Animal Pelt Tradition

The Edmonton Firefighters Piping and Drumming Society is a band proud to establish our own Fire Service Pipe & Drum traditions as well as carry on many more that have been set out before us in the traditional Pipe & Drum world.  We are  proud of our Fire Service & Paramilitary heritage, that not only serves the fire service, but our community. Starting from a clean slate in 2016 we started to build our society.  All the way from brand new musicians, to implementing new and old traditions as it lines with traditional Scottish regimental dress. 

One of these traditions is the wearing of animal pelts by the bass drummer and tenor drummer(s) at events that call for full number 1 dress. This distinction originates back to the 1800’s where such pelts were granted to specific army regiments as an honour for meritorious service – usually in Africa. Cougar, bear and leopard pelts were most commonly granted,  leopard having the most notoriety as it was considered “Royal Game.” Those animals were popular and abundant in that region of the world.

The Edmonton Firefighters Piping and Drumming Society was graciously donated a black bear rug  from  Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Service, an exhibit that was in their possession for many years.  We approached Solitude Taxidermy and they went through the rug to tailor it to our uniform needs and freshen it up for further preservation. Solitude Taxidermy has an excellent customer service review with vast experience in animal fur preservation. Solitude Taxidermy has also completed black bear projects for the Coldstream Guards at the Royal Palace in England.