Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been Canada's monarch since she ascended to the throne of the United Kingdom in 1952, being crowned on 2 June.  In 1981, Her Majesty consented to become Colonel-in-Chief of The Calgary Highlanders.  She receives regular reports from the Regiment on its activities, and last visited Calgary in June 1990. 
 

The Regiment received a new Queen's Colour from Her Majesty while parading before her with the King's Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC).  The Calgary Highlanders were one of the last Canadian infantry regiments to replace the Union Jack with the new flag of Canada.   Her Majesty continues to take a keen interest in all of her Canadian Regiments.

From the Canadian Heritage Site:

"When the regiments of the British and Canadian Armies were first formed, many had a royal patron who agreed to become the ceremonial commander of the unit or its “Colonel-in-Chief.” Perhaps foremost among the reasons for such patronage was the desire to reinforce, within the ranks of the regiment, a loyalty to the Crown through this personal relationship with a member of the Royal Family. The Colonel-in-Chief remains in close contact with his/her regiment and takes a very personal ongoing interest in its well being and that of its members. One of the most colourful and significant moments in the life of a regiment is when its Colonel-in-Chief presents new colours: a flag bearing the insignia of the Colonel-in-Chief, the regiment and, oftentimes, its battle honours). Old colours are retired and given a place of honour as the new colours are first presented and marched past the members of the regiment."

Colonel Robert James Sinclair Gibson, CLJ, MMLJ

Robert JS (Bob) Gibson was born in Bently, Alberta in 1946, the eldest son of a homesteader farming near Rocky Mountain House, and was raised in a number of Alberta towns.  By his fifth birthday, Gibson's father had become employed with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs as a farming instructor, and the family of six moved to High Prairie.  His childhood included activities with cubs, scouts, sports teams, as well as service with the King's Own Calgary Regiment's Cadet Corps in Gleichen.

Colonel Gibson graduated from Bow Valley Central High School in Cluny, Alberta, and joined the Royal Canadian Navy as an officer cadet.    After his initial year at the University of Alberta, he worked for several years as a surveyor in the seismograph industry throughout Western Canada.  After leaving seismic, he returned to the University of Alberta for another year and became a realtor, later joining Southland Canada and becoming District Sales Manager for thirty-one 7-Eleven stores.

Becoming involved in real estate development led to a stint as Area Manager for Western Realty Projects with responsibility for Southern Alberta.  In 1976 he accepted a position as President of United Management Ltd., and ultimately Managing Director of Alsten Holdings, Ltd., the holding company of the Singer Family of Calgary, where he still serves.

In 1986, Colonel Gibson had acquired the Bobtail Ranch in Penticton, BC, where he raises a commercial herd and pedigree Angus cattle with his wife, Brigitte.  His other interests have included sailing, flying, and the military, and is a certified offshore sailor, fixed wing, and helicopter pilot.  He has served as Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the 15th Edmonton Medical Company, and assumed the same position with the Calgary Highlanders in August 2001.  That December, he assumed the position of Honorary Colonel with the Regiment.

Colonel Gibson sits on a number of committees related to the Army Reserve and is active in many charitable works through the Order of St. Lazarus as well as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award program.  He has two sons and three daughters.

Master Warrant Officer Emmett Kelly, CD

Master Warrant Officer Emmett Kelly was born in Montreal, Quebec, where he attended public school and later Dawson College. During his college years, he joined the Primary Reserve as a rifleman in The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, enlisting in 1982. In 1985 he completed the Infantry Section Commanders Course at L’Ecole de Combat R22eR in addition to his training as an infantry communicator, basic machine gunner and basic parachutist. While with the Black Watch he advanced from the rank of Private to Warrant Officer, and served in all possible positions within the rifle company, including an extensive amount of time with the Reconnaissance Platoon. In 1990, Warrant Officer Kelly was employed as a Platoon Second in Command during Operation SALON, the Canadian Forces' response to the OKA Crisis, and was attached to 5ieme Regiment Artillerie Leger de Campagne. Warrant Officer Kelly left Montreal and transferred to Calgary in August of 1995 where he joined the Calgary Highlanders as a Platoon Warrant Officer.

From 1995 to 1999 WO Kelly filled all possible senior administrative roles in the rifle company in addition to tasking as a platoon commander in 1998. In 1999 he took a three year Class B position at the Western Area Training Centre, Wainwright, as the Training WO where he completed the QL7 Infantry course and was promoted to Master Warrant Officer in April of 2001. He assumed the position of HQ Company Sergeant Major for the Land Force Western Area Training Centre, Wainwright, during that time. MWO Kelly returned to the Calgary Highlanders in 2002 where he has been employed as the "A" Company CSM, HQ Company CSM and Quartermaster Senior Instructor. In January of 2008 MWO Kelly completed the CWO Qualification Course at the Canadian Defence Academy, St Jean Sur Richelieu, Quebec.

In civilian life MWO Kelly is the Operations Manager for a major construction management company. He is married with one son and two daughters.

Mister Michael Giles

Pipe Major Giles has been piping for over 18 years.  He began his piping career as a boy piper in the Canadian Scottish Regiment Cadet Corps in Victoria B.C.  Showing an aptitude for the pipes Mike progressed quickly and was playing with the Regimental band by the age of 13 and continued to for 10 years.  During this time Mike also played as Pipe Sergeant with a civilian competition band on Vancouver island called The Pacific Gael, with Rene' Cuson a well known piper and judge from the island. 

In his early twenties Mike moved to Vancouver and took over as Pipe Sergeant of a well known band called Triumph Street and after a year took over as Pipe Major.  The band then merged with a former Grade 2 band called Sir John A MacDonald.  Work brought Mike to Calgary in 2004 where he played for fun with the Calgary Police Pipe Band.  In November of 2005 Mike found his way back to his true love, military piping by being appointed Pipe Major of the Calgary Highlanders.  Mike brought a wealth of Military and Civilian piping experience to the Highlanders and looked forward to a tremendous growth year with the band.

Pipe Major Giles' first year resulted in a level of competitve success not enjoyed since Pipe Major Don Maxwell's tenure; the Pipes and Drums earned the Best Pipe Band award for the Calgary Stampede Parade, as well as Top Canadian Band overall. In High River in August 2006, the band placed first in the Grade III Medley Competition of a field of five bands.

Mister Jim Stewart

While his son Donald was learning to play bagpipes in the Cadet Pipes and Drums, James (Jim) Stewart was no stranger to the bandroom or Armouries balcony.  His keen interest in the workings of the regimental Pipes and Drums paid off when Pipe Major Rhodes enticed him to join the band as a civilian volunteer.  For a time, the Regiment paraded two Drum Majors; Kent Griffiths and his protege, Jim Stewart.  Born in 1946 in Campbeltown, Argyllshire, Scotland, Stewart brought a booming parade square voice to his appointment, with an appropriate Scottish accent.  Stewart's previous military experience had been as a submariner in the Royal Navy from 1964 to 1972.  In July of 1980 he moved to Calgary and worked steadily afterwards as a City of Calgary Building Inspector.  He and his wife Margaret also have a daughter.  The Drum Major's uncle had served as a drummer in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.