Naval Reserve band celebrates 50 years with a free concert

A concert at Webber Academy in Calgary served as the backdrop for a concert celebrating the naval reserve band's golden anniversary.

Canada’s Naval Reserve is celebrating 50 years with a series of free concerts.

The band was in Calgary to perform during Stampede.

There are 45 musicians from all over Canada to make up the band.

The band performs all summer across Canada and their job is to promote the navy throughout Canada, to remind Canadians a navy is protecting our shores.

“The band program is part is one of the trades within the Navy,“ said Lt. Commander Jack Tmannetje. ”So there are a variety of trades, and when you first join, you select which trade you want to be (a part of). If you are a musician and you want to be part of the band, then that is the trade you choose when you join. But you still do go through all the basic training. You do all the same common training that all the other trades have as well too."

Up next, the Naval Reserve Band will be performing in Edmonton.

With files from CTV News’ Tommy Osborne