Vancouver Finally Pipes Down Over Bagpipe Ban

By Justin McNeil 
Senior Editor

Buskers go bust in Vancouver? Senior Editor Justin McNeil—showing off his own cultural heritage and bagpipe love—provides a glimpse into Vancouver’s cultural politics. 

Buskers march on Vancouver? No, not really, but they make their voices heard after the city attempts to ban bagpipes. [Photo of Stirling 2006 Highland Games in Scotland] 

Vancouver, bowing to local and international outrage, repealed a ban on bagpipes that it put into place last week. The bagpipe ban, put forward by the engineering department of British Columbia’s largest city as a measure to reduce street noise, had applied to the playing of bagpipes, bongos, and other percussion instruments. 

Backlash to the ban was swift. Local pipers spoke up loudly, fueling a protest that ultimately forced the city’s hand in reversing its decision. This put Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, one of the 5 million Canadians with Scottish ancestors—and who even sported a kilt at his latest swearing in ceremony—in the awkward position of supporting a ban on an essential part of his own cultural heritage. When first asked for his reaction to the ban by local media he responded:

Buskers play a very important role in making Vancouver’s streets lively and dynamic, particularly in our vibrant downtown. We do however have to monitor noise complaints and ensure that music from our streets isn’t excessively disruptive to neighbouring residences or workplaces. I’ve asked city staff to review this issue; Council won’t support an outright ban on specific instruments. My first reaction is that a complete ban on bagpipes and percussion instruments across the city is ridiculous and culturally insensitive. The clans won’t stand for it!

The Mayor now clarifies the City’s current position on his own website, where his influence has contributed to the lifting of the ban. But the Mayor makes clear that while he does not support any prohibition on specific instruments, the City will continue to gather noise level readings and monitor complaints regarding instrument noise.

Now, in the Mayor’s defense, an acquired degree of tolerance is certainly necessary when bagpipes blare in the wee morning hours. I learned this all too well during a summer in Stirling, Scotland, where pipe bands from all over the world in town for the nearby Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo would begin practice sessions at 7 a.m. on the lawn outside my room.

But, I have to agree with the head of the British Columbia Pipers’ Association and my namesake, Rob MacNeil, that an outright ban crossed the line and discounted the entertainment and cultural value proper piping can provide. Though initially shortsighted, Vancouver should be commended for ultimately recognizing the importance of the role that pipes play in many Canadians’ Scottish cultural identity and their expression thereof. Scotland has also voiced its official approval of the ban being lifted, after its Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, received a personal assurance from Mayor Robertson that the ban had been lifted. Fittingly, Ms. Hyslop was in Vancouver during these events for Scotland Week 2012, a set of weeklong engagements in major North American cities to promote Scotland.

Then again, Vancouver seems to have a particular penchant for peculiar bylaws. Hopefully, noise-related bylaws won’t come to emulate Vancouver’s seemingly convoluted traffic and parking ordinances, which a fellow blogger hilariously shares in this 2011 blog post. In the meantime though, buskers don’t fret: your euphonious blasting will undoubtedly ring in British Columbia’s 2012 Highland Games and Scottish festival this June.