The Legacy of the NWMP Today
The North West Mounted Police enthralled a nation and the world. The symbol of a police officer clad in red serge, riding a horse to "always get his man", is one of Canada's most recognizable symbols.
The NWMP, and now the RCMP, stand for honesty, courage, impartiality, tenacity and a job well done. These qualities date back to the March West when the men set off for lands only partially explored. They had a long journey ahead of them and were plagued by poor horses, often traveling for days without proper food and water for either man or horse.
Yet they arrived in the west, and brought law and order to both Indigenous people and white people alike. Everyone was treated the same. Lawbreakers were tracked and many were caught, sometimes years after committing their crime.
In spite of the many challenges they faced, both on the prairies and in the Arctic, the NWMP always faced these challenges and over-came them.
The RCMP in Popular Culture
What could be more romantic than a handsome rider, dressed in a red jacket, dark pants, shiny boots and a Stetson, arriving to save the day? The Canadian police officer was adopted early by writers and movie producers as a hero for stories and movies.
In Print
Before television, movies and even radio, people chose books to escape from the problems and drudgery of daily life. Westerns and romances were especially popular. As early as 1897, stories of the NWMP filled the British Boys' Own Paper and several authors penned novels about the fearless Mountie pursuing the evil doer and bringing law and order to an untamed land.
Pulp magazines were printed on cheap paper, usually with very colourful covers, and contained fast-paced stories with a hero, a heroine and at least one bad guy. In 1925, the first stories presenting Mounties as the heroes and set in the far north hit the shelves. North-West Stories, and later, North-West Romances became the longest running titles in pulp fiction history. Other publishers cashed in with Complete North-west Novel Magazine and Real Northwest. These stories introduced the likes of the Silver Corporal, who had almost superhuman powers. Other Mounties played centre stage in comic strips: King of the Mounted (United States), Dick Daring (Britain) and Jim Canada (France).
Radio
Radio shows also featured Mounties of heroic proportion including Sergeant Preston with his horse, Rex, and dog, Yukon King. This radio show ran from 1939 until 1955. In 1955, Sergeant Preston came to life on the small screen, entering homes on Thursday nights and later, on Saturday mornings.
A publicity shot for the movie Rose Marie with Nelson Eddie and Jeannette McDonald.
The Silver Screen
The Mounted Police were truly immortalized by the Hollywood movie makers. The first film was produced in 1910, The Riders of the Plains. It was followed by Cameron of the Mounted, The Trail of '98, Eskimo, Rose Marie (Nelson Eddie and Jeannette McDonald), Susannah of the Mounties (with Shirley Temple) and North West Mounted Police (Gary Cooper), to name just a few. Almost 300 movies shot in Canada by Hollywood studios included a Mountie character.
As producers churned out more films with Canada's Mounted Police in starring roles, the Force became concerned with the image others were projecting. By the 1930s, most films had at least one RCMP member on the film site acting as a consultant to ensure greater accuracy. Often active and retired members were used as extras. In return for the technical help, the RCMP specified that no one would know of their involvement with the production.
Several television shows featured the RCMP. Included are Beachcombers with Constable John, Bordertown with Corporal Clive Bennett, Forest Rangers with Sergeant Brian Scott, and the cartoon Dudley Do-Right. Due South, with actor Paul Gross playing Constable Fraser assisted by his husky Diefenbaker, has portrayed a more realistic RCMP officer in a modern setting but with all the same RCMP values. Most recently, When Calls the Heart, running since 2014, features a a Mountie character named Jack Thornton.
On the set of the movie North West Mounted Police.
Taking the RCMP Home
The RCMP is truly a Canadian symbol, and as such, can be found on no end of souvenirs and memorabilia. Kitchen towels, figurines, stuffed animals, postcards, fridge magnets, Christmas decorations, calendars, games, colouring books, a Canadian Barbie TM doll in Mountie uniform, ashtrays, clothing, caps, license plates and more guarantee that any visitor to Canada can find just the right memento of their visit.
Commemorative postage stamps, plates, coins and even swords have been issued for special anniversaries such at the 100th anniversary of the March West and the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Force.
In 1994, the Mounted Police Foundation was established to protect the image and integrity of how the RCMP was presented. This Foundation ensures that any product with the RCMP name or logo is of the highest quality and positively reflects the image of the police. Royalties from these products are funneled into community policing and the programs it supports such as Boys and Girls Clubs, DARE, and rape crisis centers.
The Musical Ride
Each year, thousands of people thrill to the final call of Charge! The Musical Ride, with its 32 riders and black horses, tours Canada and internationally from May to October each year. These highly trained athletes perform a variety of dressage movements in twos, fours and eights at a trot and a canter. These movements are set to music and are a lot of fun to watch.
The Musical Ride dates back to at least 1887 when it was performed officially in Regina. Legend has it that the musical ride may have started as early as 1876 led by Sergeant-Major Robert Belcher, formerly of the 9th Lancers. It was a way for the men to train on horseback as well as amuse themselves and others in their communities.
"There is some talk at HQ of organizing the Force's best horsemen into something to be called The Musical Ride. This is taking the form of a sort of equine Roger de Coverley, and I fear that I may have been responsible for starting the madness. One day at Dufferin my horse was startled into a gallop by a somewhat embarrassing noise and I inadvertently rode with my eyes closed right through a line of lancers without hitting anyone, then reined my horse around, lost control, and went pell-mell through them again. Some fool saw the intersection as clever, when put to music." —Frances Dickens, Swan River Barracks, Manitoba September 25, 1875
The Musical Ride, with its beautiful horses, red-coated riders and red and white lances is a colourful tradition and Canadian symbol known around the world.