The Queen in Ottawa
There is a wonderful pictorial tribute to Her Majesty The Queen outside the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa right now, celebrating her visits to Canada. I paid a visit, and took photos of the prints they put up. Go and see it if you can, but if not, here they are.
A mention in the UK press....
With the very sad news of Her Majesty's passing, my friend and wonderful singer Michaela Foster Marsh did an interview about her performance on August 17 for The Queen at Balmoral Castle. She smartly sang a song that I wrote, and she did a great job. Read the full article here.
In memory of The Queen, we had the lovely honour of celebrating her life in many ways. Here are some of the links to those events.
In memory of The Queen, we had the lovely honour of celebrating her life in many ways. Here are some of the links to those events.
The Platinum Jubilee Weekend
We had a tremendous weekend celebrating the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen's ascension to the throne. We enjoyed piping, dancing, song and more - with groups from Ottawa, Kingston and Hamilton, everyone came together to celebrate and entertain the many people who came to Sparks Street in Ottawa for this historic weekend. We have cards for Her Majesty, we enjoyed lovely cupcakes, and we loved the corgi march which was a huge highlight. We hope you enjoy these photos and videos of the weekend, and we wish Her Majesty The Queen all the very best on her wonderful legacy.
BBC coverage of the corgi march....
BBC coverage of the corgi march....
The Social Media
You can post about our event and share your own stories using the hashtag #PlatinumJubilee which has a worldwide audience. We will be posting live to Facebook as well so you can join in from where you are and enjoy the programming!
Our participants
We are grateful for the support of the City of Ottawa with their Arts Funding program.
Nous sommes reconnaissants du soutien de la Ville d'Ottawa avec son programme de financement des arts.
Nous sommes reconnaissants du soutien de la Ville d'Ottawa avec son programme de financement des arts.
This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet est financé en partie par le gouvernement du Canada.
Ce projet est financé en partie par le gouvernement du Canada.
A tartan endeavor...
I have been donating tartan fabric to my friend Tara Swan who turns them into wallets and we sell them to support the Katharine Robinson School of Highland Dance. Only $20, including shipping, you can email me for yours anytime at bethany.bagpipes@sympatico.ca Limited number available, and they make a lovely gift! They are also listed on Ebay here
|
|
|
Travel with the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band
Every year, the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band take some very special trips to play their music. In 2022, the band is planning on going to New York City in April, Europe in May, and Scotland in August. We invite you to visit the band site at www.sospb.com for information on these trips, and how you can join in.
Drumming Program
Calling all drummers! Our program for beginner and intermediate snare drummers is filling up quickly - with only a few spaces left, we want to hear from you and we want to get you in on this terrific program. During lockdown we have added a number of beginner exercises and more to the website so that anyone can give this a start.
Get in touch with us very soon at Bethany@sospb.com and we can add your name to the list. Drumming is great fun, and so rewarding. Opportunities for performances, travel and being in a kilt are all on offer - what could be better!
Get in touch with us very soon at Bethany@sospb.com and we can add your name to the list. Drumming is great fun, and so rewarding. Opportunities for performances, travel and being in a kilt are all on offer - what could be better!
The Stray Dog Brewing Company
I know the nicest people. One of them is my friend Marc Plante, who along with his friend Justin MacNeill, started Brew Dog Brewing Company in July, 2017 in Ottawa. They have enjoyed tremendous success and wanted to work with us to help us celebrate 50 years of organized piping and drumming in our region. They have donated a portion of their new beer, Scottawa, to our work, and we are so pleased to have their awesome support. I was happy to learn it sold out, and I thank all my beer drinking friends for their support!
The PPBSO 50th anniversary series
I am honored to be profiled in this series - thank you to the PPBSO and all my amazing friends who have made this journey so wonderful and memorable! All the best to you all!
To celebrate Tartan Day which takes place on 6 April, Robert Currie, Commander of the Name and Arms of Currie who lives in New York, has joined forces with Bethany Bisaillion, Pipe Major for the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band who lives in Ottawa.
They have combined efforts to create a virtual concert hall on Facebook offering a platform to Scottish talent.
Both say they are dismayed over the cancellation of so many Tartan Day activities, and so they set up Project 1320 established to be a global Scottish arts celebration.
Currie is producer of Tartan Day activity on Ellis Island and Bisaillion organises events at Tartan Day Ottawa, but they see no reason why they cannot combine efforts to hold a real celebration of all things Scottish, for anyone anywhere to enjoy.
