“I think it has a positive effect both ways. It’s certainly nice for me and I think it’s good for them, too.”

Currie has worn many hats in his life.

He was a graduate of Royal Roads Military College and a naval lieutenant.

He was a chemical engineer and an air-quality specialist with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

He has been an amateur photographer and a world-class sailor.

He’s currently the president of the Kingston chapter of the RMC Club of Canada.

But it’s Don Currie, musician, that members of the public know best. He participates with the RMC bands in the college’s graduation parades, ex-cadet weekends and other public ceremonies.

“Some ex-cadets chuckle when they see me [in a parade] but they’re also pleased that one of them is still doing it,” he says. 

Currie graduated from the Royal Roads in Victoria in 1948. Because of the 1995 merger of all three of Canada’s military colleges – Royal Roads, St. Jean, Que., and RMC – Currie suddenly found himself part of the RMC family.

“I found out six years ago from [RMC band master] Sylvain Gagnon that it was possible for me to play with the cadets.”

Warrant Officer Gagnon is glad to have Currie as a band member.

“He’s interesting because he’s not a cadet and he keeps in touch with past students around here,” Gagnon says.

Kingstonians will have a chance to see and hear Currie and the RMC bands at a concert tonight to benefit the Boys and Girls Club.

The Concert in Scarlets begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Grand Theatre. The college’s Concert Band, the Jazz Band, the Pipes and Drums, and the Highland Dancers will all perform.

It’s an annual tradition and Currie, a longtime Kingstonian, is glad to have been part of it for several years.

“It’s been great. The Grand is usually packed with 500 people.”
Currie was born in Quebec City, where his father George was a doctor. The family moved to Toronto when he was a baby. It came as no surprise that he later went to Royal Roads – a naval college.

“My father was interested in power boats but I was interested in sailboats,” he says. “I was in the sea cadets for four years and I went to Royal Roads on a scholarship.”
 

He worked for the Canadian navy on and off until he got a job with the Ministry of the Environment as an air-quality specialist.

He worked in Hamilton, Toronto and Cooksville until he was transferred to Kingston in 1969. He has been living here since. He retired from the ministry in 1990.
But he didn’t retire from music.

“Later, she was not using the flute because she was raising a family. I wondered if I could use it. I was always interested in music but never got around to it.”

Once he did get around to it, there was no stopping him. He joined the Napanee District Secondary School community band for a couple of years.

Today, he’s also a member of the La Salle Community Band and the CFB Kingston Garrison Band. Of these, the RMC bands are the most interesting to him because he used to be a cadet himself. He gets up at 5:30 a.m. three times a week to practise with them.

Still, music isn’t his number one hobby.

“Sailing is my biggest passion. I’ve sailed to the Maritimes nine times and to Newfoundland three times.”

He also sailed from Boston to Halifax a couple of times – in 1981 and 1983.

He got his 41-foot boat, Bagatelle, in 1971.

“It used to be a contender in the Canada Cup. I was a navigator in 1969 during the cup,” he says.

He still races at the Kingston Yacht Club every summer.

In the winter, music is a good hobby. He says he enjoys out-of-town concerts with the cadets.

“Up until a couple of years ago, the bands used to go on field trips. We played in Newfoundland one year and Winnipeg another year. We played in Quebec City. Those were tremendous field trips.

“During our trip to Quebec, they got me into one of those dance places. It was kind of hilarious. They got me to dance! It was way out of my league. It was a very interesting evening.”