The Dunbar Legacy - Established in 1967

Founded in 1967 by Scottish-born craftsman Jack Dunbar, Dunbar Bagpipes is North America’s oldest full-time bagpipe maker — and the original inventor of the Polypenco bagpipe.

A native of Glasgow, Scotland, Jack brought with him deep expertise from his years as a turner at the legendary Peter Henderson firm — and with it, a bold vision to innovate, adapt, and build world-class bagpipes in the New World.

After immigrating to Canada in 1951 and spending years working across industries — from General Motors to real estate — Jack was drawn back to his roots. In 1966, while still working at GM in St. Catharines, he began repairing bagpipes from his basement. With custom-built tooling, ingenuity, and a relentless work ethic, Jack laid the foundation for what would soon become a groundbreaking business.

By 1968, he had done what no other maker had: he pioneered the use of synthetic materials in bagpipe construction. His creation of the first-ever Polypenco bagpipe forever changed the industry. Today, nearly every commercial bagpipe maker offers a synthetic line — but Dunbar was first.

For over half a century, Jack proved that building exceptional Highland bagpipes wasn’t the sole domain of Scotland. His commitment to craftsmanship and innovation earned him lasting recognition: he was named one of the Top 15 Greatest (Deceased) Canadians by Pipes|Drums Magazine — a figure whose legacy shaped piping across North America.

Born in 1918 in Glasgow, Jack began his apprenticeship with Peter Henderson in 1934. His work was interrupted by WWII, where he served five years with the British Royal Corps of Signals. After the war, he co-founded Piob Mhor Highland Industries, a respected Scottish bagpipe maker that employed notable figures like Bob Hardie and John Weatherstone. But it was Canada where Jack would leave his true mark.

In 1985, Jack retired from GM to focus full-time on Dunbar Bagpipes. Over the next two decades, he trained a new generation of makers, including Rick Pettigrew, his son-in-law, who — alongside Jack’s daughter Jacquie — carries the Dunbar legacy forward today.

Jack’s goal was simple but enduring: keep the company in the family, keep the standards high, and ensure that every set of pipes bearing the Dunbar name upheld the proud tradition of Scottish craftsmanship — reimagined for the modern world.

Jack Dunbar passed on not just a business, but a legacy. Today, Dunbar Bagpipes remains a family-run company, still based in St. Catharines, Ontario. Still building world-class instruments. And still honouring the vision of the man who brought the ancient art of Highland bagpipe making across the Atlantic.

Dia duit, Jack.

Jack

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For over 58 years, Dunbar has been trusted by soloists, bands, and collectors worldwide. Today, the legacy continues under the expert hands of Rick Pettigrew — one of the world’s foremost restoration experts — who upholds the same uncompromising standards of quality and craftsmanship.

From hand-turned African Blackwood masterpieces to precision restoration of vintage heirlooms, Dunbar Bagpipes continues to build instruments worthy of history.