(Updated) Pat Hayes passes away

Pat Hayes, the well known and much liked Pipe-Major of the Ottawa Police Pipe Band, died on September 18, succumbing to pneumonia.

He had been placed under a drug-induced coma since August 30 and was on life support in intensive care in an Ottawa hospital. He had undergone an operation to drain fluid from his lungs.

Hayes was a superintendent with the Ottawa-Carlton Police force. He had organized the Memorial Invitational Solo Piping Competition, held at the end of September every year since 1998. The contest had become one of the major events on the Ontario calendar, with all proceeds going to the families of emergency workers who had died or been seriously injured while on duty.

Hayes was due to retire in 2006 after an outstanding police career, having served 36 years. Among his professional accomplishments was being the first police officer with the Ottawa Police to be granted membership in the Order of Merit of the Police Forces by the Governor General of Canada. His volunteer activities included involvement with fundraising for the Children’s Wish Foundation and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

Visitations at Kelly Funeral Home, 3000 Woodroffe Ave. (south of Fallowfield) on September 20, 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.; September 21, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.; and September 22 after 9 a.m.

A funeral service will be held on September 22 at Notre Dame Basilica, 385 Sussex Avenue, Ottawa, at 10:30 a.m. with a reception at the Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Ave., immediately following. Memorial donations may be made to the Ottawa Police Pipe Band.

On behalf of the world piping and drumming community, we extend our sympathies to Pat Hayes’s family and many friends at this time of sad loss.