In April 2008, John Lam was appointed as the fifth bandmaster of the Canadian Staff Band. A professional musician and music educator, John currently heads the music department at Westminster Secondary School in London, Ontario, where he is also the bandmaster at London Citadel.

Since taking over the CSB, Bandmaster Lam has put his own inimitable stamp on the band's musical presentations. He has brought his own unique vision and leadership to the band and already two new CDs have been released under his direction, one featuring repertoire from his initial season as staff bandmaster and the other a compilation of music from old LP albums released during the band's first ten years. Both recordings were designed to highlight the CSB's 40th Anniversary, which was celebrated in a gala festival at Scarborough Citadel in May. Guest compere was Colonel Robert Redhead (Staff Bandmaster, 1976-85), who also provided the narration for a presentation of his own Deus Vobiscum, originally written in 1983. Telling the story of the Empress of Ireland and the loss of the first Canadian Staff Band, it had been newly rescored and was enhanced by very effective visuals that gave the piece new life.     

Now in its 41st year, the Canadian Staff Band continues to have an effective musical and spiritual ministry. Since its re-formation in 1969, it has played and ministered at various locations and functions, including open-air meetings, jails, hospitals, hostels, government buildings, churches, auditoriums, theatres, schools, concert halls, many large and small corps, music clinics, a royal palace, even a race track. It continues to be acknowledged as one of the most renowned bands in the Salvation Army world.