Cowal Highland Gathering The event that would evolve into the Cowal Gathering was first held on 11 August 1894, and organised by local man Robert Cameron. 1906 saw the introduction of a pipe band competition for Army bands, at the suggestion of Malcolm McCulloch. 25 band entered in 1909, the first year that civilian bands were allowed to compete. The Argyll Shield, donated in 1906 by Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, is still awarded to the winning band in the Grade 1 competition. The easy access of Dunoon by paddle steamer from Glasgow contributed to popularity of the Games. The Games also featured
BC Highland Games BC Highland Games The B.C. Highland Games and Scottish Festival is the second oldest continually running Highland Games in British Columbia, Canada. The games are run by the BC Highland Games Committee under the auspices of the United Scottish Cultural Society, out of the Scottish Cultural Centre in Vancouver. In 2019, an expanded Games with more events and activities will be held on June 14 & 15, 2019 at nearby Lafarge Lake Park in Coquitlam, steps from the Lafarge Skytrain stn. In 2019, the Games will be situated in a grassy and shaded park, more suitable for a highland games.