Many hear “Royal Canadian Mounted Police” (RCMP) and think of the Rocky & Bullwinkle character Dudley Do-Right, but the RCMP’s history is much richer than any cartoon.
The Mounties were formed in 1873 partly in response to the chaos around Fort Hamilton, a frontier post midway between Calgary and Kalispell, Mont., that was so lawless it became known as Fort Whoop-Up. Canadian officials wanted to suppress the illegal trade in liquor and firearms there, and the newly formed North West Mounted Police rode out to impose order.
Nowadays, visitors can take in the Fort Whoop-Up Interpretive Centre near Lethbridge, Alberta. Exhibits re-create frontier life in the late 1800s, complete with details of the trade in buffalo robes and whiskey by Blackfoot natives and Europeans, the Mounties’ arrival and the fort’s eventual transition to ranching as Alberta became more settled.
Today’s Mounties maintain a cavalry force, although it is used primarily on ceremonial occasions. It has evolved into a precision equestrian demonstration team focused on the Musical Ride, a tradition that dates to the late 1800s. During each Musical Ride, a troop of 32 Mounties in full regalia execute cavalry drills choreographed to music. This year, the RCMP Musical Ride will tour throughout Canada between early July and early September, including a performance at the Calgary Stampede, scheduled for July 7-9.
Spit and polish aside, the Mounties also keep the peace throughout Canada outside of major cities, except for Ontario and Quebec. While not quite analogous to the FBI, they are Canada’s federal anti-drug force and enforce laws against high-tech crime when they’re not busy protecting Canada’s prime minister and legislators. Most dress roughly as state police officers do in the U.S., except they have a distinctive yellow stripe running down their uniform pants.
Mounties train at the RCMP Academy in Regina, and visitors are welcome for occasions such as the 45-minute Sunset-Retreat Ceremony on Tuesday evenings in July and August, complete with full-uniform marching, music and the lowering of the Canadian flag.
In addition, an RCMP Heritage Centre will open in Regina May 23. The center is Western Canada’s biggest tourism project and will feature a large lobby with high ceilings, interactive exhibits, holograms courtesy of an on-site video production studio, seating for 200, a gift shop, and a kitchen for caterers.
For More Info
Fort Whoop-Up Interpretive Centre 403.329.0444
www.fortwhoopup.com
RCMP Academy 306.780.5900
www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/depot/index_e.htm
RCMP Heritage Centre 306.522.7333
www.rcmpheritagecentre.com
RCMP Musical Ride www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/musicalride/tour_e.htm
