albert, and for a time she was a member of the famous war-time pipe band of the Canadian Women's Army Corps.
Donald Felstrom	Don Felstrom was active in Saskatchewan bands for over 65 years, and left a legacy of piping and drumming both through his teaching and through his family.
Gordon Findlater	Gord was a long-time player and instructor in Saskatoon who contributed to the success of a number of bands, and taught many individuals who would go on to be excellent players.
Duncan Fisher	A Regina piper who was a member of the 10th Field Regiment, and the pipe-major of the Wa Was Shrine Pipe Band for many years, and also in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame for his scoring feats in pro hockey!
James Forrest	James immigrated to Saskatchewan from Scotland via Australia and other places. He was a piper in the First World War, and taught and ran pipe bands in Prince Albert. He also published a book of poetry, and a memoir in the form of a novel.
Hugh Fraser	Saskatoon piper who served as pipe-major in the Canadina Forces during WWII, was pipe-major of the North Saskatchewan Regiment, and was the founding pipe-major of the Saskatoon Police Pipe Band.
John Hosie	A Scots immigrant who farmed in the Silton area and played for many years at local events.
Tom Ireland	A Scot who served as a member of the RCMP, and later was instrumental in teaching many children to play their doublings and first tunes in Regina.
William MacDonald	Willie MacDonald was born in Scotland in the late 1800s, and came to Saskatchewan with just £5 in his pocket in 1920. His wife and young daughter followed, and they farmed and raised a family in the Weyburn area.
Andrew McAnsh	Former RAF pipe-major who immigrated to Regina after WWII and played and taught in many bands, most notably teaching the Fraser Pipe Band in Regina and thr Sprigs o' Heather in Moose Jaw. Andy was also the administrator of the SPBA summer school for many years.
Willie MacGregor	History to come.
Andy Mackintosh	Served in the Royal Navy WWII and later immigrated to Regina and then Saskatoon.
Russ McKnight	Russ McKnight was a community volunteer who organized Highland Games and events in Moose Jaw, and was a member of several local bands.
Don McDonald	bio incomplete
Jim McWilliams	Grew up in Moose Jaw, and for many years ran the local pipe band, the summer school, and the "Prairie Pipe Band Association." A dedicated teacher and organizer, as well as a published author/historian.
Hugh Scott	Hugh Scott settled in Moose Jaw from Scotland, and was a great organizer for the Sprigs o' Heather Pipe Band and for the Saskatchewan Summer School of the Arts.
Bill Shepherd	Bill Shepherd immigrated from Scotland, and was an instructor for the St. Andrew's Pipe Band in Moose Jaw.
Bob Shepherd	Bob Shepherd immigrated from Scotland, and was an instructor for the St. Andrew's Pipe Band in Moose Jaw.
Angus Spence	Immigrated to regina with his good friend and band mate Andrew McAnsh. Angus played in and later was pipe-major of the 10th Field Regiment. He taught pipers at local bands and summer camps.
Neil Sutherland	Neil was in the Calgary Highlanders during WWII, and for a number of years lived in Regina and area where he was a police officer. While in Regina he formed The regina Piobaireachd Society. He was later pipe-major of the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band for many years.
Jimmy Walker	Jimmy Walker was recruited from the Dysart & Dundonald area to be a member of the famous Powell River Pipe Band of British Columbia, and he later came to Saskatoon, where he was a firefighter. He taught many excellent drummers in Saskatoon, most notably John Fisher, his son Jimmy Walker [who went back to Scotland and still lives there], and Hugh Fraser, Jr. of Saskatoon.