On 1 January 2023 (Canada Day), the Northwest Territorial Pipe Band marched in the Canada Day Parade.  Nine members of the Band performed on pipes and drums, including a guest bass drummer Dermit O'Neil.  The drummers were truck-mounted due to some mobility issues.  Thanks to Kevin for driving.  In the picture (left to right) are - Ryan Gordon, Karin Clark, Dermit O'Neil, Kelly Fischer, Lorie Crawford, Andrew Bruce, Alex Giroux, Lori Clark and Brad Heath.  There were bubbles...  You can see more photos at:  https://www.nwtpipeband.org/index.php/test-gallery2/88-2023-photos .

The Northwest Territorial Pipe Band practiced on Saturday, 29 July 2023 to an audience of evacuee dogs from Behchokǫ̀.  Earlier in July the community of Behchokǫ̀ was evacuated due to a wildfire.  The evacuation order still continues a the time this article was published.  The Band's thoughts are with the evacuees and with the first-responders at the scene.  A number of pets have been rescued and fostered until things return to normal.  The Band performed in front of some of the canine evacuees.  Their reactions varied from indifference, to howling and at least one dog trying to bark to the music.

On 8 July 2023, the Northwest Territorial Pipe Band performed at boardwalk at the Rotary Park on Old School Draw Avenue, by the shores of Great Slave Lake. Traditionally this event has been held at the Pilots' Monument in Old Town but the event has not occurred since 2019 due to COVID restrictions.  In addition, this year, there was significant road construction in the area by that monument.  The event was held for the first time again at the Rotary Park.  A full contingent of the Pipe Band performed including drummers Kelly Fischer, Karin Clark, Sue McKinney (who are not in the photo) and pipers (from the left in the photo), Ian Rennie, Lorie Crawford, Lori Clark, Alex Giroux and Brad Heath.  It was a hot day.  

Three pipers of the Northwest Territorial Pipe Band (NTPB) had the honour of piping for His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall in Yellowknife on 19 May 2022. The royal couple greeted Yellowknifers at the dedication ceremony for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Garden, located between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Headquarters and Joint Task Force North buildings. 

The pipers were Pipe Major Lori Clark and pipers Brad Heath and Ryan Gordon. Pipe Major Lori Clark and piper Brad Heath met the Prince who spoke to them briefly about the pipe band and NWT tartan. Unfortunately piper Ryan Gordon was still in the room set aside for us to warm up and tune our pipes. 

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is the eldest son of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and is the heir to the throne.  He will eventually become King and the Duchess will eventually become the Queen Consort.  Canada is a constitutional monarchy and the Sovereign is the constitutional head of state of Canada and a number of other countries of the Commonwealth including Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Top Photo: Piper Brad Heath shakes hands with His Royal Highness Charles, Prince of Wales in the Joint Task Force North (JTFN) lobby.

Bottom Photo: three pipers in a selfie with Major Conrad Schubert as we wait to pipe in front of Joint Task Force North. Conrad is our Master of Ceremonies (MC) extraordinaire for the NTPB's annual Robert Burns Dinner & Dance and also the officer who gave us our cue to pipe on May 19th. Pipers are, from left, Brad Heath, Ryan Gordon and Pipe Major Lori Clark.