Heather Purvis

Heather Purvis

Heather is a well-known figure on the Manitoba and Ontario piping scene. She began piping lessons at the age of 8 under P/M George Lawrence in the 402 Squadron Air Cadets. At the age of 12, Heather was introduced to the Winnipeg Heather-Belle Ladies’ Pipe Band and spent 20 amazing years with them, nine of them as Pipe Major. She began as a piper with the Manitoba Highland Dancers Association in 1980 and remained with the organization until 1995. She resumed dance piping duties at Scotdance Canada Championships in Winnipeg in 2016 and continues to this day.

In the late 1990s, Heather began her composing career and in 1998 was selected as a finalist in the Pipe Tune for the Peoples’ Princess, a tune-writing competition in honour of Princess Diana. She went on to win 2nd prize amongst a field of internationally renowned composers. She continues to compose and most recently placed third in the Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario (PPBSO) 75th Anniversary 4/4 composition contest in November 2021.

Heather had the opportunity to play with both the 78th Fraser Highlanders, the Peel Regional Police Pipe Band and the Hamilton Police Pipe Band in the early 2000s. The knowledge gained in playing with these world-class performers gave Heather increasing experience which she continues to share with other younger pipers.

Since 1996, Heather has been an active solo and pipe band judge, and a member of both the Prairie Pipe Band Association of Manitoba (PPBAM) and the Piper’s and Pipe Band Society of Ontario (PPBSO). She is currently a member of both the Grade 3 St. Andrew’s Pipe Band and the RCMP ‘D’ Division Pipes & Drums.

Today, Heather teaches out of her home and also assists teaching with the Lord Selkirk Robert Fraser Memorial Pipe Band organization in Winnipeg.

Heather has recently retired as a nurse at CancerCare Manitoba and has one daughter, Caitlin and a son-in-law Sheldon. Heather also has a young grandson, Callum.