RCMP Veterans' Association » Divisions » Saskatoon

 

Saskatoon

Profile

Year Established: 1958

2021 Membership: 177 active and life / 15 associate and honorary

Regular Meetings: Second Tuesday of the month (excluding July & August)

Coffee Gathering: Nutana Legion – Saskatoon – Every Friday, 9:30-11:00

Communications: Facebook, Newsletter and regular emails to the membership

Pamphlet

Contact:

Stewart KINGDON
Email address: saskatoonrcmpvets@gmail.com

The membership and Executive of the Saskatoon Division of the RCMP Veterans Association endeavor to promote a new forward thinking social environment.  In remembering and acknowledging those who came before us, we honor the traditions valued as members of the Force and now as Veterans of the Association.  In 2023 while the Force celebrated it’s 150th anniversary, the Saskatoon Division celebrated our 65th year of inception after joining the RCMP Veterans Association in1958.   While a lot has changed over the past 65 years, we continue to seek new opportunities to engage the membership with the focus of supporting each other.   We will continue to follow our national mandate, “To be responsive to the physical, psychological, social and economic welfare of all former employees of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and their families”.

The camaraderie of a coffee klatch is important and we promote this activity.  But we are more than this.  We promote a network of support, with the emphasis on face-to-face interactions and being involved in Division activities.  We recognize communication is the key and continue to think of new tools to get the message out.   The Saskatoon Division has developed our own Facebook site.  We have created a newsletter which is distributed electronically to our membership six times a year.    In recognizing the importance to remain current with new information, we have developed an email distribution network to keep our membership up to date. 

In Saskatchewan we have the benefit of two other neighboring Divisions; Regina and Prince Albert.  We recognize the benefits of leveraging off of each others best practices along with consistency in promoting and marketing, with recruitment and retention activities.   

Tradition and heritage events

  • Saskatoon Division built and maintains the RNWMP Detachment at the Western Development Museum (WDM) in Saskatoon.  The WDM depicts the 1910 town called ‘Boomtown’, of which the RNWMP Detachment, surrounded by a number of other shops & businesses, is located on the main street of this indoor community.  
  • The Saskatoon Division supports Heritage Day at the WDM with members dressing in period uniforms and manning the Detachment.
  • Along with the Regina and PA Divisions, members of the Saskatoon Division have implemented a Grave Site Inspection Project which has the support of the Commanding Officer of FDiv.  Members of the Saskatoon Division have 283 grave sites in 19 communities to inspect and where possible, do miner maintenance cleaning.  In addition to the comradery of carrying out this volunteer duty, our members get to interact with the detachment personnel in each of these communities.
  • Along with the Commanding Officer of FDiv, the Saskatoon Division is the host Division of one of the original North West Mounted Police cemeteries which is located in Battleford Saskatchewan.  In 2022 the Saskatoon Division coordinated the re-dedication ceremony of the NWMP cemetery where columbarium’s have now been erected.
    The cemetery has now been put back in use and continues to be inspected by members of the Saskatoon Division.
  • We continue to honor the history surrounding Fort Battleford, one of the first Detachments established by the NWMP following the March West of 1874. In May of each year the Saskatoon Division host a luncheon in North Battleford Saskatchewan for our membership, spouses and the regular members of the RMCP. Members of the PA and Regina Division’s attend and share in this fellowship.
  • A memorial golf tournament followed by a BBQ social is held in Saskatoon during the month of August.
  • Monthly luncheon meetings with a guest speaker generates a good number of our membership in attendance.  
  • The highlight of our year’s activities ends with our Christmas Social which is held at a facility in Saskatoon.  This event is well attended by our membership, spouses, members and friends of the Force.
  • The Saskatoon Division host regular Friday morning coffees at the Royal Canadian Nutana Legion.

