History
The Highland Creek Pipes and Drums formed in 1954 at the Dowty Iron Works in Ajax Ontario. Known as the Ajax Pipe Band, the band wore the”MacDonald, Lord of the Isles” tartan, which is still worn today. Two years later they became affiliated with The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 258 in Highland Creek and became known as “The Highland Creek Pipes and Drums”. This affiliation lasted until 1979, when the band became an independent non-profit organization. Money generated through appearances and performances contributes to the cost of maintaining uniforms and instruments. The Highland Creek Pipes and Drums are one of the few remaining pipe bands that dress in the traditional full British Highland Regimental uniform, with the pipers wearing green doublets and the drummers in red. Band members are not financially compensated for performances.
Throughout its brief history, the band has had only three Pipe Majors: Bob Dunbar, Bill Fodor and their present Pipe Major, Glenn Healy. The other Officers and NCOs of the band are Drum Major Steve Harrison; Pipe Sergeant Gary Rankin; Pipe Corporal Dan McLean; Drum Sergeant Don MacLeod; and Drum Corporals Ian Cochrane and Greg Wade. The band’s President is piper Mike MacDonald.
The band has a well established reputation as one of the premier street parade bands in Ontario. Every year the band demonstrates their excellence on parade by placing well in the Annual Warrior’s Day Parade in Toronto at the Canadian National Exhibition. This event draws dozens of bands from across Ontario, the United States, and overseas. In 1994, 2000, and 2002 the band placed first among bands with 20 members or less. In 2005 and 2006, the band won The Metropolitan Toronto Police Veterans Memorial Trophy for placing first for bands with greater than 21 members. In addition, Drum Major Steve Harrison has won the Drum Major William MacDougall Mackay DC Memorial Trophy, as awarded to the best drum major, for the tenth consecutive year. The band also specializes in concert and tattoo performances for many civic and charitable functions.
The band maintains a close relationship with Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 606, in Ajax, Ontario. They participate in Remembrance Day events and the Annual Warrior’s Day Parade with the veterans. In 2000, the band took part in the Parade of Pipers in New York City, and in 2004, 2005, and 2006 Highland Creek played at the opening ceremonies of the Mosport Race Weekend. They also opened the Molson Indy in Toronto on race day, 2006. In 2007, the band traveled to France to participate in the 90th Anniversary Ceremony of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and was part of the rededication ceremony of the Vimy Ridge Memorial there.
