Bluewater Buccaneers

In 1973, the Lionettes “All-Girls” drum & bugle corps converted to a coed unit and became the Bluewater Lionaires. Norm Campbell was the corps director. 

 In their inaugural year of competition, they competed at the Key to the Sea “Open Class” championships, placing 24th and finished 7th at the Canadian Nationals “Class B” preliminaries.  The following year, the corps was renamed the Bluewater Buccaneers in their uniform consisted of red jackets, shirts with puffed cream-colored sleeves, and tri-corn hats. They participated in the “Class A” division championships at the American International Open (AIO) and the US Open, fishing 17th and 18th respectively. The season culminated with a 6th place finish at the 1974 Canadian Nationals “Class B” championships.

In 1975, the corps returned to the AIO “Class A” prelims, placing 23rd and participated in several Canadian “Class B” championships, including the Canadian Nationals, placing 8th in preliminary action, the Ontario Provincials, finishing 5th and the Bell Canada International, where they placed 7th. Over the next three years, the Bluewater group remained active as a parade and exhibition corps re-entered the field of competition, competing at the 1979 Canadian Nationals “Cadet Class” championships, placing 3rd in the finals. The next season saw the corps participate at both the Key to the Sea & US Open “Class A” prelims, placing 19th and 20th and finished 15th at the Canadian Nationals “Open Class” championships.

Over the two following years, Bluewater enjoyed what would arguably be their most successful years on the competitive field, finishing 7th at the 1981 DCI “Class A” championships held in Montreal, missing out of the finals by only two spots. They also qualified for the finals of both the Key to the Sea and US Open “Class A” division, finishing 5th and 7th respectively. They returned to the 1982 DCI “Class A” championships in 14th position, seeding in the finals of the Key to the Sea (5th) and 8th place finishes at both the AIO and US Open. 

In 1983, several members didn't return but the corps managed to remain competitive at the Key to the Sea prelims, placing 30th. The following year, they traveled to the 1984 DCI "Class A" prelims, finishing 24th and participated one last time at both the Key to the Sea and US Open "Class A" prelims, placing 22nd and 25th. The Bucs closed out the season with a 3rd place finish in the "Class B" division of the Canadian Nationals. The corps returned at a 2nd place finish in the "Cadet Class" at the 1985 Nationals and the Great Lakes circuit championships. 

In 1986, the Bluewater Buccaneer Incorporated's operating body decided to make a new identity change and renamed the corps Phoenix. They went on to compete at the DCI "Class A/60" championships, placing 20th and finished 3rd in the Great Lakes circuit "Class B" division. The corps was inactive over the next few years before reorganizing in the fall of 1991. They were crowned the 1992 Canadian Nationals "Parade Class" champions, finishing in 2nd position the following season.

Phoenix remained active for one last season before disbanding in 1995.

John Swartz; rec.arts.marching.drumcorps, 9/27/2001, 10/21/1999; Paul Legault (DCX)

Members (17)