The Royal Canadian Air Force maintained multiple military bands during its close to a century of existence. All Canadian military bands, including RCAF bands, provide entertainment and public affairs support to their units and communities. These bands provides musical support for air bases, military areas, and communities across the country.
The Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces is the senior regular band in the Canadian Armed Forces. Attached to the Commandant of Canadian Forces Support Unit in Ottawa, it support institutions such as the Department of National Defence and the Government of Canada, as well as performs at events throughout the National Capital Region. Small numbers of musicians in the band belong to the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army, with the RCAF providing majority of the personnel, as well as its Director of Music and Drum Major.
The Royal Canadian Air Force Band is a 34-member military band which represents the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Canadian Armed Forces. Currently located at Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg, the RCAF Band provides musical accompaniment for ceremonies of the RCAF in Canada. It is home to a wide range of ensembles including the Spitfire Kings rock band that was formerly part of the band.
The Royal Canadian Air Force has eight authorized voluntary bands, located at 4 Wing Cold Lake, 8 Wing Trenton, 12 Wing Shearwater, and 22 Wing North Bay. With the exception of the 22 Wing, they all consist of a voluntary brass-reed concert band and a voluntary pipe and drum band. By tradition, military/civilian volunteers parading as part of a band are authorized the band's optional items. No rank insignia are worn unless the individual holds that rank by right.
CFB Cold Lake sports a unit band that under the auspices of the 4 Wing. The band in its modern form was established in November 1982 after a resolution by the National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. [1] It performs public duties for the base as well as the city of Cold Lake and what was formerly Lakeland County. [2] The following have served as bandmasters for the band: Jeff Gaye (1990–2009), Cam Martin (2014–2015), Jeremy Duggleby (2015-2020), Sylvain Beyries (2020-2024), Adam Gaw (2020-Present).
CFB Trenton is the headquarters of the oldest Air Force band in Canada; the Brass and Reed Band of 8 Wing. It was founded in 1939, when warrant officer, second class Tommy Cooper organized the first volunteer band at RCAF Station Trenton. Later that year a set of band instruments was purchased in order for it to perform during the royal tour of George VI and Queen Elizabeth. It originally consisted of enlisted tradesmen who served on a part-time basis. In recent years, the band has performed at a Battle of Britain military parade square at CFB Trenton to outreach engagements in the Netherlands, Germany and the United States. Its members also provide musical groups such as an 18-piece big band and jazz ensembles. [3]
The 8 Wing Pipes and Drums at CFB Trenton was officially formed in January 1963. The band has been in performances in the United States, Russia, Europe and Scotland. The band has a long history of success in competition, both in Canada and abroad. It won the Grade 4 North American Championships in both 2017 and 2018, as well as winning Ontario Grade 4 Champion Supreme in 2018. [4]
The 12 Wing Pipes and Drums is based in Shearwater, Nova Scotia, being founded in 1994. [5]
Erle Dolsen was the first bandmaster of the 14 Wing Brass and Reed Band, serving from 1962 to 1972. The band has performed for events like the lawn party at the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. The history of the band is immortalized in a display at the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum. [6]
The 14 Wing Pipes and Drums Band is associated with Land Force Atlantic Area Training Centre Aldershot and 14 Wing Greenwood. It serves in the Annapolis Valley. [7] It has been maintained since 1979. [8]
The 22 Wing Band is based at CFB North Bay in Ontario. It is a squadron-sized band that consists of 60–65 musicians who make up the parade and concert band, as well as a jazz and brass quartet. [9]
The Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums is the official pipe band of the RCAF. It is currently the longest continuous serving Air Force Pipe Band in the CAF. [10] The 40 member pipe band participates in public duties such as National Remembrance Day parade in Ottawa. The Pipe Band wears a modified highland dress that is augmented with a kilt patterned in the RCAF Tartan. [11]
The 400 "City of Toronto" Tactical Helicopter and Training Squadron Pipe Band from CFB Kingston was established started in the 1930s. The band has won the North American Championship and the PPBSO Champion Supreme aggregate title in several grades in the past. The longest serving pipe major was Terry Cleland, who served for a total of 37 years. [12]
The 402 "City of Winnipeg" Squadron Pipes and Drums was originally formed in 1954 from the Winnipeg Thistle Pipes and Drums with Pipe Major, J. Reay becoming the first Pipe Major. The band has a composition of 22 members currently under the direction of Pipe Major Greg McTavish. It has traveled across the world to make appearances at events such as the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, festivals in Denmark and Sweden, the Minneapolis Aquatennial and the 1967 Pan American Games. It bas also performed in Albuquerque, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio and Oklahoma City. [13]
The Musique du 438e Escadron tactique d'hélicoptères "Ville de Montréal" (Band of the 438 "City of Montreal" Tactical Helicopter Squadron) is based at the Hartland de Montarville Molson Hangar of CFB St. Hubert in Quebec. It has been performing for Quebecker and eastern Canadian audiences since its establishment in 1961. On its golden jubilee in 2011, it traveled to the Théâtre de la Ville for a holiday concert. [14]
Canadian Forces Base Borden, formerly RCAF Station Camp Borden, is a large Canadian Forces base located in Ontario. The historic birthplace of the Royal Canadian Air Force, CFB Borden is home to the largest training wing in the Canadian Armed Forces. The base is run by Canadian Forces Support Training Group (CFSTG) and reports to the Canadian Defence Academy (CDA) in Kingston.
