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The EPS Pipes and Drums and the Canadian Airborne
In 1969 the Commanding Officer of the newly formed Canadian Airborne Regiment invited the band to perform for the first official parade of the Regiment. It is a great honor that the Pipes & Drums of the Edmonton Police Service are authorized to wear the Canadian Airborne Regiment badge so many years after the disbandment of the Regiment.
The EPS Pipes and Drums and the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
The band has a long history with the PPCLI. In 1964 the pipe band established an unprecedented relationship with the Canadian Armed Forces when members of the band were invited to perform at the Prince Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Regiment’s “Beat the Retreat”. This was the first time in Canada, perhaps the Commonwealth, when a non-military band performed this centuries old ceremony. The honor was repeated in 1967 when the pipe band was invited to perform with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry’s brass band at Canada’s 1967 Centennial Military Tattoo.
Military Connections
Our Military Connections
The EPS Pipes and Drums and the Canadian Airborne
In 1969 the Commanding Officer of the newly formed Canadian Airborne Regiment invited the band to perform for the first official parade of the Regiment. It is a great honor that the Pipes & Drums of the Edmonton Police Service are authorized to wear the Canadian Airborne Regiment badge so many years after the disbandment of the Regiment.
The EPS Pipes and Drums and the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
The band has a long history with the PPCLI. In 1964 the pipe band established an unprecedented relationship with the Canadian Armed Forces when members of the band were invited to perform at the Prince Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Regiment’s “Beat the Retreat”. This was the first time in Canada, perhaps the Commonwealth, when a non-military band performed this centuries old ceremony. The honor was repeated in 1967 when the pipe band was invited to perform with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry’s brass band at Canada’s 1967 Centennial Military Tattoo.
The EPS Pipes and Drums and the Loyal Edmonton Regiment
It is a great honor that the Pipes & Drums of the Edmonton Police Service are authorized to wear the Loyal Edmonton Regiment badge. In May of 1990 the band was presented replicas of the original Pipe Band cap badge at Edmonton City Hall. Here is a copy of the text from the proclamation which is on display at EPS Headquarters.
Be it hereby known by all those present that the Regimental House of Lords of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry) does hereby proclaim:
Whereas:
The Edmonton City Police Pipe Band, formed in 1961 and possessing a close association with the Regiment, have indicated a desire to officially establish a link with the Regiment.
And Whereas:
On this, the 75th Anniversary of the 49th Battalion, the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, the Regiment desired to acknowledge this long association with the Edmonton City Police Pipe Band.
Be it therefore resolved that:
Henceforth, the Edmonton City Pipe Band is authorized to wear the original cap badge of the Regimental Pipe Band of the 49th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force.
It is further recorded that, on the 20th day of May 1990. Lieutenant Colonel G.R. Jones, CD, Commanding Officer, presented replicas of the original Pipe Band cap badge to the Edmonton City Police Pipe Band in the presence of the Mayor and the Chief Constable of the City of Edmonton.
Dated this 20th day of May, nineteen hundred and ninety.
Signed by Sheila McKay – Deputy Mayor for Mayor Jan Reimer, Chief Constable Doug McNally, R.W. Chapman – Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, and G.R. Jones, CD, Lieutenant Colonel – Commanding Officer.
On October 27, 2007 members of the EPS Pipes and Drums played at a ceremony on the old Griesbach Base in Edmonton. The ceremony was to honor two World War II veterans and name two streets after them. The EPS Pipes and Drums played with the LER Band and entertained dignitaries, veterans and military personnel. One of the streets was named after Private Alex Decoteau who was a former member of the Edmonton Police Service and was killed by a snipers bullet in Passchendale, Belgium, in 1916.
