HISTORY
Modeled after the Edinburgh Police Pipe Band, the Calgary Police Service Pipe Band was formed in 1973 by Bill Crabbe, Sergeant of the Calgary Police Service. The Band’s first public performance was to lead the 1975 Stampede Parade. At his retirement, Inspector Bill Crabbe continued to play with the band until January of 2015 when he retired after more than 40 years of dedicated service to the pipe band.
GIGS ACROSS THE GLOBE
Not only has the CPS Pipe Band been lucky enough to perform at countless events in Calgary and surrounding areas but also to have been invited for performances involving international travel! See the maps below for both domestic and international performance locations.
DOMESTIC
1989: Nova Scotia International Tattoo, Halifax Nova Scotia
1995: HMCS Calgary (Frigate) Commissioning Ceremony, Her Majesty’s Dockyard, Esquimalt, BC
1999: Nova Scotia International Tattoo, Halifax Nova Scotia
2006: National Police and Peace Officers Memorial, Ottawa, ON
2010: HMCS Calgary (Frigate) 15th Anniversary Birthday Party, Her Majesty’s Dockyard, Esquimalt, BC
Annual travel includes many day trips to perform, including:
Okotoks (parade),
Canmore (parade)
Strathmore (parade)
Rockyford (parade)
Vulcan (parade)
Stavely (parade)
Edmonton (Annual Police and Peace Officers Memorial parade and service)
1995: HMCS Calgary (Frigate) Commissioning Ceremony, Her Majesty’s Dockyard, Esquimalt, BC
1999: Nova Scotia International Tattoo, Halifax Nova Scotia
2006: National Police and Peace Officers Memorial, Ottawa, ON
2010: HMCS Calgary (Frigate) 15th Anniversary Birthday Party, Her Majesty’s Dockyard, Esquimalt, BC
Annual travel includes many day trips to perform, including:
Okotoks (parade),
Canmore (parade)
Strathmore (parade)
Rockyford (parade)
Vulcan (parade)
Stavely (parade)
Edmonton (Annual Police and Peace Officers Memorial parade and service)
INTERNATIONAL
1993: Memphis in May International Tattoo, Memphis, Tennessee
2000: Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Highland Festival, Estes Park, Colorado
2001: Dutch National Tattoo, Breda, Netherlands
2003: Opening of the Juno Beach Centre, Normandy, France
2004: “Beat on the Street” concert with the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, George Square, Glasgow, Scotland
2004: D-Day 60th Anniversary celebrations, Normandy France
2008: Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade, Portland, Oregon
2012: Tartan Day Parade, NYC, NY
2015: Belfast Tattoo, Belfast, UK
2015: Performance for Ambassador Kevin Vickers, Dublin, Ireland
2017: Colorado Springs Military Tattoo, Colorado Springs, CO
2000: Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Highland Festival, Estes Park, Colorado
2001: Dutch National Tattoo, Breda, Netherlands
2003: Opening of the Juno Beach Centre, Normandy, France
2004: “Beat on the Street” concert with the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, George Square, Glasgow, Scotland
2004: D-Day 60th Anniversary celebrations, Normandy France
2008: Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade, Portland, Oregon
2012: Tartan Day Parade, NYC, NY
2015: Belfast Tattoo, Belfast, UK
2015: Performance for Ambassador Kevin Vickers, Dublin, Ireland
2017: Colorado Springs Military Tattoo, Colorado Springs, CO