RRCMP "E" Division Pipe Band 
Profile: Mike Guillemin






 

 









Mike's pipe band career started as a piper at the age of 13 under the direction of Malcolm Nicholson, retired Pipe Major of the Vancouver Police pipe band. He started with the Highland Laddies Pipe Band, and after just a year moved up the ranks to the Kiwanis Boys Pipe Band. During this time the band won numerous titles including Western Pipe Band Aggregate Champions, a second place in Juvenile at the World Pipe Band Championships, and first in the English Championships in 1975.

 

Mike held the rank of Pipe Sergeant for a number of years and in 1976 took on the rank of Pipe Major and guided the band to wins in Monterey, San Francisco and Santa Rosa, California. Also during this time he competed in many individual competitions throughout the west coast staying in the top 5 of his class.


After a few years of reprieve he was invited to join the Grade 2 Port Coquitlam Legion pipe band in 1980. This in turn gave birth to the existing Sir John A. MacDonald pipe band, also a very successful competition band winning most of the Grade 2 titles on the West Coast. Mike also held the rank of Pipe Major with the band for one year and then took on the role of Drum Major for all parade and massed band performances. The band went through some very lean years and then in 2003 amalgamated with the Triumph Street Pipe Band.


 

In the winter of 2005 Mike was asked to attend a meeting with the interest of forming an RCMP pipe band. Based on the focus of creating a quality sound, a high level of musicality, and a goal to be a performance-based pipe band, he decided to put his competing days aside and look at something new, representing both the RCMP and British Columbia.


Mike lives in Langley, with his lovely wife Julie (also an accomplished piper and a member of the band). He has 4 daughters and 5 grandchildren. He also has a nephew currently playing in the E Division band.

 
To send an email to Mike,
click here..