The 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band is a Grade 1 pipe band from Ontario, Canada, formed in 1982 by former members of the General Motors Pipe Band, with early support from a 78th Fraser Highlanders re-enactment group. The band quickly became one of the most influential non-Scottish bands in the world, led from its founding by Pipe Major Bill Livingstone.

Its defining moment came in 1987, when the 78th Frasers won the Grade 1 World Pipe Band Championship in Glasgow. This made them the first non-Scottish band ever to win the title, ending Strathclyde Police’s run of six consecutive victories and giving the pipe band world a proper Canadian thunderclap

The band also became known for musical innovation, strong concert performances and influential recordings, including Live in Ireland, The Immigrant’s Suite, Flame of Wrath and Cascade. Their 1987 drum corps also won the World Drum Corps title, and the band has remained a regular Grade 1 competitor at the World Championships.

After Livingstone stepped down in 2010, Doug MacRae led the band until 2023. Michael Grey was then appointed Pipe Major, becoming only the third person to hold the post.

Today, the 78th Fraser Highlanders remain one of Canada’s flagship pipe bands, with multiple Canadian and North American titles and a lasting place in pipe band history as the band that proved the Worlds trophy could cross the Atlantic.