The oldest pipe band in the BC Interior

Since 1919

Over 100 years of performing highland bagpipes music for the community

COME SEE US AT THESE ANNUAL EVENTS!

Canada Day Parades July 1st in Silverton and Nelson, BC

Remembrance Day Parade and Cenotaph Service, November 11th in Nelson, BC

Robert Burns Supper and Scottish Culture Celebration January 25th or the nearest Saturday in Nelson, BC

St. Patricks Day Pub Crawl, March 17th in Nelson, BC

May Days Parade every Victoria Day Weekend in Kaslo, BC

Hire a Pipe Band

The Kilties are available to play in festivals, concerts, parades, memorial services, and private events.

Special Arrangements for a Soloist can also be made by contacting the band.

Gallery

OUR HISTORY

The origin of the Kootenay Kiltie Pipe Band began in the early days of Nelson. In the very early 1900s, an international fraternal order for people of Scottish heritage, the Clan Johnstone, was entrusted with perpetuating the culture of Scotland in the community. In 1919, the Kilties Band was formed under the leadership of Pipe Major William McLeary. Soon after, the founding organization became the Clan McLeary. Eventually, independent from the “Clan” the band evolved into the Kootenay Kiltie Pipe Band. Over its history, the band has had many pipers and drummers in its ranks, and has hosted many others in pipe bands, Highland Games, piping schools, parades, special events, and ceremonies of all kinds. The Kootenay Kiltie Pipe Band has a proud tradition in Nelson and will continue to promote Scottish culture well into the future.

 

Tartan

When the Band was formed in 1919, it wore the Royal Stuart tartan. In 1962, the band tartan was changed to the MacPherson (shown here). There was no significance to this choice beyond a desire for something more distinctive than the tartan worn by so many other bands.

Location

Nelson, BC Canada

The Kootenay Kiltie Pipe Band practices and performs in the vicinity of Nelson, a town on the shore of Kootenay Lake, and deep in the Selkirk Mountains of western Canada.

Contact Us