Gary was born in Ottawa, Ontario but raised and schooled in and around Vancouver, BC.  He retired from the Vancouver Police Dept. in 1997 with the rank of Sergeant after 30 years of service.  In 1998, Gary moved to Comox BC and joined the Courtenay Legion Pipe Band as their new bass drummer and began playing almost immediately.  His first instructor was D/M Jack Bode, formerly of the RCAF Pipe Band.

He has paraded with the Courtenay band throughout Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and Washington State as well as participating in many military events at CFB Comox.  He has competed locally in numerous open bass drum competitiions and has been on the medals list on several occasions, while his Grade 4 band's drum corps has taken first place at three competitions under the leadership of D/S Eric Legere. 

Gary's only formal instruction occurred in 2000 at the SFU Pipe Band's Summer Drumming School at Silver Star in Vernon, BC and at the 2001 Pacific Institute of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts at Shawnigan Lake, BC.  His instructors have included John Fisher, Dan Bist, Kurt Watts, Eric Legere (RCAF Pipe Band, Trenton) and Alistair Fraser (LA Scots NZ Police, Maple Ridge.

Gary joined the RCMP "E" Division Pipe Band in January, 2006 and in October of that year he played in the inaugural performance at the Scottish Cultural Centre in Vancouver.  Gary played with the Courtenay Legion Pipe Band for nine years before leaving in 2007 to play bass for the Campbell River Pipes and Drums.

In his two years with Campbell River, he has played in Ishikari/Sapporo, Japan and numerous local events including twice at Paradise Meadows Music Fest and twice at the Legion Highland Gathering.  Gary played bass for the Grade two drum corps in both Legion gatherings in Langley and Chilliwack where the band's drum corps took home 1st place both years.

Gary currently holds the rank of Drum Sgt. and is a fully trained back up Drum Major for the band.  He is looking forward to the band's 2011 trip to Scotland/Ireland

Gary now resides in Campbell River with his partner Lenore, a dog and two cats.