Halifax Games cancelled

The Halifax Highland Games, one of the staples of the eastern Canada piping and drumming competition circuit after running for 40 consecutive years, has cancelled its 2010 event, citing “financial challenges” as the primary reason. The contest had reportedly applied for funding from the province of Nova Scotia earlier in the year, but had been rejected.

Rumours about the event’s demise had been circulating around the pipe band scene comprising the Maritimes provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

According to one piper in the area, “Most people likely thought it would go ahead, as it is one of the better attended one-day games in the Maritimes, and was relocated last year to a new location which worked out well. Also, Halifax is kind of the hotbed area for piping in the Maritimes, so gets all kinds of support from the local bands, including the Grade 1 78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel).”

The demise of the Halifax games leaves five only five events on the Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association schedule. The Summerside Highland Gathering in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, are tentatively scheduled for 2010, but the event was cancelled in 2009.

“If we are down to four games for 2010, it’s a big hit for the Atlantic Canada pipe band scene,” the source added.

A statement on the Halifax Games’ website said that the organizers hope to hold an event in July 2011 if funding can be sourced.