Scottish Lion 78th Fraser Highlanders – Hamilton Police Pipe Band Announce Player Development Initiative





The Scottish Lion 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band of Toronto and the Hamilton Police Pipe Band organizations, today announced a tentative agreement in regard to a reciprocal player development program. This program will be of great benefit to both organizations as it will provide a training ground for players at all levels of play from Grade 5 through 1.

While the two organizations will continue to operate autonomously in terms of leadership and sponsorship, it is anticipated that they will develop a teaching program geared specifically to seeing players progress through the various band grade levels offered by both the Hamilton Police Pipe Bands (grades 5, 4 and 2) and the SL78th (grade 1).

“We are very excited at the prospect of this endeavour as it will see players from our organization who achieve the very high level of knowledge, skill and ability to play with one of the top bands in world” said Pipe Major Don Forgan of the Hamilton Police Pipe Band(s), “It will also see those players within the SL78th organization who require further development to come and play with the Hamilton Grade 2 pipe band to hone their skills before ultimately returning to the Grade 1 band” added Forgan.

“The possibilities are endless, never before have the SL78th had the opportunity to be part of a larger organization that has the capability to mentor and develop pipers and drummers from grade 5 through grades 1. Under the umbrella of this agreement, our two organizations will have the ability to do just that – offer pipers and drummers a route to follow that leads from their entry into the Hamilton Police Pipe organization and culminate by playing with a top grade one band” stated Pipe Major Bill Livingstone, “We also see this as a plus for piping and drumming in Ontario and expect that such a system will draw more players to the competition side of the arts, benefiting not only our two organizations, but the PPBSO through increased membership and interest in our craft” continued Livingstone.

The Scottish Lion 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band is likely better known throughout the piping world then are the achievements of the Hamilton Police Pipe Band. However, the HPPB have also attained certain success including the winning of the Grade 3b World Pipe Band Drumming Championship in 2005 along with numerous Canadian and North American titles. The bottom line is that two very successful pipe band organizations are coming together in an effort that will help to improve piping and drumming throughout Ontario, perhaps beyond.

“We are extremely pleased and excited to be developing this association with the Hamilton Police Pipe Band and the fine folks who make that organization run; Don Forgan, Pete Aumonier, John Gaudet, John Hannah, Sandy McKaill and others. We are looking forward to working in a mentorship role with the members of the HPPB and helping them to achieve their piping and drumming goals” said Livingstone, “On behalf of Drew Duthart, John Cairns, Johnny Rowe, Lauren Bonnett and all of our members, we welcome the HPPB members into the greater Fraser family”.

“In terms of the Hamilton Police organization there is no question that in being associated with a group such as the SL78th, that we will see increased growth, as players with the ambition to play in one of the very top bands in the world recognize that we are the path to their door” commented Don Forgan.

Both bands plan a full contest season and can be seen for the first time in 2008 at the Georgetown Highland Games on June 14th.