OUR HISTORY

The RCMP Regimental Pipes and Drums of Alberta is comprised of Civilian, Military and RCMP members. In the early 1990s the Commissioner of the RCMP was approached by RCMP Members from Alberta and approved the wearing of RCMP uniform with a kilt. With the support of the Commanding Officer of 'K' Division, Assistant Commissioner Les Holmes, it was decided to form a Pipe Band. A small group of volunteers from the RCMP supported by citizen volunteers began to develop the band. It was decided to adopt the McLeod tartan in honor of RCMP Commissioner Colonel McLeod, the second Commissioner of the RCMP and the historical link to Alberta. The Pipe Band performed its first official engagement at the Change of Command Ceremony when Assistant Commissioner Holmes retired as the C.O. of 'K' Division in 1993.

In 1997 as part of the 125th Anniversary of the RCMP a tartan was approved. A volunteer tartan committee, representing the Force's geographical regions, called for submissions and hosted competition to select an appropriate tartan. Mrs. Violet Holmes of Burnaby, British Columbia, provided the art work that lead to the creation of the official RCMP tartan. Mrs. Holmes is the wife of Assistant Commissioner Les Holmes who helped to start the idea of a pipe band in the RCMP