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The band would like to gratefully acknowledge the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation through the 2022 - 2023 season.
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Mar 2023
GRAND CELTIC PIPE BAND RECEIVES OTF RESILIENT COMMUNITIES GRANT TO HELP ADAPT TO CHANGING TIMES
Community organizations are still facing the remnants of Covid repercussions – closures, event cancellations, limited abilities to generate revenue, as well as fewer group members – and small groups that focus on cultural heritage are feeling the pinch more than ever.
“It’s been a struggle,” says Pipe Major Ashley Duncan, “with practice venues hesitant to allow wind instruments to use their facilities, and many of our fundraising events cancelled during covid, it has made developing local interest and raising funds incredibly challenging.”
With the local Fergus Scottish Festival shut down for 2 years in a row – a major event for local bands – their exposure was dramatically reduced. The Festival typically attracts 22-26K visitors (with favorable weather) and creates a multitude of opportunities for the band to entice new members and garner special event bookings for the season ahead, critical milestones for the band to grow in a given season.
“We desperately needed to make some equipment and uniform upgrades,” says Duncan, “as our previous drums were so heavy it made getting younger kids involved almost impossible. Added to that, pipers needed to be a lot more creative in terms of how we played with covid flying around: electronic chanters offer a way to continue to meet as a group without risking anyone’s health needlessly.”
But how to make these upgrades when gigs have all but dried up for 2 years running?
Enter the Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities Grant.
“This grant has been game-changing for us: we can continue to grow and attract new members, while keeping everyone out of harm’s way – both from COVID and back injury,” Duncan reports. “Added to that,” she says, “being part of a pipe band carries some minimal costs but with the band making the majority of investment, it helps to remove a lot of the financial barriers families can face while getting involved in a group organization.The rising cost of necessary goods such as food and shelter are making it harder for families to participate in organized activities, but removing the need for players to purchase their own uniforms and drums dramatically reduces what someone would need to invest if they participate outside of the band atmosphere.” On top of that, Duncan says, the band offers lessons to players at no charge – a great way for families to involve their kids in a musical instrument without the price tag!
While the band had a mini unveiling last summer when the drums arrived, their BIG event will be when they step out at the Fergus Scottish Festival once their new uniforms arrive. Supply chain delays and increased demand, it seems, are not just impacting the technology industry with a long wait on the uniform pieces still ahead.
“It will be a huge way to say thank you to the Ontario Government and local residents for their support over the years and we can’t wait for people to see what this grant has meant to us moving forward!”
Make sure to mark your calendars and visit the Grand Celtic Pipe Band just inside the main gate at the 2023 Fergus Scottish Festival.
GRAND CELTIC PIPE BAND RECEIVES OTF RESILIENT COMMUNITIES GRANT TO HELP ADAPT TO CHANGING TIMES
Community organizations are still facing the remnants of Covid repercussions – closures, event cancellations, limited abilities to generate revenue, as well as fewer group members – and small groups that focus on cultural heritage are feeling the pinch more than ever.
“It’s been a struggle,” says Pipe Major Ashley Duncan, “with practice venues hesitant to allow wind instruments to use their facilities, and many of our fundraising events cancelled during covid, it has made developing local interest and raising funds incredibly challenging.”
With the local Fergus Scottish Festival shut down for 2 years in a row – a major event for local bands – their exposure was dramatically reduced. The Festival typically attracts 22-26K visitors (with favorable weather) and creates a multitude of opportunities for the band to entice new members and garner special event bookings for the season ahead, critical milestones for the band to grow in a given season.
“We desperately needed to make some equipment and uniform upgrades,” says Duncan, “as our previous drums were so heavy it made getting younger kids involved almost impossible. Added to that, pipers needed to be a lot more creative in terms of how we played with covid flying around: electronic chanters offer a way to continue to meet as a group without risking anyone’s health needlessly.”
But how to make these upgrades when gigs have all but dried up for 2 years running?
Enter the Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities Grant.
“This grant has been game-changing for us: we can continue to grow and attract new members, while keeping everyone out of harm’s way – both from COVID and back injury,” Duncan reports. “Added to that,” she says, “being part of a pipe band carries some minimal costs but with the band making the majority of investment, it helps to remove a lot of the financial barriers families can face while getting involved in a group organization.The rising cost of necessary goods such as food and shelter are making it harder for families to participate in organized activities, but removing the need for players to purchase their own uniforms and drums dramatically reduces what someone would need to invest if they participate outside of the band atmosphere.” On top of that, Duncan says, the band offers lessons to players at no charge – a great way for families to involve their kids in a musical instrument without the price tag!
While the band had a mini unveiling last summer when the drums arrived, their BIG event will be when they step out at the Fergus Scottish Festival once their new uniforms arrive. Supply chain delays and increased demand, it seems, are not just impacting the technology industry with a long wait on the uniform pieces still ahead.
“It will be a huge way to say thank you to the Ontario Government and local residents for their support over the years and we can’t wait for people to see what this grant has meant to us moving forward!”
Make sure to mark your calendars and visit the Grand Celtic Pipe Band just inside the main gate at the 2023 Fergus Scottish Festival.
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A POEM ABOUT OUR WEE BAND, FROM OUR FRIEND, DONNY DEWAR
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Grand Celtic
There’s a pipe band in Fergus, Grand Celtic it’s called. Its members they rank from the young tae the auld. Pipers and drummers and tenors and bass Blend together with grace. MacDonald the P. M. is Calum by name. The band bears the tartan of the same. Six years since we started to mesh as a crew And we now number forty-two. Kincardine and Fergus, the Hanover mete, Embro and Georgetown are games to compete. Parades, exhibitions, a show on the go That’s how we earn our dough. “It’s Grand Altogether” our motto as such. Jigs and slow airs we like very much. Marchs and strathspeys are difficult to play But we’ll master them some way. |
We practice on Sunday from two until four Strike up the drones and practice the score. Once, twice or three times we go through each set For we’re not perfect yet. We’re happy taw see ye for just a wee while Just sit back and listen and gie a wee smile We’ll try to accommodate every wee whim From a lively jig through a hymn. If ever in roaming to Fergus ye come You might hear a pipe tune that’s easy tae hum Or come by in August to tattoo to see We’ll greet you with pleasure and glee. Til the next time we meet on the pipe bandman’s trail In the warm climes of summer or winter’s cauld gale Hae yersel a wee dram, the good usguebach And toast one and all Slaint give vach. Donald Dewar |
