Roles

The Band serves as the regimental band of The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own), a Canadian Forces Reserve Armoured Reconnaissance regiment in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Its main roles are:

• to meet the musical needs of the Canadian Forces and The British Columbia Regiment in ceremonies and military functions, and
• to assist the Canadian Forces and The British Columbia Regiment in establishing and maintaining a presence in the community.

In fulfilling these roles, band members find that the Band meets their own needs as a community music group, much like other community bands or orchestras. From the member’s perspective, the main difference is that, as a military band, marching and drill are sometimes called for.

Rehearsals

Band rehearsals take place every Monday evening, 1930-2130 (7:30PM-9:30PM) at the historic Beatty Street Drill Hall, 620 Beatty Street, Vancouver. The “Stadium/Chinatown” SkyTrain stop is across the street from the Drill Hall.

With the exception of specific yearly holiday breaks the band attempts to rehearse at least 46 out of 52 weeks of the year.

Performances

Band performances comprise two general categories:

• Semi-public: the audience is limited to some group, such as the Regiment, the Regiment Association, invited guests, or perhaps a paying audience, such as for a concert by admission, and
• Public: open to the general public for free, such as a street parade, or open-air concert.

A 12-month period would see approximately 15 band performances, of which about 50% are Public. In recent years, notable Public performances included:

• Kerrisdale Parade – street parade in southwest Vancouver,
• North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo – street parade and rodeo in Barriere, BC
• Remembrance Day – ceremony and street parade in Vancouver
• Sun Run – open-air concert in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighborhood
• Apeldoorn Veterans Parade – in Apeldoorn, Holland, among 20 bands and over 200,000 wildly enthusiastic spectators, for the 60th anniversary of the Liberation of Holland.

Uniforms

The Band supplies uniforms at no cost to its members.

The uniform is currently undergoing a retrofit to take on an appearance of an early 19oo’s era Rifle Band. The jacket is Rifle Green, with traditional “Mandarin Collar”, trousers are matching. Headdress comprises a Rifle Green forage cap with a red capband. Cap badge (silver) is that of The British Columbia Regiment. For summer dress, a uniform similar to Service Dress Number 3B (short sleeved shirt with black-on-red epaulet slip-on) is used.

Appointments

As of 2019:

Band Governor	HCol Bill Diamond (39 CER)
Band Director	Bombardier Brian Smith, CD
Bugle-Major	Chris Ahern
Bugle-Sergeant	Unassigned
Drum-Major	Frederica Panon