Diplomates

The Diplomates drum and bugle corps was organized on September 20th, 1961, by an administration board consisting of Jean-Paul Turgeon, president, André Bergeron, quartermaster, Claude Beaulieu, treasurer and Paul Plamondon, secretary and marketing.

This French-speaking group was known as the Frenchmen of drum corps and was formed through an amalgamation of members of the Patro Laval and the Patro Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, both former Clique corps, with an ambition to participate in high-level competition. The uniforms were red and black with green accents. The corps was a consistent provincial “Senior” champion from their first appearance in 1962, placing 4^th in the Canadian Nationals in both 1962 & 1964. They also participated in the 1963 New York-Canadian circuit championships, finishing in 3^rd position and the 1964 World Open regionals, where they ranked 8^th in the finals.

Over the next two seasons, the corps achieved the unexpected by winning both the 1965 & 1966 Canadian Nationals “Senior A” title. Other highlights included an appearance in May of 1965 at the famous Carnegie Hall and performed in the 1966 renowned Dream contest, placing 5^th. The next year, the corps continued to compete in major North-American contests and traveled to Vancouver in celebration of the 1967 Canadian Centennial and Charles de Gaulle’s official visit to Canada for the Expo 67 World's fair. In 1968, the Diplomates participated in their first DCA championships, placing 15^th in the preliminary round before going inactive the next year.

The corps reorganized in 1970, expanding their membership through several regions within the province and met with success, placing 10^th in the DCA finals and winning their 3^rd Canadian Nationals crown. The following year saw the corps improve to a 7^th place finish in the 1971 DCA finals, adding 5^th place finishes in both the World Open and Dream competitions. The 1972 season included an incredible amount of travel in the DCA circuit, paying off with a 6^th place finish in the championship finals along with another 5^th place finish in the Dream show. After another productive season of DCA competition, including a 4^th place finish in the Dream spectacle, the corps went on to a 4^th place finish in the championship finals, winning the top percussion award.

“Les Dips” has been called arguably the greatest senior drum corps to come out of Canada. They pioneered a number of innovations, such as mass block maneuvers and orchestral style percussion effects, as well as the C-bass bugle. Veterans remember the corps’ performances of such classics as the "Nutcracker Suite" and "Cavalleria Rusticana." They also were one of the first major “Senior” corps to go coed. Their instructional staff over the years included Leon Bernier as musical director, Michel Boulanger, percussion arranger, Guy Coté drum-major and choreographer; Patrick Rouleau, choreographer and Maurice Legault, drum-major and brass instructor, as well as founding member André Deblois, an important figure within the organization.

The corps disbanded before the 1974 season.

After an absence of over 30 years, the Diplomates Alumni was founded in 2006 and appeared in many local, regional and international events, transforming into a brass, wind and percussion ensemble in June of 2021, performing until at least 2025.

A History of Drum & Bugle Corps, 2002; NanciD, RAMD, 1/5/2002; Bob Pepin, RAMD, 10/30/00 and 4/21/00; Tom Peashey, RAMD, 4/30/01; http://www.in2corps.com/legends/diplomats/dips.htm; Paul Legault (DCX)

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