North Shore Highlanders to compete in Fergus

Chris Abbott

Editor

The North Shore Highlanders are ‘riding a wave’ says co-founder Ian McFadden. 

“The folks have put in so much work, everyone’s just kind of been into it,” said McFadden. “Everyone’s kind of jumped on board – we’ve got a good group of people.”

The local pipe band, which started in Port Dover in January 2024, has been making a lot of progress in just over two years.

“I’ve been piping for 42 years, and I’ve seen people come out and it takes nine years to learn the (bagpipe) scale. These people are coming out, they’re putting the work in… and they’re just doing a fantastic job. They are into it!”

The band currently has six ‘beginners,’ and that’s been one of their goals since Day 1 – introducing the next generation to bagpipes and drums.

“We’ve definitely got a good little teaching pool going.

“It’s harder for the younger kids because the bagpipe itself is heavy. So if you have someone who is 10 years old, this thing weighs the same as their left leg. It gets cumbersome. And then you ask them to march for two-and-a-half hours,” he added with a smile.

This summer’s highlights included the Canada Day Calithumpian Parade in Port Dover, enjoyed by thousands. On July 17, they helped mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion. Murray McKnight piped for a Legion flag-raising ceremony that morning in Simcoe, and a larger complement of Highlanders performed in Port Dover that evening, then the Simcoe Legion Branch 79 100th anniversary barbecue. On July 19, it was Dog’s Nest Days.

Big events, but maybe just the tip of the proverbial iceberg compared to competing in the August 7-9 Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games (fergusscottishfestical.com), which annually includes bands from across Ontario, and some from other Canadian provinces and US states.

“Murray and I originally didn’t want this to be a competing band – a competition band can be a pretty rough environment,” said McFadden. “Because it’s kind of winner-takes-all. But… the younger ones want to try it.”

McFadden and McKnight pitched the idea to festival organizers, noting they had a new young band. After negotiating rules and costs, the Highlanders will be given the opportunity to compete in Fergus against other Grade 5 bands.

“This will give them a little taste of it. Murray and I have done it for years, we get it. They just want to give it a shot.”