Red Serge

The Statutory Requirement

The Ministerial approval requirement for the design of the significant uniform is established by Regulation. It applies to modifications of the uniform itself — independently of the question of who may wear it. The documentary record does not establish whether Ministerial approval for the 1998 modification was sought or obtained. That is a question the available documents do not answer.

Senior Executive Committee (SEC) Decision — April 15, 1998

On April 15, 1998, the RCMP Senior Executive Committee (SEC) met to consider a proposal concerning a distinctive tartan and a kilted uniform for RCMP pipes and drums ensembles. The Commissioner's Record of Decision from that meeting is reproduced on this page as released by the RCMP under the Access to Information Act.

The purpose of presenting this Record of Decision is to provide transparency and allow the documentary evidence to be examined directly. The intent is not to criticize the RCMP or any individual involved in the decision-making process. By reviewing the Record of Decision, readers can assess what the SEC approved — and, equally importantly, what the Record of Decision does and does not address.

The Record of Decision

What the Record Addresses

The Record of Decision is narrowly focused on three approvals: the official RCMP tartan, a modified kilted tunic for formal occasions, and a practice uniform for rehearsals. The insignia to be worn on the new tunic were left to be determined by a subcommittee in consultation with stakeholders — meaning the uniform's final design was not settled at the time of the decision itself.

The Record does not reference civilians, volunteers, or members of other police agencies. There is no guidance, directive, or policy framework within the document regarding whether non-sworn individuals might participate in RCMP pipes and drums ensembles, or under what circumstances they might wear aspects of the RCMP uniform. The documentary record released under the Access to Information Act does not identify a published policy that addresses these questions.

What the Record Does Not Address

Observations on the Record

A careful review of the Commissioner's Record of Decision reveals that it does not cite any policy provision, regulation, or directive explicitly addressing civilian volunteers and the Red Serge tunic. The Record approves a tartan and a modified kilted uniform for the pipes and drums program. It does not address who, beyond sworn members, may wear that uniform.

In the author's professional experience, and as reflected in standard policing practice across Canadian jurisdictions, volunteers and auxiliary participants are typically provided with uniforms visually distinct from those worn by sworn officers. The Record does not indicate whether this consideration was examined in the context of the pipes and drums program.

Following the decision in April 1998, civilian volunteer musicians appeared in RCMP pipes and drums ensembles alongside serving or retired members in ceremonial settings. Early instances recorded in documents released under the Access to Information Act include the visit of Princess Anne in Fredericton in June 1998 and the International Tattoo in Halifax later that same month.

Further Documentary Evidence

One early description of the SEC decision appeared in the RCMP "A" Division newsletter Information (March/April 1998), which stated:

This newsletter predates the first documented civilian appearances in June 1998. It reflects how the decision was understood at the time within the organization — though the Record of Decision itself contains no explicit language confirming civilian authorization. This research does not suggest that this interpretation was made in bad faith; it reflects how the program developed in practice.

'H' Division, Nova Scotia

In addition to documented civilian appearances in June 1998, public accounts began to describe civilian participation in RCMP Pipes and Drums ensembles as formally authorized. The RCMP "H" Division Pipes, Drums and Highland Dancers website states:

While this account portrays civilian volunteers as formally permitted to wear the Red Serge, the Commissioner's Record of Decision of April 15, 1998 contains no explicit language authorizing civilians to wear the uniform. The public description reflects a secondary interpretation or customary practice that developed after the decision, rather than documented legal authority within the Record itself.

RCMP 'H' Division Handbook Statement

The RCMP 'H' Division Pipes and Drums of Nova Scotia Handbook makes the nature of this privilege explicit:

A position with respect to the RCMP uniform that is without parallel in Canadian history

This Nova Scotia passage is significant for two reasons. First, the Handbook acknowledges, in its own words, that wearing the Red Serge is ordinarily reserved for sworn members who have completed training at 'Depot' Division. Second, it notes that Auxiliary Constables — who work operationally alongside Regular Members — are not accorded the same privilege. The Handbook therefore records, in the band's own language, that the civilian volunteers occupy a position with respect to the uniform that is without parallel even among those (Auxiliary Constables & Special Constables) who serve alongside sworn RCMP members on a daily basis.

