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Morden sergeant brings bagpipe talents to Belfast with the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band
It’s common knowledge that Sergeant Chris Flook of the Morden Police Service is passionate about serving the community and the city, but what some might not know is that he also has a particular talent — playing the bagpipes. Recently, he took a trip to Belfast, Ireland, to play with the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band, a group that has been in existence since 1920. Belfast International Military Tattoo 2025 The pipe band attended the Belfast International Military Tattoo 2025, which featured a collection of pipe bands and other performers from across the globe. It was Sergeant Flook’s second time attending the event in Ireland after a similar trip in 2017. He said that over the years, he has had the chance to visit various places since he joined the pipe band when he was 18 in the 1990s. “It's been a long time in the band,” he said.” Police officers, military, firefighters Sergeant Flook said the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band consists of about 50 pipers and drummers. The group is made up of “police officers, retired police officers, military, firefighters, and members of the public.” Approximately 30 made the trip to Belfast this year. “It was a whirlwind trip. I was in and out in about 5 days,” he said. “We flew out on a Tuesday, had two quick days of fast rehearsals, then we did three performances on a Friday and Saturday, and then hopped on a plane Sunday morning back home.” The trip was about a year in the making — Sergeant Flook said that it was at that time that the pipe band decided on performing in Belfast, and it began the long road of learning the performance music in January. Taking to the stage In addition to the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band, Sergeant Flook said the tattoo included a “wide variety of acts” from places like Finland and Norway. Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom were also represented. The bagpiper likened the stage that all the groups shared to the Canada Life Centre, but without the upper level. “5 to 6,000 people could watch the show at any one time, and [it had] a large surface, so we did lots of marching, and we performed making different formations,” he said. Playing all together After nearly a year of preparation and anticipation, the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band showcased its hard work alongside the other bands in attendance. It was an event that not only brought together groups from all over the world but also different generations. “We actually had a great opportunity to play with a youth band from Zimbabwe. It was ... a youth school, so I think they're between 12 and 17,” said Sergeant Flook. “They are newer players, and they've never done any shows like that, so it was a really neat opportunity to play with them.” The sergeant added that the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band found itself in the “unique” position of being considered an elder group. Other stories: Kid-approved: École Morden Middle School unveils new playground at long last Fight food insecurity alongside the ‘chief turkey’ at the Thanks for Giving Run “A lot of these kids kind of looked up to us, and we took them under our wing,” he said. “We had a lot of fun with them over the few days we were there.” Sergeant Flook appreciated the interactions he had with the young pipers. He said that one special moment came when he was playing in a mass band of about 100 people and a part of his role was to help maintain the alignment of the group. “This one little guy [would] always give me thumbs up to make sure he was doing the right thing,” he said. “It was always kind of funny — no matter what, I'd look over, and he'd give me another thumbs up.” You can be a piper or a drummer, but pipers make money Although Sergeant Flook has been a member of the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band since he was 18, playing the bagpipes is something that has been a part of his life since he was eight years old. With Scottish, Irish, and English roots, taking up the instrument connected him to his ancestry. “It was a cultural thing that my mom and dad made my brother, sister, and me try as we were kids,” he said. “We were [told], ‘You're going to band practice on Saturday morning,’ and my dad told us we could be a piper or a drummer, but pipers can make money — so my brother and I chose pipers, and we've maintained doing that.” Sergeant Flook added that while he doesn’t really make much money in the position (even after playing for decades), he nonetheless enjoys continuing the craft. “It's been a huge part of my life,” he said. Representing Canada, Winnipeg, and Morden As for the Belfast International Tattoo, for the sergeant, it was a “great opportunity” to represent home. “We kind of went there under the support of the Winnipeg Police Service, and they allowed us to represent the City of Winnipeg, and through that, I got to represent the Morden Police as well because during these events I actually wear all Morden Police stuff,” he said. “It's a good atmosphere, it's good people, and so we enjoyed playing, and we're kind of excited to get on to our next tattoo, whatever that might be.” To see the Winnipeg Police Pipe Band in action, click here. With files from Robyn Wiebe