Commenting on the initiative, Currie remarked: “We wanted to create a platform where performers from beginners to professionals could post their work for all to enjoy. Both Bethany and I have been producing Tartan Day events for over 15 years and we were both heartsick that the global pandemic has caused the cancellation of our events and also Highland games and gatherings. We devised this platform to permit us to celebrate our Scottish heritage in a safe and socially distanced way.”
Bisaillion added: “Bob and I have been long-time supporters of Scottish heritage and culture and once we put our heads together, it didn’t take long to conclude that this virtual “open mic” experience might just fit the bill.”
Both Bisaillion and Currie have a considerable contact base in the global Scottish arts community, so this programme is already looking good. But they need 1320 performers to submit an entry to the programme – all by 6 April 2021. This is a lofty goal. Currie said: “We know we’ve set a high bar with this programme, but why not? Social media is flooded with musicians, singers, dancers and the like that are offering their considerable talent, all we’re doing is aggregating these performances in one spot.”
Tartan Day – Project 1320 welcomes all submissions on their Facebook page here.
The 2022 event will take place on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sunday, April 24. Come back for details!
Helping, learning and fellowship.
In these uncertain times, we hope to help each other with positive actions and future opportunities for fun and friendship. We are here to help, to give back and to offer some music where it's needed most. Maybe you have decided it is time to learn the pipes or drums, and with time on your hands, it's a great time to start - we can help you at all steps of the journey from finding a chanter to competing online - and everything in between.
Online lessons for pipes are available now - I have a school on Patreon and there are lots of exclusives on it - join the many who are learning and having fun! Link is here: https://www.patreon.com/championbagpipes
Get in touch, and do check back in for updates here on upcoming events. Always working on great things, and looking for great people to join us. We are here, we are here to help, and we are with you! Email me at bethany.bagpipes@sympatico.ca
Online lessons for pipes are available now - I have a school on Patreon and there are lots of exclusives on it - join the many who are learning and having fun! Link is here: https://www.patreon.com/championbagpipes
Get in touch, and do check back in for updates here on upcoming events. Always working on great things, and looking for great people to join us. We are here, we are here to help, and we are with you! Email me at bethany.bagpipes@sympatico.ca
Pipefest 2021 and beyond
Help us celebrate our community with support of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation - give today and you can get a special recording done just for you or a loved one - send us an email and we'll talk ideas and more.
Give and you get so much in return. Thank you! Donate here
THE OTTAWA PIPING CLUB
The Ottawa Piping Club was an important and wonderful part of the piping and drumming community in our city for many, many years. I am proud to have been part of this great organization as both a competitor and member, and later on as its President. Please enjoy this article on the club and its origins and many great memories! https://www.ppbso-ottawa.org/post/installment-1-the-ottawa-piping-club
Lessons on the Great Highland Bagpipes
Launching now on Patreon, you can do your lessons online and enjoy a lot of great information, updates, and so much more. For $50 a month, you'll get access to exercises, tunes, guest players and interviews, trip updates, show announcements, and previews to lots of great things! Visit www.patreon.com and look up Champion Bagpipes and join me in getting going on lessons and everything else Scottish!
If you have always wanted to learn to play the bagpipes, now is the perfect time to start. Anyone at any age, regardless of their musical knowledge when starting out, can become proficient with the right tutor and lesson plan - and we can get you started.
You will need a chanter, manuscript paper and about 20 minutes per day to get started, and we can help you along the way with so much you'll need to know and want to learn!
Drop tutor Bethany Bisaillion a line at bethany.bagpipes@sympatico.ca to get started - excellence and fun guaranteed!
Are you looking for a unique gift for that person keen to learn pipes or drums?
We have gift certificates for lessons, and advice on where to buy your equipment to begin.
Get in touch anytime - makes a lovely gift any time of year!
You will need a chanter, manuscript paper and about 20 minutes per day to get started, and we can help you along the way with so much you'll need to know and want to learn!
Drop tutor Bethany Bisaillion a line at bethany.bagpipes@sympatico.ca to get started - excellence and fun guaranteed!
Are you looking for a unique gift for that person keen to learn pipes or drums?
We have gift certificates for lessons, and advice on where to buy your equipment to begin.
Get in touch anytime - makes a lovely gift any time of year!
History in the making - every day for 125 years!
Do the work, have the fun!
