Eagles fly into Ottawa to capitalize on new members

In what may mark the first time that a Scottish-based piping society or association has conducted an overseas membership drive in-person, the Edinburg-based Eagle Pipers Society will sign up new members when society president Colin MacLellan lands in Ottawa to discuss the organization and accept new memberships.

MacLellan makes his way to Ottawa after judging the William Livingstone Sr. Invitational Solo Piping Competition in Hamilton, Ontario, on May 8th. He called Ottawa home for a number of the 23 years during which he lived in Canada.

Colin MacLellan and fellow Edinburgh volunteers Iain Speirs and Euan Anderson resurrected the Eagle Pipers Society earlier this year after the club had been dormant since 1985. The group has since grown to more than 100 members worldwide.

“The Eagle Pipers Society is spreading its wings much further afield than just Edinburgh,” MacLellan said. “All with an interest in Highland piping are welcome to join us and enjoy good playing and even better pies.”

The group has already established a new tradition of serving high-quality meat pies at its Tuesday evening meetings in Edinburgh.

The Ottawa meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 12th, at the Junior Ranks Mess at the Cartier Square Drill Hall at 2 Queen Elizabeth Drive, beginning at 7 pm. Colin MacLellan will deliver a presentation on the history of the society, and will perform a piobaireachd. As with all Eagle Pipers Society meetings, pipers are encouraged to bring their pipes for a tune.

Membership to the organization is £20, or $30. An Eagle Pipers Society tie is included with the first annual dues.