July 6, 2011

Oakville…Halton Regional Police Service Pipes and Drums and the Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate present "Echoes of Erchless" Friday July 8th and Saturday July 30th featuring a free concert series at Oakville’s Erchless Estate with the Halton Regional Police Service Pipes and Drums, The Chisholm Dancers and a number of special guest performers.

The beautiful historic buildings and gardens of the Erchless Estate were once the home of Oakville’s founding family, but are now the setting for Oakville’s Community Museum. Colonel William Chisholm, an enterprising merchant and shipbuilder, was responsible for the founding of the Town and Port, and built Erchless overlooking his new harbour and the waters of Lake Ontario.

Today, visitors can still enjoy that magnificent view and beautiful grounds and gardens, and can tour the buildings of Erchless, including the Chisholm family home and the Customs House. Entertaining, knowledgeable staff, period room settings recreating life as it was for the Chisholms in the 1920s, and changing exhibitions, special events and programs tell the fascinating stories of our Town.

The Halton Regional Police Service Pipes and Drums were formed on September 2, 1987 as a result of a co-operative effort by members of the Halton community and members of the Halton Regional Police Service. The band's first Pipe Major was William S. Robertson of Oakville, a gifted piper and retired member of the famous Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise’s). The ‘Imperial’ Argylls saved the British Army during the Battle of Balaklava by forming the now famous Thin Red Line tipped with steel, and traces its regimental roots back to 1794 with the formation of the 98th Argyllshire Highlanders Regiment of Foot in Scotland.

The primary function of the Halton Regional Police Service Pipes and Drums is to enhance the concept and spirit of community policing through the performance of highland bagpipe music at concerts, charity and fundraising events, police and military Tattoos, parades, and competitions throughout the Golden Horseshoe. But most of all, the Pipes and Drums represent the emotion of the Halton Regional Police Service, everywhere they perform. The Pipes and Drums proudly wear the Chisholm tartan in honour of the Chisholm family and the founders of Oakville.

All of the members of the Pipes and Drums are volunteers and are serving and retired police and peace officers, and civilians. The Pipes and Drums are under the direction of Pipe Major Allan M. Eaton OHM CD, formerly of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's), and Drum Major Constable Nick McConnell, and appear by kind permission of Chief Gary Crowell, Chief of the Halton Regional Police Service.

The Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate is owned and operated by the Town of Oakville, administered through the Recreation & Culture Department. The museum is designated as a Category A Heritage Institution and holds objects of national significance and is located in the heart of downtown Oakville at 8 Navy Street, Oakville.

For more information please contact:

Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate 905-338-4400