Fort ready for the show
| |
| Date | March–October 1967 |
|---|---|
| Location |  Canada |
| Organised by | Canadian Forces |
| Filmed by | Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Participants | Canadian military bands |
The Canadian Forces Tattoo 1967 was a series of military tattoos or displays performed by members of the Canadian military portraying more than three hundred years of Canada's military history.[1] The Tattoo, which was the Canadian military's contribution to Canada's centennial year celebrations in 1967, toured the country from coast to coast. This was the largest such event in the history of the Canadian military.[2]
The Tattoo shows started in late March 1967 and ended in October after approximately 150 performances in over 40 cities across Canada. The Tattoo performed in every province in Canada.[3] After several years of planning, rehearsals for the show commenced in late February 1967 at Camp Picton (later CFB Picton) in Ontario.[4] All branches of the military - the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force - participated.
There were three parts to the Tattoo:
Upon the completion of the last show on October 11, 1967, all the hundreds of uniforms, costumes, muskets, swords, etc. were put into storage and over the years have been sold off to museums and private collectors.
A history of Tattoo 1967 has been published at the end of October 2017 by FriesenPress called the Making of a Tattoo. The book follows the development of the Tattoo from the earliest stages in 1963 to the end when the Tattoo played its last performance in October, 1967. The Tattoo was a major theatrical production that was seen by millions of Canadians and was televised on two occasions by the Canadian Broadcasting Company. The tattoo has today become a once-in-a-lifetime event that was never conceived after its ending.[6]
790 musicians from the following 17 army, navy, and air force bands took part in the tattoo:[7][8]
