The Old 78th Fraser Highlander's (Fort Calgary) Historical Society

What The Old 78th Fraser Highlander's (Fort Calgary) Historical Society does

The Old 78th Fraser Highlander's (Fort Calgary) Historical Society is a Canadian not-for-profit organization operating one of ten outposts of the internationally recognized 78th Fraser Highlanders historical society. Established in Calgary in 1977 under the direction of Major David B. Jackson, the Society's primary operational focus is a free youth training program for ages 10-15 delivering instruction in piping, drumming, highland dancing, musketry, weapons handling and safety, leadership, citizenship, and Canadian and Scottish military history. Training is delivered at The Military Museums (4520 Crowchild Trail SW) every Sunday from 10:00am to 2:00pm, with capacity capped at 24 youth members; the program is currently at 17 members entering its 45th season in 2024.

Instruction is built around distinctive historical elements including 18th-century drill instruction taken from a 1749 British Drill Manual, 17 Brown Bess muskets used for black powder demonstrations, and rope-tension drums that produce a period-authentic sound. The Garrison's adult membership of approximately 100 Officers and Miladies serves as instructors, administrators, and operational leadership. The Society is legally structured as two entities: a not-for-profit corporation under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and a federally registered Charitable Trust under Alberta law (established 1979 by John McDonald, raising $50,000 from 20 business associates).

Revenue is generated through four streams: Garrison membership dues (~100 adult members), charitable donations (with tax-receiptable structure enabled by the Trust), provincial casino revenue allocated through the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) commission, and event-based fundraising including annual Burns Night dinners, Mess Dinners, and the newly launched Fraser Whisky Tasting (which raised over $2,500 at its April 2025 inaugural event). The youth program is delivered free of charge to participants, with uniforms and kit (valued at approximately $4,500 per youth) provided by the Garrison subject to a $100 deposit. Marketing is conducted through a website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube channels, complemented by participation in the Calgary and Canmore Highland Games, community parades, alumni testimonials, and a planned Heritage Park Historical Village summer performance program.

Name

The Old 78th Fraser Highlander's (Fort Calgary) Historical Society

Legal name

The Old 78th Fraser Highlander's (Fort Calgary) Historical Society

Website

https://78frasercalgary.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Old 78th Fraser Highlander's (Fort Calgary) Historical Society is a Calgary-based not-for-profit that runs a free youth training program in piping, drumming, highland dancing, and musketry for ages 10-15, supported by approximately 100 adult Garrison members, charitable donations, and AGLC casino revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Cultural Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Educational Services (61), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Music Lessons (Instrumental) (EDAMANAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Firearms, Range Safety & Less-Lethal Weapons Training (EDAOAMAN)

Keywords

• Youth music training
• Highland pipe bands
• Scottish heritage education
• Historical reenactment
• Youth leadership program

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Operating costs funded from Garrison membership through the ~100 Officers and Miladies
2. Charitable Donations: Registered Charitable Trust with ability to issue tax receipts for donations. Established by founding members including prominent Calgary oil executives.
3. AGLC Casino Revenue: Provincial casino revenues through the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) commission supporting youth programs
4. Social Event Fundraising: Annual fundraising events including Burns Night dinner, whisky tasting events, and mess dinners. The 1st Annual Fraser Whisky Tasting raised over $2,500 in 2025.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The organization runs a free, structured youth training program for children ages 10-15 that teaches piping, drumming, highland dancing, musketry, weapons handling and safety, leadership, citizenship, and Canadian military history. Adult Officers and Miladies (~100 members) serve as instructors and administrators, and the program is delivered through weekly Sunday practices at The Military Museums in Calgary.

