The sound of bagpipes can usually be heard in downtown Quesnel early Thursday evenings.
Follow your ear, and you’ll find the Quesnel Pipes and Drums practicing outside the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 94.
Starting this month, the group has been practicing every Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
“We’re working towards performing for Remembrance Day, and we’re planning to do a Burns Night celebration at the end of January, and we’ll have some parades next summer,” said pipe major Lisa McCargar.
The Quesnel Pipes and Drums have been making music since 1953.
McCargar has always enjoyed the pipe bands in parades.
“Twenty-five years ago, we went up to Prince George to the Highland Games with some friends, and my friend talked to the pipe band about learning the pipes,” McCargar said. “She talked me into coming down with her, and so we did.”
The Quesnel Pipes and Drums currently has around 12 members.
Last week they were playing to practice at Maeford Place.
With the evenings becoming darker much earlier and the fall coolness starting to set in, the Quesnel Pipes and Drums will continue practicing outdoors as long as possible before moving indoors at the Legion.
“We play for the enjoyment,” McCargar said, adding they are looking for more members to join them.
McCargar offers pipe lessons and noted while they do not have anyone who can teach drums, there are many resources and instruction online.
For more information about the Quesnel Pipes and Drums, visit them on Facebook.
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: rebecca.dyok@quesnelobserver.com
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