Redirection for ACPBA promised with new leadership

In October 2015 at the organization’s annual general meeting Kevin Dugas was elected President of the Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association, and the professional-grade solo piper and member of the 78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel) has plans to make significant improvements under his tenure. He was previously Vice-President on the ACPBA executive, and took over the Presidency from snare drummer David Kershaw.

Among the progress that the organization plans to make is the resurrection of the organization’s Music Committee, which Dugas will also chair. He thus holds a rare combination of leadership power to evoke change.

Member-for-member, the ACPBA’s Music Committee is among the world’s most accomplished in terms of playing prowess and experience at the highest levels.

The ACPBA Music Committee plans to accredit new piping and drumming judges by the spring/summer of 2016, and hold piping and drumming workshops and seminars for the membership and the community at-large. Within the Music Committee is a newly formed Music & Grading Sub-committee, and Dugas said that there have been early discussions on adjudicator workshops, preparatory judging seminars and adjudicator examination dates for spring 2016.

Dugas added that members of the organization can expect to see an improved online presence with a more up-to-date website and the re-instatement of semi-annual online newsletter.

The ACPBA looks after pipers, drummers and pipe bands in the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland & Labrador. Approximately 22 bands are listed as members. In 2015 five Highland games were directly sanctioned by the organization.