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NEWS

(updated 03 October 2009)


New Drums Received

Thanks to donations from the Medicine Hat and Redcliff Legions, and the Royal Antediluvian
Order of Buffaloes and a matching grant from the Community Initiatives Program
of the Government of Alberta, we have ordered and received
a new set of Andante Drums for our band. 



Simon Fraser University Pipe Band First in World

For the second year in a row and the sixth time, SFU has taken first place in Grade One at the
World Championship Pipe Band competition in Glasgow in August.  Congratulations to the SFU organization
and the individuals involved.


Pipe Major Retires in Style

On 20 June 2008, Pipe Major Eric Kean retired in style from his many years of
employment at Goodyear in Medicine Hat by playing through
the factor and office in full dress uniform. Congratulations Eric!








Hector Smith, PM, Dies in Eugene OR


Hector E. Smith of Eugene died January 23, 2008, of lung cancer at age 82.
He was born September 9, 1925, in Medicine Hat, Alberta, to Earl and 
Josephine Colthorp Smith. He studied the pipes under Alex Hosie from age nine.
He danced the hornpipe atop a flat car when the band played for the king and queen
during the Royal Tour (1939).   See photo on history page.
Smith graduated grade school and high school in Alberta, and  graduated from
the University of British Columbia. He served in the  Canadian ( actually the Royal)
Navy in World War II. Hector moved to Oregon in 1951 and helped start the
Eugene Higlanders Bagpipe Band in 1953. He was the instructor and pipe major
until his recent death. He may have been the longest - standing pipe major
on the continent.  He played the pipes for over 70 years and taught over 100 pipers.
Hector continued to play ice hockey into his late seventies. He played for a
Port Coquitlam team in Nanaimo, B.C. which was all guys between 70 and 75.
He practiced  law for more than 50 years.

Submitted by Ma'Carry Cairo (one of the last students of Hector Smith)







BAND PLAYS AGAIN FOR CELTIC KITCHEN PARTY
After the previous (2006) year's successful appearance in the Esplanade to open for Rosheen at the
St. Patrick's Day Celtic Kitchen Party, the South Alberta Pipes and Drums was
invited to open for Tiller's Folly  at the Celtic Kitchen Party (Brewtopia) on
the 17th of March 2007. 

CITY CELEBRATES 100,  BAND NOT FAR BEHIND
On a damp, cool evening, Tuesday 9 May, 2006, the City of Medicine Hat celebrated its
100 years of incorporation and renamed Riverside Park as Riverside Veterans Memorial
Park in honour of our veterans...and the South Alberta Pipes and Drums were there to help.
Later on, after the renaming ceremony, there was lantern parade and light show and the
band marched down River Road.  A good time was had despite the rainy weather.

CELTIC KITCHEN PARTY
The Band opened for the Celtic Kitchen Party at the Esplanade on Thursday, 16 March 2006.
We played three sets and had two dancers (Janelle and Shannon) from the McConnell
School of  Highland  Dance dance the Fling. Drew Darley Band followed with guest Celtic
Ezra and the main band Rosheen followed on.  There was beer tasting in the lobby. 
There was great appreciation of our dramatic curtain raising version of Highland Cathedral.



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