The Cavaliers drum and bugle corps was originally formed in early 1974 when the Red and White Aires “All-Girls” unit decided to go coed under the direction of Mac Pittman.

In their inaugural season of competition, the corps won the Northwest Drum Corps Association (NWDCA) “Class C” title, returning the following year as NWDCA “Class C” members. Beset with financial organizational and membership issues, the corps went inactive in 1976, returning to activity as a parade and exhibition corps the following year.

In 1978, the Cavaliers returned to regional field competition and placed 3^rd in the 1979 Pacific Drum Corps Association “Class A” championships. The next year saw the unit participate in their first regional contest, competing at the 1980 Key to the Sea “Class A” preliminaries, placing 16^th. Over the next two seasons, the corps returned to parade status as they rebuilt their program.

In 1983, the corps went on an extensive tour with “Class A” appearances at the American International Open - AIO (24^th - prelims), the DCI Midwest (15^th - prelims), the Key to the Sea (27^th - prelims) and the US Open (26^th - prelims). The following year, the Cavaliers remained competitive within the region before merging with the 1^st Canadian Regiment in 185 to form the 1^st Canadian Cavaliers. After one season, both organizations split, and the corps became once again inactive in 1986.

In the fall of 1986, the Cavaliers reorganized and returned to summer touring from 1987 to 1989, competing at the US Open (1987 - “A-60”, 11^th prelims; 1988 - “Open Class”, 11^th prelims), the AIO (1987 - “A-60”, 6^th), DCI East (1987 - “A-60”, 9^th; (1988 - “A-60”, 7th ), DCI Midwest (1989 - “Class A”, 4^th) and the US Coast Guard (1989 – “Class A”, 5^th prelims). They culminated each season with appearances at the DCI championships, placing 23^rd and 22^nd respectively in the 1987 and 1988 “Class A-60” prelims and 12^th in the 1989 “Class A” preliminaries.

In the fall of 1989, the Board and staff of the Cavaliers started discussions about changing the name of the organization. The name chosen was "Alberta Elite". However, before the paperwork could be completed to make the official name change, the administration was approached by the Allegiance executive director regarding the possibility of the two organizations merging to form one group.

After several meetings with parents and the Board of Directors, the Cavaliers agreed that for the good of the members, the merger should go ahead. The name of the new organization would be "Allegiance Elite". This kept the name Allegiance and took the name Elite from the name "Alberta Elite" which was to be the new name of the Calgary.

DCW 11/88, p.11; A History of Drum and Bugle Corps, 2002; 1987 US Open Program; Paul Legault (DCX)

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