Kitsilano Boys Band

The Kitsilano Boys Band was founded in 1928 in Vancouver, B. C., Canada, by Arthur W. Delamont. In various trips to England the Band established itself as an award-winning band, in 1934, 1936 and 1939. After WWII the band travelled to England and Europe a number of times, from 1950 to 1974, earning many awards for their marching, deportment and musical ability.

Arthur W. Delamont was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1980. He died in 1982.

Who was Arthur Delamont?

Arthur Delamont, born in Hereford, England, emigrated with his family to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, in 1910. The family was involved with the Salvation Army and its bands. They planned to attend a Salvation Army reunion in England in 1914 but a tragedy occurred as the Empress of Ireland departed for Liverpool. Their ship collided with a coal freighter in the St. Lawrence River near Rimouski, Quebec with great loss of life. Arthur, his sister, and their father and mother were saved, but his older brother, Leonard Samuel Delamont, a fine musician, perished.

When they moved to Vancouver, the family lived in Kitsilano in a house that adjoined the grounds of General Gordon School. A story Arthur told on many occasions provides the background to his calling as a band director: “I was looking out my window and saw some boys hanging around the school grounds. I thought, ‘I could teach these boys to play instruments!’” Another version of the story had the boys playing harmonicas in the streets. Soon Arthur was encouraging parents to buy instruments for their boys and he had organized his first band in Vancouver.

A 1929 photo shows the General Gordon School Band arrayed on the front steps of the school, an impressive group of 33 musicians complete with a good selection of instruments. They have dark pants, white shirts with bow ties, and a military style hat. This may have been the band that made its debut in 1928 playing 'O Canada' to welcome the Olympic gold medalist, Percy Williams, on his triumphant return to Vancouver.

In 1930 Arthur’s student musicians were graduating to Kitsilano High School. Rehearsals continued twice a week in the basement of the General Gordon School but the band now became the Kitsilano High School Band. The name “Kitsilano” remained attached to the band for the forty-four years of the life of this famous ensemble, evolving into The Kitsilano Boys Band along the way. Kitsilano, named for a local Indian Chief, is known throughout Canada as one of the “laid-back” areas of Vancouver, to the south of Kits Beach. It is filled with beautiful old homes and some renovated cottages, and is considered a very desirable, (in some parts “funky”) neighbourhood of Vancouver.

To accompany the name change, Delamont designed a new uniform for the band which would become well-known through the next decades: black highly-polished shoes, black socks, black pants with a fine red stripe on the outside of each leg and white long-sleeved shirt. The crowning glory was a cape over the shoulders fastened back to reveal a shiny crimson lining. A forty-piece band of boys dressed in this uniform dazzled audiences. Arthur himself carefully managed his professionally tailored military-style trousers and jacket. He often wore a matching cap.

Delamont began immediately to market the Kitsilano Boys Band in places of prominence. His pattern was always to have a trip in prospect because of his belief in the value of performance. It also maintained the interest and excitement of the boys, and helped channel their energies into improving both individually and collectively.

A brief history of the Kitsilano Boys Band

1928 The General Gordon School Band is formed in Kitsilano under direction of Arthur W. Delamont (later the name was changed to the Kitsilano Boys Band)

1931 Kitsilano Boys Band takes first place at the Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto

1933 Kitsilano Boys Band triumphs at Chicago World's Fair

1934 First Band trip to England. First Place for Deportment, West of England. (21 Bands competing) 1936 First time a Band Concert was given at the Peace Tower in Ottawa

1936 Second trip to England Kitsilano Boys Band wins the Cassells Challenge Shield for "junior" bands at the Crystal Palace. (33 senior bands competing)

1937 Kitsilano Boys Band plays at the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

1939 Band plays concerts at New York World's Fair, en route to a full schedule of concerts in Britain. Band forced to curtail tour and to hurry back to Canada when the outbreak of war is announced.

1946 Arthur W. Delamont named Vancouver's Good Citizen of the Year. 1947 Hollywood, California

1950 First post-war trip to England, Scotland, Ireland and Holland. First place, International Music Festival at Oosterbeek.

1953 Trip to British Isles and Ireland

1955 Trip to British Isles

1958 Trip to Europe. Sight reading Championship in Brussels. 1962 Europe via Panama Canal: England, France, Holland and Germany - Gold Medal at Interational Marching Band Competition in Holland

1966 Kerkrade Holland

1967 Expo 67 in Montreal

1968 Europe 1970 Europe

1972 Europe

1974 Trip to Moscow 1974 Kits Band ceases operation

1979 Kits Alumni Band tours Scotland and England 1980 Arthur Delamont named Member of the Order of Canada (C. M.)

1981 Vancouver Parks Board designates "Delamont Park" (Kitsilano, 7th and Arbutus)

1982 Arthur W. Delamont died in Vancouver, September 11, 1982 at age 90. Funeral service at Kitsilano United Church with Boys playing "The Lost Chord" (solo by Brian Bolam on Mr. D.'s trumpet). Eulogy by Mr. Roy Johnson

1984 Dedication of a bronze plaque in Delamont Park, Kitsilano

"Can we measure the results of one man’s inspiration?"

Arthur’s “boys” took many different career paths. Arthur Delamont became a Member of the Order of Canada in 1980 "in recognition of the dedication he has shown in providing a musical education for thousands of boys”.

Jim Pattison became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1986 in recognition of his community service and for “the smooth running and success of EXPO 86”.

William Millerd (drums, Kits Band 1956-60) became a Member of the Order of Canada in 1993, for “his passion for the theatre [which] has helped the Vancouver performing arts community to thrive.”

Dal Richards (clarinet, Kits Band, 1933-1937) became a Member of the Order of Canada in 1994: “…he has spent a lifetime entertaining people with his dance band music, not only in British Columbia but throughout Canada.”

Bing Thom (clarinet, Kits Band 1955 trip), became a Member of the Order of Canada in 1996, a noted Vancouver architect who designed, among other structures, the Canada Pavilion at Expo ’92 in Seville, Spain and the Chan Centre in Vancouver.

Ron Collier (Trombone, Kits Band, 1946-1952) became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2003, for having “shared his gift for composition and orchestration with students, he also led several stage bands to victory at national competitions.”

Most communities in Canada benefited from the services of members of the Kits Band. There were band directors: Cliff Bryson, Ken Sotvedt, Richard Van Slyke, Earl Hobson and many more. The schools in British Columbia were filled with musicians, including Dennis Tupman, Performing Arts District Principal for the Vancouver School Board. Many of the school bands, orchestras, and jazz bands were touched by the inspiration of former Kits Band members. Community bands and orchestras in Vancouver and across Canada were replete with talented former Kits Band members. Don Radelet of the 1939 band, for example, continued, until recently, to play his Baritone with different bands each night of the week. Some of Arthur Delamont’s “Boys” became professional musicians across North America. Some brought their musical ability and Deportment to hundreds of local bands and orchestras. Every one of them brought a professional approach to their chosen field which was accompanied by a love of music. They all met and traveled with “boys” who became lifelong friends and colleagues. They became good citizens of our Country. For all of this, they give thanks to Arthur Delamont.

A Web Page was established in 1996 for the benefit of the many alumni of the band. When travelling overseas the Band was called the Vancouver Kitsilano Boys Band or the Vancouver Boys Band.

External links

* [http://www.kitsband.com Kitsilano Boys Band]