Product overview

The Old 78th Fraser Highlander's (Fort Calgary) Historical Society operates primarily as a youth training organization within the 78th Fraser Highlanders historical society network. The core offering is the Youth Squad Training Program—a free, comprehensive youth development initiative for ages 10-15 that teaches piping, drumming, highland dancing, musketry, and leadership skills. Supporting this are performance offerings including the Black Powder Show featuring live Brown Bess musket demonstrations, and various social events including Mess Dinners, Robbie Burns Night dinners, and Fraser Whisky Tasting events. Professional instruction services are provided by experienced band staff. The organization also maintains social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. The Fort Calgary Garrison is one of ten outposts across North America within the international 78th Fraser Highlanders historical society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Squad Training Program A free youth training program for children ages 10-15 providing comprehensive instruction in piping, drumming, highland dancing, musketry, weapons handling and safety, leadership, citizenship, and Canadian military history. Practices are held every Sunday at The Military Museums (4520 Crowchild Trail SW, Calgary) from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Uniforms and equipment (approximate $4,500 value per person) are supplied by the Garrison with a $100 deposit required.
• Robbie Burns Night Dinner Annual fundraising dinner event celebrating Scottish poet Robert Burns with traditional Scottish cuisine, piping and drumming performances, highland dancing, and mouth music (Cantaireachd) by the Youth Squad. Open to community members as a ticketed social event.
• Fraser Whisky Tasting Annual fundraising event featuring Highland music, entertainment, whisky tasting, and fellowship. The first event was held on April 26, 2025 at Buchanan's Chop House and raised over $2,500.
• Mess Dinners Formal Highland military dinner events celebrating historical victories such as the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, featuring traditional pomp and ceremony, haggis, pipe music, formal toasts, and guest speakers. Held as community events open to members and guests.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of alumni have benefited from the program, going on to careers in music, education, engineering, law, optometry, and business
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Calgary Highlanders of the Primary ReserveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOccasional partnership for hosting social events. The garrison partners with the Calgary Highlanders for certain social events, combining military traditions and community engagement.
• The Military MuseumscoreOthersTraining location provider. The Military Museums at 4520 Crowchild Trail SW provides the venue for weekly Sunday practices and hosts the annual open house events.
• Heritage Park Historical VillageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanned summer youth employment program location. When band is trained and proficient, they will perform at Heritage Park wearing 1910-era uniforms depicting the historical period the park represents.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Clan McBain Pipe Band: Elite Grade 1 competition pipe band explicitly named in 78th Fraser Calgary's leadership CVs; directly comparable as the competitive performance arm the Fort Calgary Youth Squad aspires to feed into, sharing instructors and competitive ecology.
• Foothills Caledonian Pipes and Drums: Calgary-based pipe and drum band operating from the same Ogden Legion tradition; directly comparable as a community pipe band developing competitive-level players with overlapping instructor pool in Calgary.
• 78th Fraser Highlanders (Montreal Headquarters): The flagship garrison and registered charity for the same 78th Fraser Highlanders network; identical historical mandate, drilling traditions, and youth-adjacent programming model under the same brand.

Others

• The Military Museums (Calgary): Host venue for 78th Fraser Calgary's weekly practices and primary institutional partner; directly comparable as a Calgary-based military heritage and education organization serving overlapping audience.
• Heritage Park Historical Village: Calgary historical site and documented planned deployment partner for the Fort Calgary Youth Squad's 1910-era uniform performances; comparable as a heritage education venue operator sharing cultural-preservation mission.
• Simon Fraser University: Named after the same Simon Fraser whose family commissioned the original 78th Fraser Highlanders regiment; thematically linked as a Canadian institution preserving the Fraser legacy and benefiting from Scottish-Canadian historical awareness.

Regional players

• St. Andrew's Society of Calgary: Regional Scottish cultural society operating in the same Calgary Scottish-heritage ecosystem; comparable as a competing community-based Scottish cultural and educational organization serving overlapping social-event audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Calgary Highlanders (Primary Reserve): Active Canadian Army reserve regiment based at the same Mewata Armoury; occupies adjacent military heritage space in Calgary and is a documented partner for shared social events, overlapping on drill and ceremonial traditions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCliXXU--6BJ6GUqmB_6osA
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61551611442485
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/78-fraser-highlanders
• Instagraminstagram.com/78frasercalgary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Old 78th Fraser Highlander's (Fort Calgary) Historical Society