This is Rick Mercer from CBC
Sometimes you get to work with very interesting and wonderful people who aren't in pipe bands. If you're lucky, you get asked to be part of their day, and you come away with fantastic stories to tell.
These are some of the people I've had the great pleasure of meeting.
The Caring Canadian Award
The band of the Sons of Scotland were proud to be presented with the Caring Canadian Award in April, 2014 by their Vice Regal Patron, Canada's Governor General David Johnston at a ceremony at Rideau Hall. The Pipe Majors were both given medals for their roles in supporting music and leadership, Band Manager Robert Derry for his many years in the educational system, Margaret Duffy for her help with seniors and veterans in the community, and dance teacher Katharine Robinson for over 45 years of highland dance instruction. What a great honour this day was, and the band wears and shares the pins amongst its membership very proudly.
This award has now been changed to the name the Sovereign Medal for Volunteers.
This award has now been changed to the name the Sovereign Medal for Volunteers.
Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal
Pipe Major Bethany Bisaillion was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in a ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa by Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2012. She was lucky enough to have her brother join her and her friend Kevin MacLeod, Canadian Secretary to the Queen read her biography in English, French, and Gaelic.
Great things of great importance
Bagpipes for sale
If you are looking for a good quality set of used bagpipes at a good price, drop me a line at bethany.bagpipes@sympatico.ca All come ready to play and in great condition.
We also want to hear if you have pipes for sale.
We also want to hear if you have pipes for sale.
Donating to the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band
If you want to support the work of the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band, please visit the site at www.sospb.com to see the band's work, and email PM Bethany Bisaillion at sospb@sospb.com for more information. The band looks for support for their work in many ways. We have PayPal on the site now making donating even easier! We appreciate your support.
|
Joining the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band
The Sons of Scotland Pipe Band's terrific drumming and piping program is accepting new players in the fall of each year and throughout the year depending on experience.
Drop us a line if you want to come out at sospb@sospb.com |
The Ottawa City Piping College - new location...
The Ottawa City Piping College now has a 2nd location in Montreal - contact us at bethany.bagpipes@sympatico.ca if you want information on beginner chanter lessons or live in Montreal and want assistance there - we can also help you hire a piper or a band in that city.
60 - A Celebration of the Diamond Jubilee - June, 2012
A terrific concert held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to mark the 60th year of Her Majesty The Queen as our monarch. Thank you to everyone who came to take part ~ your support and participation were very much appreciated. Please visit the Sons of Scotland Pipe Band site at www.sospb.com for photos and video of the day's events.
The Royal Fascinator...
A long time after June 30, a list was posted for the Royal couple listing all the gifts they were presented on their overseas visit. Among them were the fascinator and vest made by Sons of Scotland piper Madeleine Thompson. It looks like a British journalist thgught the items were less than wonderful, and wrote just that. The story was picked up by the Canadian national newspaper The Globe and Mail, and Ms. Thompson decided to defend her position as gift maker and gift giver...and then the story took off even more! Having been part of the process the entire time, I can say with all certainty that the gifts were made well, they were very suitable, and well received by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Here is the link to the story in the Ottawa Metro on January 13:
http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/canada/article/1070459--canadian-gift-to-royals-comes-under-scrutiny
http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/canada/article/1070459--canadian-gift-to-royals-comes-under-scrutiny
A highland dance cd...
Bethany Bisaillion released her 15th cd on October 19, 2012 and it is a compilation cd with performances by herself with many fine musicians and solos from other projects - preorder yours today for only $15.00 with part of the proceeds going towards supporting the Ottawa City Piping College. Email bethany.bagpipes@sympatico.ca for your copy today - a limited number will be available.
Bethany also has a highland dance cd with 40 tracks from fling to Earl of Errol, varying speeds and all on bagpipes - 'Isean' is only $15.00 and will help with practice and presentation!
As one of the ScotDance series pipers, this is a great support project for any dancers preparing for the national championships being held in Ottawa, July 2021.
Bethany also has a highland dance cd with 40 tracks from fling to Earl of Errol, varying speeds and all on bagpipes - 'Isean' is only $15.00 and will help with practice and presentation!
As one of the ScotDance series pipers, this is a great support project for any dancers preparing for the national championships being held in Ottawa, July 2021.
The Royal Visit to Ottawa
Pipe Major Bethany Bisaillion was pleased to be part of the Canadian Citizenship ceremony held July 1 at the Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec. She played and presented the tune 'St. Andrew's Courtship' for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
