International Paralympics Committee World Cup Finals Parade
Cumberland
- March 8, 2009
For the second year in a row, Mount Washington hosted the paralympic athletes in the Cross Country and Biathlon World Cup
Finals events. This competition leads up to the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. The town of Cumberland held the opening ceremonies
on March 8. The Courtenay Legion Pipe Band were proud to lead a parade of the athletes up Dunsmuir Avenue to the Cumberland
Recreational Institute for the opening ceremonies and banquet.
The Courtenay Legion Pipe Band participates in the annual Remembrance Day service held at the Cenotaph on Cliffe Avenue
by the Sid Williams theatre. A piper plays the lament "Flowers of the Forest" during the laying of the wreaths,
then the colour party and pipe band leads the parade for a march-past of the Legion at the conclusion of the ceremony. During
the afternoon, the band performs for the veterans and patrons of the Royal Canadian Legion and the 888 Club in Comox. (Videos
Courtesy S. Murphy)
888 Club Performance (MOV long download - courtesy S.Murphy)
On Sunday November 2, 2008, the Courtenay Legion Pipe Band performed at the Old Church Theatre just before the Royal Canadian
Legion Branch 17 formally presented the organization with a donation. The performance was televised by the local Shaw Television
station and was also recorded by our own camera.
On the Victoria Day long weekend in May, Cumberland celebrates 'Empire Day' by a parade and subsequent activities
throughout the town all day long. Pipe bands from all over Vancouver Island take part in competitions during the weekend and
come together for the big Cumberland parade. The Courtenay Legion Pipe Band often teams up with sister band 'West Coast
Highlanders' from Port Alberni for this parade. Later in the day, each pipe band puts on performances for appreciative
patrons at the Legion and many of the taverns in the town. (Videos courtesy S. Murphy)
In July 2008, the Comox Valley hosted the 2008 Music Fest, a giant outdoor concert featuring all genres of music and artists.
Members of the Courtenay Legion Pipe Band joined in a massed band with members from the Campbell River Pipe Band and the Comox
Valley Pipe Band to perform for the opening ceremony. Pipers also performed on the stage later in the evening.
During August 2007, eight members of the Courtenay Legion Pipe Band made a trip to Scotland to be part of the Canadian
Massed Pipes and Drums, touring and performing in parades and events all over Scotland. The Canadian contingent also played
at Edinburgh Castle as part of the pre-show concert for the world famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
