The British Columbia Pipers Association is a non-profit organization, which sanctions all major bagpipe competitions in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. It frequently joins with Scottish heritage groups and athletic organizations to organize Highland Games in these states. Nine of these games, plus the Annual Gathering (an indoor piping and drumming competition with no other events) are sanctioned by the BCPA and produce aggregate points in solo piping and drumming, as well as pipe band competition, for an overall Grand Aggregate prize, announced at the end of each competition season.