Public accounts from other RCMP-affiliated community bands describe civilian volunteers wearing the Red Serge in similar terms. The RCMP Pipes, Drums and Dancers of the National Capital Region state that the band "wears the very distinctive RCMP tartan and the world-renowned red serge of the RCMP" and is "comprised primarily of citizen volunteers." (rcmppipesanddrums.ca, accessed 2026.) These public descriptions demonstrate how civilian participation and uniform use are portrayed in band materials — and how that portrayal sits alongside the absence of explicit authorization in the documentary record.

Institutional Context: Modification of the Red Serge

The Record of Decision refers to a modification of the scarlet tunic to accommodate the kilt and sporran. Because the Red Serge is both an operational uniform and a widely recognized national symbol, modifications to its design would ordinarily involve careful institutional review. The Record does not indicate whether consultations with other federal stakeholders were undertaken in connection with this modification. The documentary record does not identify any such consultation.

Historical Precedent: The 1974 Red Serge Modification

A significant modern modification to the Red Serge occurred in 1974 when women were admitted to the RCMP as regular members for the first time in the Force's history. Adjustments to the uniform were required so that the scarlet tunic could be worn by women while maintaining its recognizable appearance. At that time the RCMP operated under the authority of the Solicitor General of Canada. That modification was confirmed through a formal federal process: Order in Council P.C. 1975-354, dated February 25, 1975, approved by the Governor in Council.

This historical example illustrates that significant modifications to the Red Serge have previously occurred within a formal federal decision-making framework connected to major institutional developments within the RCMP. The documentary record does not establish that the same framework was engaged in connection with the 1998 Pipes and Drums tunic modification.

Federal Authorities Normally Involved in Uniform Changes

Because the RCMP is a federal institution, modifications to official uniforms such as the Red Serge would normally involve review within several areas of government administration. Key bodies involved include:

• Privy Council Office
• Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
• Public Safety Canada
• Canadian Heritage
• Indigenous Services Canada
• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
• Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
• Department of Justice Canada
• Office of the Governor General
• Canadian Human Rights Commission
• RCMP External Review Committee

Each of these bodies plays a distinct role in the oversight or approval of changes to federal institutional symbols and dress, as detailed below.

Minister Responsible for the RCMP

Today the RCMP falls under the Minister of Public Safety through Public Safety Canada, pursuant to the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Act, S.C. 2005, c. 10. Historically this responsibility rested with the Solicitor General of Canada.

Treasury Board Secretariat

The Treasury Board Secretariat oversees federal policies related to government property, procurement, and administrative standards under the Financial Administration Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-11. Uniforms are part of federal materiel management.

Governor in Council

Certain RCMP regulations are approved by the Governor in Council through Orders-in-Council, as confirmed by the 1975 precedent regarding the women's significant uniform.

Internal RCMP Authorities

Within the RCMP, uniform policy is administered through the Commissioner's office and internal programs responsible for dress and equipment, pursuant to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. R-10.

Heritage and Symbol Authorities

Because the Red Serge is widely recognized as a national symbol, changes affecting insignia or symbolic elements may also involve heritage authorities such as the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

Key Observations

Three observations arise from reviewing the Record of Decision in its historical and administrative context:

1. The Record does not identify an explicit policy authority addressing civilian volunteers and the Red Serge.
2. The decision refers to a modification of the scarlet tunic for pipe band activities.
3. The Record does not describe whether consultations occurred with federal authorities normally involved in changes to official RCMP uniforms.

If documentation addressing these matters exists elsewhere within RCMP policy or government records, it has not been identified in the material available through the Access to Information Act requests documented on this website.

Purpose of This Research

The purpose of this research is to document the historical development of RCMP pipe bands and to examine the policies and administrative practices that shaped their operation. The intent is not to diminish the cultural significance of pipes and drums in Canada, but to clarify how these traditions were organized within the RCMP and how civilian participation intersected with the institutional and legal framework of the Force.