The Chief and Petty Officers' Association Band is a +30 member band operating under the Chief and Petty Officers' Association, based out of CFB Esquimalt, located in Esquimalt (Victoria) British Columbia.
The band was first established as an "alumni" band for retired members of the Canadian Forces Band system in the fall of 1987 under the auspices of Branch 91, The Prince Edward Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion in Langford. The following year the band moved to Esquimalt and aligned itself with the Chief and Petty Officers' Association. The newly formed CPO Band held its first concert called "Salute to Seniors" on April 13 1988 in what is now the Archie Browning Centre. That performance was under the direction of Captain Jack Tillmanns (Ret'd.).
With the restructuring of the Canadian Forces Bands that occurred in 1994, the pool of available retired musicians has diminished, so in the fall of 2014 the band was reconstituted as a band for past and present members of the military, their families and civilian members from the local community.
After more than 30 years of activity, the Chief and Petty Officers' Association Band continues to provide, high quality entertaining concerts and supports the military community in Esquimalt and greater Victoria (CRD) by providing music for Remembrance Day Ceremonies, Mess Dinners, Ships arrivals, Commemorations, as well as concerts at local seniors' centres.
New members are always welcome.