From its beginnings as a Military Band of enlisted soldiers of the militia British Columbia Regiment (DCO) to its current incarnation as a volunteer community Band with strong ties to and support from the Regiment, the British Columbia Regiment Band continues to be an active member of the community in the Greater Vancouver area and beyond.
We are fortunate to be able to rehearse in the historic Beatty Street Drill Hall thanks to the permission of the Regiment’s Commanding Officer.
What We Do
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:
- Meeting the musical needs of the Canadian Forces and The British Columbia Regiment in ceremonies and military functions
- Assisting Canadian Forces and The British Columbia Regiment in establishing and maintaining a presence in the community
As a volunteer band, our members find that we meet their needs as a community band, with the added bonus that we often get to travel to exciting out of town gigs in British Columbia and beyond! The band rehearses Monday evenings and is always looking for new members: click here to find out how to join!
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
- Public: open to the general public for free, such as a street parade, or open-air concert
In recent years, notable performances include:
- Kerrisdale Parade – street parade in southwest Vancouver,
- North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo – street parade and rodeo in Barriere, BC
- Vernon Winter Carnival – a multi-day festival and parade in Vernon, BC
- Remembrance Day – ceremony and street parade at Vancouver’s Victory Square
- Sun Run – open-air concert in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighborhood
- Robson Square Ice Rink – providing musical entertainment for the free, outdoor Robson Square rink in downtown Vancouver.
- 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 1900’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.
Acknowledgements
The Band wishes to thank these organisations without whose support we would likely not exist:
- The British Columbia Regiment (DCO)
- The British Columbia Regiment (DCO) Association
- dedicated to all serving and past members of the BCR (DCO), family members, friends and supporters
- British Columbia Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch
- for Gaming Grants which have helped the Band with capital expenses