A small tribute to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Rob Bernshaw

Rob Bernshaw, Columnist

On May 23, 1873 the North-West Mounted Police (later to become known as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) was formed by the Canadian Government under the leadership of the Canadian Prime Minister of the day Sir John A. Macdonald.


The history of the RCMP from their first steps in Canada has been a long and distinguished one of ensuring peace and order in a once-wilderness jurisdiction to the now tamed jurisdiction we call Canada of 2013.

Every community in Alberta has always played a big part in the traditions and history of this great police force over the years.

From the time the Mounties were established to present day Canada there has been many notable events to mark their illustrious history.

Listed below are a few of the many accomplishments that the Mounties have under their belt.

1873: The Mounties are Established:
Canadian prime minister, Sir. John A. Macdonald, wishes to put an end to the illegal trade of liquor with the native people in the Northwest Territories (the area covered today by most of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Yukon , Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories). Order had to be restored to the area to make it safe for aboriginal people and settlers. Contrary to popular belief, the force was not established to protect the whites against the Indians, it was to protect the Indians from the whites. The whites were U.S. whiskey peddlers, controlling what is now most of southern Alberta, who were destroying the natives with booze and bullets.

1874: The March West:
The Mounties' first commissioner, George A. French, gathered 275 policemen (the youngest of which was 16 year old Fred Bagley), 339 horses, 142 oxen, 114 Red River carts, 73 wagons, and two cannons weighing a ton each. From Fort Dufferin, near Winnipeg, they headed 800 miles west toward the Rocky Mountains, to restore order in the North West.

1875:
Fort Saskatchewan (corrected for accuracy from source)
Fort Calgary (author's note: original name Fort Brisebois was constructed by a federal order to force out whiskey traders)
 Fort Walsh(writers note: site of the Cypress Hills Massacre of 1873) are established
~source~
http://www.mountieshop.com/new/history.asp

Listing only a couple of historic milestones for your curiosity to be piqued, there is more information that can be obtained by visiting the above link if one is interested.

Graduating from the signature transportation mode, the majestic horse that was used to convey many  officers of the RCMP through different terrain with endurance and dependability over the years, to modern day conveyances such as the automobile in 1916 as well as marine in 1932 and air in 1937.

Even though more modern day mounts are used to convey the men and women of the RCMP across the Canadian terrain, the original majestic horse is still used for many fund-raising events in many communities across Canada every year.

The RCMP Musical Ride highlights the great contributions this majestic animal has provided throughout the years for the courageous officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

This great event that the RCMP still perform throughout the many communities across Canada help us to remember the roots of this great police force and is used to entertain and enthrall millions to a little bit of history that many of us may not see or know of otherwise.

Happy Birthday to the Made in Canada North-West Mounted Police now known as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Keep up the great community work you always provide across Alberta and Canada.