    In doing so, we also make a financial donation to the Legion for the use of their facility.   It is always nice to see members from other Divisions in attendance. 
  • Members of the Saskatoon Division volunteer with the annual Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Campaign.  
  • Members of the Saskatoon Division volunteer and provide financial support with the Saskatoon Salvation Arny Kettle Campaign.    
  • The Saskatoon Division hosted an Annual General Meeting of the RCMP Veterans Association in the past, and look forward to planning for a future AGM. 

Activities

Support & Advocacy

In many aspects this is our main activity. Each member of our Division helps to bring awareness to members of our Division who are in need of help and support.  Help provided can vary in the following manner:

  • Visiting a member and/or spouse who has been hospitalized or unable to leave their residence.
  • Providing a fruit basket and offering well-wishes to our members who have been hospitalized. 
  • Phone calls to elderly members to ensure they still feel connected and included.
  • Following the passing of a member, helping the spouses with interment and funeral arrangements.
  • When requested, providing an Honor Guard at a member’s funeral.
  • Maintaining contact with the spouses, inviting them to coffee and social events to maintain connectivity with the Veterans Association and Force. 
  • Helping the spouses of members to ensure they have an understanding in pension / medical benefits. 
  • Helping a member and his family with an end-of-life plan.    

Law enforcement/community

Members of the Saskatoon Division take pride in attending the indoor Remembrance Day service. We are recognized as Veterans with the Military regiments and other police services in attendance, and are honored by immediately following the Old Guard into the service.

  • Members of the Saskatoon Division also participate in other ceremonies to recognize the Veterans of world conflict. 
  • When invited to attend, members of the Saskatoon Division participate in RCMP medal presentations, and attend Troop dinners graduating members from Depot.

Association programs/services

  • Support and Advocacy is the main focus of the Saskatoon Division with communication being the driving factor. 
  • Our Facebook site, newsletters and group emails, keep our membership updated on national initiatives affecting Veteran issues and benefits.  
  • We endeavour to arrange guest speakers at our monthly luncheons to better inform our membership in attendance.
  • Those members who volunteer their time to visit the sick and shut-in member, when requested take time to explain estate and end of life planning. 
  • Our Grave Site Inspection project provides an opportunity for our membership to interact with regular members / personnel of the RCMP which in itself provides a marketing recruitment opportunity for growth to our Veterans Association. 

Special events

  • The Saskatoon Division pride ourselves in all the events we host.   The Battleford luncheon, considering the location alone situated near one of the first detachment sites established by the NWMP, is an event well attend by membership from a number of Divisions, along with regular members of the RCMP.   Our historic tradition lives on.  As an honorary member of the Saskatoon Division, the Commanding Officer of FDiv is traditionally invited as our guest speaker to enlighten our membership on the current status of the Force.  Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty (Ret’d Assistant Commissioner) was  the guest speaker at our 2024 luncheon. 
  • The fellowship, comradery and esprit de corps displayed by our membership at our monthly luncheons and the summer BBQ social could be best exemplified as a marketing strategy for the regular members of the Force in attendance.  
  •  The show case of the Saskatoon activities is our annual Christmas Social which is held at the Saskatoon Golf & Country Club.   The smiles, warmth and fellowship of everyone in attendance are the reason why we continue to see a growth in the number of people attending.

    Along with a special recognition of ‘The Table for One’, we also honor the spouses of our fallen comrades in attendance as our guests.   Brief ceremonies are held which include; the induction of new members, service bar presentations and the introduction of the new executive.  Our entertainment committee provide activities which help to complement this special event.  We welcome retired members who have not joined the Veterans Association, regular members of the RCMP and friends of the Force.   This event highlights why the Saskatoon Division of the Veterans Association is an extension of the RCMP ‘Family’.  
  • As mentioned, Support & Advocacy will remain the primary focus of the Saskatoon Division, however providing assistance when needed and helping members transition from the RCMP following retirement is our ultimate goal. 

For those interested in learning more, we can be contacted at  saskatoonrcmpvets@gmail.com

Saskatchewan Menu