We’re only a few days away from a red letter day on the calendars of lovers of great poetry – especially great Scots poetry.

Robert Burns Day is marked every January 25th, the day of great man’s birth in 1759. The day is often marked by a “Burns Supper”, a usually formal gathering marked by much ritual (and whisky).

Bagpipes are a big part of the Burns Supper sequence of events with the haggis “piped in” with the tune “A Man’s a Man for a’ That” (the name of one of Robert [never "Robbie" or "Rabbie"!] Burns’ great works).

Following the “Address to the Haggis” the haggis and haggis porters are piped out of the dining area to the tune “Neil Gow’s Farewell to Whisky“.

No need to attend a Burns Supper to mark the occasion. Read a Burns poem and reflect. That’ll do.

The Toronto Police Pipe Band was proud to once again start off the 107th Toronto Santa Claus Parade – This year, the band also traveled to Cobourg to participate in that City’s annual parade.

On July 30th, the Grade 3 Band competed in a field of ten bands at the North American Pipe Band Championships. This event is held annually within Glengarry County, at the small town of Maxville Ontario. The band won the contest and received three of a possible four first place scores. The entire band is very proud of they way the band performed, and are elated with the result!

The Grade 1 band performed very well in the premier event, and was placed first in one of the two event contests. The band placed third overall in a field of seven internationally competitive bands.

Next up is the historic Fergus Highland Games to be held on August 13th. This will finish out the competition season for this year.

For those who can’t make the concert – and we hope at least 200 of you do (since that’s the capacity of the el Mocambo Club)  here’s where you can view the concert live, 8:00 pm (EDT):

Live Streaming by Ustream.TV

Canadian-based Scottish Guitar legend, Tony McManus, will be guesting with the Toronto Police Pipe Band (the “PoPo”) at their May 21, 2011 show at the el Mocambo Club in Toronto.   Last year’s sold-out show produced the band’s award-winning “Raw and Off the Floor” record and proved once again why the el Mocambo has been a home to some many legendary and historic shows: the accoustics are fantastic! 

The well-mic’d guitar styling of McManus alongside the sounds of the pipe band (and a solo or two) will be sure to help make another unforgetable night of music.

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The grade one Toronto Police Pipe Band will again be hosting a show at  Toronto’s iconic el Mocambo club, 464 Spadina Avenue, Toronto. The Saturday, May 21, show is slated to begin at 8:00 pm.   

Elvis Costello’s “Live at the El Mocambo” and the Rolling Stones’ “Love You Live” records are two of the most famous albums to be recorded off the floor of the “el Mo”.  The Toronto Police Pipe Band recorded a live show at the venue last May.  The recording went on to receive the pipes | drums award for 2010 “Album of the Year”.

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Archie Dewar Memorial Contest for the A Division of the  Toronto Branch Knockout (Round #5) took place on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011 at the Moss Park Armoury.  

Kyle receiving the Archie Dewar Memorial Trophy 2011

The final standings were:

A division – March, Strathspey & Reel
Judge: Charles H. MacDonald
1. Kyle Coughlin
2. Brendan Culver
3. Jon Bellia
4. Dylan Whittemore
5. Angelina Vaccaro
6. MacGregor Van De Ven

Congratulations to winner Kyle (TPPB Grade 1), and to  Angelina  (TPPB Grade 3).

It was a busy day, with the B and C divisions having competitions round as well.  The MSR competition for the A division was concluded with a recital by Ian K. MacDonald (P/M Grade 1).

The final round for the Toronto Branch Knockout will be held on March 5, 2011.

The grade one band’s “Live at the el Mocambo: Raw and Off the Floor” project was yesterday named Recording of the Year by pipes|drums, the world’s most read piping and pipe band-related website.  

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An annual tradition, the Toronto Police Pipe Band has participated in the Toronto Santa Claus Parade for several decades. Sunday, November 21st started out chilly, but the weather held and even warmed up a little. This year, following Police Chief William Blair and the Chief’s Ceremonial Unit, the band played several crowd favourites including “We Wish you a Merry Christmas” and “Good King Wenceslas”.

Happy Holidays!