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.

2020 Recipient

​This year's award recipient is Cpl. Robert Kerr. Robbie has become a standard bearer for piping in Montreal, ever pushing his talents to new musical heights. Instructing regularly with the Black Watch Association School of Piping and Drumming and the Black Watch Cadets Pipes and Drums, as well as contributing his talents to a variety of local events, Robbie has quickly become a fixture in the Montreal Scottish community.

The very talented Robbie Kerr began piping at the age of ten, taking lessons from Col. Bruce Bolton at the Stewart Museum on St. Helen's Island. Robbie eventually joined the Black Watch cadet corps; his service culminated in a three-year term as the Black Watch Cadets Pipes and Drums Pipe Major. In December of 2013, Robbie was sworn into service with the Canadian Armed Forces and joined the ranks of the Black Watch Regimental Pipes and Drums.
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Robbie has piped with various notable bands and organizations, including the 78th Fraser Highlanders at the Stewart Museum, the Pipes and Drums of the Ceremonial Guard in Ottawa, and the Black Watch Association Pipes and Drums right here in Montreal. Career highlights include piping in Normandy for the 75th anniversary of D-Day commemoration ceremonies, the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and most recently his appointment as Pipe Sergeant, a senior band position with the Black Watch Regimental Pipes and Drums.

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
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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