Livingstone recognized in Canadian Parliament for service to piping and drumming

Mr. Speaker, for 29 years Bill Livingstone, the first North American to win the Gold Medal in piping at Inverness, was pipe-major of one of the world’s most famous pipe bands, the 78th Fraser Highlanders. Under his direction, the Ontario pipe band won 13 North American Championships and travelled to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland for 27 consecutive years. In 1987, the 78th Frasers won world championship and made the landmark Live in Ireland recording, events that are seen by many as seminal in piping. Livingstone holds the distinction of being the only person in history to have led a Grade 1 band to a World Championship and to have won a Clasp for piobaireachd at the Northern Meeting, the two pinnacles of pipe band and solo competitive success. His place in piping folklore is secure with hundreds of professional and solo triumphs. Congratulations on a brilliant, unmatched and unique piping career.

Duncan herself is extraordinarily accomplished. In her teens she was a champion Highland dancer and athlete. She also took up piping in the 1990s, with instruction from Gordon MacRae, who now plays with Dowco Triumph Street. Her academic work as a PhD led to groundbreaking research into the influenza pandemic of 1918, which killed millions around the world. She was elected to parliament in 2008.

Duncan’s tribute is now officially recorded in the Canadian parliamentary Hansard.