RCMP Facts and History

In the wild new reaches of Canada's newly acquired western territories there was a need for law and order and thus the Canadian parliament in the year 1873 formed the "North-West Mounted Police". Created mainly to establish some civility and law-and-order amongst the rugged areas that would soon become Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, this fledgling force of originally 150 recruits were sent to the far west. In July of 1874. 275 of the NWMP marched their way into southern Alberta to deal with American whiskey traders doing business with aboriginal people.

One of the first permanent NWMP posts was established at Fort Macleod, Alberta. From this original outpost sprang Fort Edmonton, Fort Ellice (back in Manitoba and which was to become the headquarters), Fort Calgary and Fort Walsh (in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan.

From 1875-1885 the Force had grown to some 1,000 officers and soon became a source of "law and order" during the Klondike Gold Rush in British Columbia. Early in the turn of the century, during 1904, the name was modified to include Royal at the start and then in 1920 the official name as we know them now was adopted and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was born. This last name change also included merging with the Eastern Canadian police force then known as the Dominion Police. Also at that time the headquarters was moved to the present Regina, Saskatchewan home.

By 1938 the members had doubled in size to some 2350 and was looking after the policing of all of the provinces of Canada save for Newfoundland and British Columbia which came under their wing in 1950.

To get some more interesting information, follow these links:

• RCMP History - http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/hist/index-eng.htm
• RCMP Facts - http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/fs-fd/index-eng.htm
• RCMP Regimental Badges - http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/unif/badge-insigne-eng.htm