Canada Day Ceremonies – Kenora & Keewatin, Ontario – July 1, 2023

Kenora Scottish Pipes & Drums Band participated in the July 1 Canada Day Festivities in Kenora and Keewatin again this year and was joined by the Winnipeg St. Andrews Grade 4 Pipe Band.

The day started with the Canada Day Bicycle Parade with the Kenora Scottish leading the way. Some of the members of the St. Andrews Grade 4 Pipe Band from Winnipeg joined the Kenora Scottish to make for a truly impressive sight. Muster this year was at the green space near the roundabout on the Kenora Harbourfront. Warmup was at 11:00 am and the parade started at noon marching down Bernier Drive to the Jarnel Contracting Pavilion. Along the way, the Band was joined by a few youngsters on their decorated bicycles, stilt walkers and others. Natalie Todoschuk was the Band’s official Canada Day flagbearer for the parade. After this performance, band members met up at the Keewatin Public School parking lot for a quick lunch since the next performance was at 2:00 p.m. at the Mather-Walls House in Keewatin.

Following lunch, the Band warmed up the instruments for the next gig on the list – the historic Mather-Walls House Canada Day Strawberry Tea starting at 2:00 p.m. The Band played for approximately 20 minutes and was very appreciated by the crowd! During the performance at the Mather-Walls House, the attendees were treated to some highland dancing from two very talented young members of the Winnipeg St. Andrews Band – Helen Brown (also a piper) & Grace Brown (also a snare drummer). These two young sisters have been doing highland dancing for most of their lives with their uncle Wes Sheppard piping and keeping them in step. All in all, it was a fantastic way to celebrate Canada Day!