Blue Saints Drum & Bugle Corps

The Blue Saints drum and bugle corps was originally formed in the fall 1952 when Maurice Gravelle, the school's music professor, decided to organize the Sudbury Mining and Technical School band from the ranks of the student football cheerers.

They performed as the musical entertainment for the school football team the Blue Devils. What they lacked in musical ability they made up for with school spirit. George Netzke, the group’s successor, continued the process of developing musical ability. However, he also brought military discipline into the mix, for he was quite involved and well known within the Canadian Militia. He converted the group from a school band to a Canadian drum corps. In 1958, their name became the Blue Saints to complement the school team, the Blue Devils. In 1962, the Blue Saints were admitted into the Canadian Drum Corps Association.

In 1964, the corps finished in 8th position at the Canadian Nationals in the “Class B” division. The following season, the corps was crowned the 1965 Canadian National champions of the “Junior Parade Class”. In 1966, the corps participated at the famous Calgary Stampede and competed at the Ontario provincials over the next two seasons, winning the 1968 Canadian National “Junior Novice Standstill” title. They returned to “Class B” provincial competition in 1970, placing 4^th in preliminary action and remained active over the next three years.

In 1974, they won the Canadian Nationals “Class D” championships and moved up to “Class C” competition the following season with an 11^th place finish, improving to 8^th position in 1976. They were crowned the 1977 Canadian Nationals “Class D” champions, graduating top the “Cadet Class”, finishing in 6^th position in 1978. The corps participated in Ontario drum corps association (ODCA) “Class B” action the following year, finishing in 8^th in 1980.

In 1981, the corps participated in the ODCA “Class C” division, advancing to the “Cadet Class” at the Canadian Nationals with 5^th place (1982) and 2^nd place (1983) finishes, prompting the corps to move on to the “Class B” division the next two years, placing 5^th (1984) and 6^th (1985) placings at the Canadian Nationals. Over the next three years saw the corps participate in ODCA events, returning to the 1989 Canadian Nationals, finishing 2^nd in the “Parade Class”.

In 1990, the corps competed at their first of what would be many DCI championships, placing 23^rd in the “Class A/60” division, finishing 3^rd the next season at the Canadian Nationals “Class B” group. They returned to the 1992 DCI “Division III” championships in 28^th place, competing at the 1993 Canadian Open regionals, placing 12^th in the “Division III” prelims and closing out the season with a 6^th place finish at the “Division III” of the Canadian Nationals.

Over the next three years, the corps performed primarily as a parade and exhibition unit with the exception of 1995, where their competitive season saw them finish 36^th at the DCI “Division III” prelims. The corps continued their rebuilding program by winning the 1998 Canadian Nationals “Class D” title, moving up to the 1999 Canadian Nationals “Division III” class, placing 6^th. Returning to parade status within the ODCA arena over the next two seasons, they competed the next 5 years at the DCI “Division III” championships with finishes of 28^th (2002), 24^th (2003), 18^th (2004), 20^th (2005) and 17^th (2006) that included regional competitions at the Canadian Open, US Coastal Open, North American Open, the Drums Along the Tar and the ODCA championships. 

In 2007 and 2008 performed locally as a parade corps until returning to the field of competition in 2009 at the DCI “Open Class” championships, placing 19^th at the quarterfinals. In 2010, the corps qualified for the semifinals at the DCI “Open Class” championships, placing 16^th and moved up to a 15^th place finish in the 2011 “Open Class” finals, competing at the preliminaries of the “World Class”, finishing in 40^th place. From 2012 to 2015, their last season of field competition, they went on to place 14^th in the “Open Class” championships four consecutive years and ranged from 35^th to 39^th position in the “World Class” prelims. 

Since their entry into the world of drum corps, the Blue Saints flourished and made their school and city proud, representing and entertaining Sudbury, providing their youth with musical education, self-esteem, a work ethic, pride, and, most importantly, fun. Under the direction of Mark Ripley since 2000, are the last competitive drum corps in the province of Ontario and remain active as of 2024.

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