About the band

12 Wing Pipes and Drums is a regular force volunteer band located at CFB Shearwater, Nova Scotia who appear with the kind permission of our Wing Chief Warrant Officer, CWO Poitras. The band is made up of two regular force musicians (the Pipe Major, and the Drum Instructor), miltary volunteer members, and civilian volunteer members. We perform at a wide variety of venues, from tattoos and concerts, to military parades and mess dinners, to street parades and highland games.

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History

12 Wing Shearwater Pipes and Drums is the youngest member of the regular force family of Military Support Bands. In the early nineties, on taking command of 12 Wing Shearwater, the Wing Commander, Col. John Cody felt their was enough need and interest to justify establishing a volunteer pipe band at the base. Its location in the heart of the largest city in the Maritimes was the perfect spot for a military pipe band reflecting the traditions and flavour of the area. Col. Cody undertook this endeavour at a time when the future of the base was itself in question. Despite the down-sizing and many memos passed between the various commands involved, Col Cody’s dream became reality in 1995. By Sept of that year, professional piping and drumming instructors were on the ground ready to go. The band had its first ceremonial function in July of 1996, and it hasn’t looked back since.

As the years have past, 12 Wing Pipes and Drums continue to provide musical support to the Wing and Formation and promote a positive image of the Canadian Forces. As part of our mandate we have appeared in the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the Virginia International Tattoo as well as the Quebec Military Music Festival and on top of that, we have competed at highland games in the Maritimes, Ontario and Quebec. 12 Wing is unique, supporting the navy with helicopter support on both coasts, and so we also operate a “satellite” band, 443 Squadron Pipes and Drums based in Victoria, British Columbia.

Pipe Major - Warrant Officer Daniel Smith

Drum Instructor - Sergeant John Pakenham

Sergeant John Pakenham was born in Brockville ON, and began his drumming career at the age of 12 with the Brockville Legion Pipe Band. In 1993 he joined the Ottawa Police Pipe Band and performed there until he joined the Brockville Rifles in 1996. In 1999 John transferred to the regular force with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment in Petawawa. While in Petawawa he joined the 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Pipes and drums and in 2001 became the Drum Instructor for the band. In 2002 John was accepted and completed the QL 6A Drum Instructor course in Borden, Ontario under the direction of Chief Warrant Officer Mike Steele. In 2008 John auditioned and was accepted into the musician trade (871) and was officially rebadged in May 2009. John has performed at many national and international events, such as the Virginia International Tattoo (USA), Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Scotland), Kremlin Zoria Tattoo (Russia), Wonju Tattoo (Korea), and competed at the World Pipe Band Championships and the World Solo Drumming Championships both in Scotland. John also deployed overseas to Bosnia on Rotation 3 with 3 RCR in 1998 John is married to his wife Michelle and they have three children, Alyssa, Emma, and Gavin.

Roster

Pipers
Captain Chris Spearin
Sergeant Karen MacLean
Sergeant Mark Manthorne
Corporal Rachelle MacDonald
Able Seaman Kurtis Bryden
Private Stacey Hirtle
Private Kylie MacLachlan
Sue Bezanson
Mark Bond
Alric Boota
Jeremy Carrier
Scott Murray
Alex Orbegoso
Craig Wight

Drummers
Lieutenant Daniel Knee
Second Lieutenant Alger Boota
Second Lieutenant Rob Nicholson
Sergeant Jim Sullivan
Sergeant Trevor Jessome
Corporal Keith Penney
Corporal Pat Embree
Corporal David Waddell
Karen Holley
Nancy Sinclair

Disclaimer: This is not an official website of the Canadian Forces, and thereby all material contained within this site makes no representations of the aforementioned party.