The Keith Radley Hutchison Award

After the sudden passing of Keith Hutchison, this award was created by his friends during 1998.  He was an enthusiastic supporter of all things Scottish in Montreal. The award is given annually to a piper at The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada who possesses exceptional piping skills, has demonstrated a strong ability to play the instrument solo and who possesses an excellent character.
 
In addition to serving as a memorial, the purpose of the award is to encourage and support excellent pipers and to maintain the strong ties that have existed between the Black Watch Pipes and Drums and the Society.

​The award shall be given to a piper at the Black Watch Royal Highland Regiment of Montreal, who:
1. Possesses exceptional piping skills;
2. Has demonstrated a strong ability to play the instrument alone;
3. And who possesses an excellent character.

2022 Recipient

Piper Annie Jacques (left) with Pipe Major Cameron Stevens

The 2022 winner is Piper Annie Jacques. Annie is an associate member of The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada Pipes and Drums who originally hails from the Saguenay. Her varied musical background includes playing saxophone in high school and lead guitar in a cover band. She began learning bagpipes in 2013, and since then her appearances have included the World Pipe Band Championship in Glasgow in 2016, the Black Watch Military Tattoo in 2017, and various Highland games throughout Quebec and Ontario. She performs frequently as a soloist and has taken part in many solo competitions, including a second-place win in the Montreal Highland Games virtual solo competition in 2020.

Previous winners:
1998   Pipe Major Jordon Anderson
1999   Piper Stephane Chamberland
2000   Piper Philip Butler
2001   Piper Jeff Thorpe
2002   Piper Brent Schaus
2003   Pipe Major Cameron Stevens
2004   Piper Hugh Dowell
2005   Piper Josh Odermatt
2006   Piper Terri Lynn McLaren
2007   Piper Ian Leblanc
2008   Piper Ron Rice
--
2013  Piper Alexandre Leger
2014  Piper Maxime Langevin
2015  Piper Robert W. Kerr
2016  Piper Malcolm David Cox
​2017  Piper Sasha Mathew
2018  Piper Patrick Leduc
2019  Piper Alec McGuckin
2020 Piper Robert Kerr
​2021  Piper Bruce Bolton
​2022 Piper Kevin Toupin
2023 Piper Annie Jacques