The Royal Canadian Air Cadets is a Canadian national youth program for young individuals aged 12 to 19. Under the authority of the National Defence Act, the program is administered by the Canadian Forces (CF) and funded through the Department of National Defence (DND). Additional support is provided by the civilian Air Cadet League of Canada (ACLC). Together with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Royal Canadian Army Cadets, it forms the "largest federally funded youth program in the country". Cadets are not members of the military and are not obliged to join the Canadian Forces.
The Royal Canadian Air Force is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2020, the Royal Canadian Air Force consists of 12,074 Regular Force and 1,969 Primary Reserve personnel, supported by 1,518 civilians, and operates 258 manned aircraft and nine unmanned aerial vehicles. Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny is the current Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Chief of the Air Force Staff.
Canadian Forces Base Trenton, formerly RCAF Station Trenton, is a Canadian Forces base located within the city of Quinte West, Ontario. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and is the hub for air transport operations in Canada and abroad. Its primary RCAF lodger unit is 8 Wing, commonly referred to as 8 Wing Trenton. CFB Trenton is Canada's largest Air Force base and most southerly air base.
The "Royal Air Force March Past" is the official march of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and is used in some other Commonwealth air forces.
Canadian Forces Base Uplands was a Canadian Forces Base located in Ottawa, Ontario. Most of the land which formed the base was transferred to the Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport after the base was closed in the 1990s. Several military units continue to exist at the former base and the Canadian Forces continues to maintain military housing at the site. The former base is now known formally as "Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa) - Uplands Site."
1 Canadian Air Division is the operational-level command and control formation of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Prior to 2006 the official abbreviation for the division was 1 CAD. It is commanded by an air force major-general.
400 "City of Toronto" Tactical Helicopter and Training Squadron is part of 1 Wing, and as such a lodger unit of Canadian Forces Base Borden. The squadron operates the CH-146 Griffon.
Air Transport Command (ATC) was a command of the Canadian Forces created in 1968 upon unification and eliminated in 1975.
435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, nicknamed "Chinthe Squadron", is a Royal Canadian Air Force strategic transport, aerial refuelling and search and rescue unit based at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Winnipeg in the province of Manitoba, Canada. The squadron flies four Lockheed CC-130H Hercules aircraft. In addition to being the only provider of tactical fighter air-to-air refuelling in Canada, the squadron is a provider of primary search and rescue response for the largest search and rescue region in Canada, controlled from CFB Trenton. The squadron keeps an aircraft on constant readiness to deploy, with airborne search and rescue technicians standing by to respond within 30 minutes of notification during weekdays and 2 hours at other times. The Trenton Search and Rescue Region, also covered by the 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron, extends from Quebec City to the Rocky Mountains, and from the Canada–United States border to the North Pole, covering most of Central, Western, and Northern Canada.
The Royal Military College of Canada Bands is the official group of bands of the Royal Military College of Canada. The group is composed of four sections: the brass and reed, the pipes and drums, highland dancers, and choristers. Total band membership consists of 105 Officer Cadets from the college. Officer Cadets in the band practice three days a week in the morning on top of attending their individual full-time university programs.
Canadian military bands are a group of personnel in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) that performs musical duties for military functions. Military bands form a part of the Music Branch of the CAF, composed of six full-time professional Regular Force bands, 15 Regular Force voluntary bands, and 53 part-time reserve force bands. Bands of the Music Branch are often badged with the unit or Canadian Forces base insignia that they support.
The Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces is one of six full-time Regular Force military bands in the Canadian Armed Forces. It is also the seniormost military band in the CAF. The band provides professional musical support for the representative institutions of the Canadian Forces, supporting the Department of National Defence and the Government of Canada, in events throughout the National Capital Region.
The Royal Canadian Air Force Band is a 35-member military band which represents the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Canadian Armed Forces. Currently located at Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg, the RCAF Band provides musical accompaniment for ceremonies of the RCAF in Canada. The band is presently under the command of Captain Devin Sloos.
The Indian military bands consists of musicians from the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. Indian military bands regularly participate in international festivals and take part in celebrations dedicated to various national events. These bands are permanent participants in the Delhi Republic Day parade on the Kartavya Path. Today, the Indian Armed Forces have more than 50 military brass bands and 400 pipe bands and corps of drums. A Tri-Services Band refers to a joint Indian Armed Forces military band that performs together as a unit. At the Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo in Moscow, the band consisted of 7 officers and 55 musicians. The Military Music Wing of the Army Education Corps is the principal educational institution of the armed forces that provides instruction to musicians of all ranks. Instruction is also provided by the Military Music Training Center and the Indian Navy School of Music.
The Royal Roads Military College Band was the college military marching band for the Royal Roads Military College in Hatley Park, near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It was formed in 1975. The band was disbanded in 1995 following the closing of Royal Roads Military College.
The Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums (RCAFPD) is a military pipe band unit composed of current members of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The unit was formally established in October 1949 and is the longest continuous serving Air Force Pipe Band in the Canadian Forces. All of its 40 members are volunteers who are drawn from both the military and civilian sphere. At the time of its foundation, it was known as the RCAF Station Rockcliffe Pipe Band.
The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Band (L EDMN R Band), a Canadian Army volunteer brass and reed band that serves as the de facto official military band of the Central and Northern Alberta area and the regimental band of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry) in Edmonton, Alberta. Operationally, it's part of the 41 Canadian Brigade Group. The band's force strength is currently at 22 personnel.
The 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipes and Drums is an authorized pipe band in the Canadian Forces and is currently located at Moss Park Armoury in Toronto, Ontario. The current pipe major is Master Warrant Officer Iain Lang, who is concurrently the official piper to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
This is the structure of the Royal Canadian Air Force, as of November 2020.
