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| From Phil Grossmith | |
 Earle Millan retired from "A" Division in 1969 and this is his story. Father, grandfather, golfer, volunteer and RCMP officer Earle T. Millan - brain tumor, (b) Nov. 28, 1929 (d) Aug 10, 2003 ‘Can you get me one of those too? Earle said to me in June 1948. This request came when he saw my application to join the RCMP following our graduation. We both expected this would mean long periods away from home at some Arctic outpost. He was not to be disappointed. Several months older than I, by October, 1948 he was training at Depot when I arrived, in January, 1949. Earle was ‘Right Middle’ with Central Tech’s always successful football club. Active also in the school theatre and choir he was Shirley’s big brother. Both Millan children were born in Quebec but in the early ‘40s moved to Toronto when their family was re-located and where we first met. After six months training in Regina and Ottawa, he was posted to Minnedosa, Manitoba. The following spring as the wild waters of the Red flooded the Manitoba valley we were back together on emergency dike patrol in Winnipeg for two months. A year later we were again seconded, to Equitation school in Rockcliffe (Ottawa) as “riding proficiency” was still required. Next we were chosen for Musical Ride’ training as Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, on their first visit to Canada were to be the audience - their first RCMP Musical Ride in Regina and we in it! Earle was posted to the BC Drug Squad, married Isabel, his first wife and, later in Vancouver, Terry was born. As RCMP pay then was $3.50 per day an extra $1.00/day ‘Northern Pay’ was enticing and they decide that earlier dreams/expectations could come true in the Yukon. Theresa was born in Whitehorse and later the family was dispatched to Carmacks where Earle was the lone ‘Mountie’. Duties in this tiny settlement on the Yukon River included patrols by boat and car in the summer and where, in the winter the police car required he light a fire under the transmission to start it. His handy fishing rod usually hooked exactly the right size arctic char for family dinners. Various duties as ‘father-confessor’, para-medical and family-adjudicator to local First Nations people, made him very essential to the community. He retired a sergeant in 1970 after 22 years. An avid golfer who dreamed of his own golf course but settled in a business venture in Collingwood where they purchased a Dairy Queen. Elected President of the local Rotary Club the business prospered but the hours were punishing. Earle later would say his whole life was working 24hours/7days a week in the Force and that was enough. This pressure led to marriage break-up and he went to work at the Jockey Club in Toronto. Several years later, he met and fell in love with Lorraine they married and retired to Lagoon City on Lake Simcoe where both continued to enjoy golf, their children and winters in Florida. Earle experienced a stroke Christmas Eve, 2002 in Acton. After 3 months in a coma he transferred to Soldiers Memorial Hospital in Orillia and there, miraculously seemed to improve. Lorraine was there every day during this long ordeal and took him ‘home’ in May. A seizure in June however revealed an inoperable brain tumor. Lorraine and his sister Shirley were with him at Soldiers Memorial when he passed away on a bright and sunny Sunday morning. Lorraine, Shirley, Terry (Terrace Bay), Theresa (San Francisco) step-daughter Susan (Acton), grandchildren Josh, Tiffany and great grandson Cyan will forever remember the big smile and hearty laugh. His many friends and associates in the RCMP Veterans’ Association too remember his wicked golf game. Earle’s ashes, at his request will be interred at the RCMP Cemetery in Regina. One of Earle’s favourites ballads from the Paul Gross’ TV series ‘due South’ called “Ride Forever – You can’t keep a horseman in a cage” is a fitting tribute to Earle’s memory. |
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| Peter John Melkert, Halifax, Nova Scotia Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award - October 22nd., 2007 |
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| Grateful to the country that liberated his native Holland, Peter Melkert has dedicated over 30 years to supporting his fellow Haligonians through his many volunteer efforts. After serving as an auxiliary constable with the RCMP for almost 20 years, he is now a member of the RCMP Veterans’ Association. He devotes considerable time to visiting RCMP retirees at Camp Hill Veterans’ Hospital and gives pastoral care to elderly hospital residents in Halifax. In addition to visiting ailing members of his parish, he is an active member of the local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, often speaking to students about veterans’ causes and of Canada’s role in past conflicts. | |
Former Member Derek Hatfield |
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(from http://www.spiritofcanada.net/team_derek_bio.html) |
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| RCMP Veterans' Association - Nova Scotia Member Victor Patrick Cormier, Belle Côte, Nova Scotia Governor General's Caring Canadian Award June 16, 2004 |
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Victor Cormier is one of the Terry Fox Foundation's top individual fundraisers in Nova Scotia. As cancer touched him and his family cruelly, he knows from experience the devastation caused by this disease. Since 1983, he has raised over $70,000 for cancer research, and has participated in close to 20 Terry Fox runs. He completed his most recent run at the age of 78 after recovering from surgery. Mr. Cormier collects hundreds of pledges for each run by approaching family, friends and co-workers, and from going door to door. As a member of the RCMP Veterans Association, Mr. Cormier also frequently visits the sick in his community and brings them some of his abounding energy. |
Meet the Members
A stalwart of Toronto Division, John Douglas (Doug) GRAHAM passed away on Tuesday,
September 21, 2010 at his home after a 2 year battle with mesothelioma lung cancer at the age of 79. His full and rewarding career started with 3 years on the Calgary City Police Force, 26 years with the R.C.M.P serving in Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario, 12 years with the Ministry of Labour, and 10 years with a private Health and Safety Company. He was a proud life
member of the R.C.M.P Veterans' Association. He loved curling, golf, bridge, and most of all, his computer, cameras, and electronic gadgets. Doug provided yeoman service as the Toronto Benefits Officer helping our members negoitate the myriad benefits paths to successful resolution. His presence will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
Hatfield is one of only 126 sailors in history to finish a single-handed race around the world...Starting in September 2002 at the age of 50, and finishing after 182 days racing on the water - he sailed over 28,700 nautical miles single-handedly, finishing 3rd in the Open 40 Spirit of Canada (pitch-polled and dismasted his boat off the coast of Cape Horn, and spent five weeks repairing the boat, before getting back into the race) ...Spent five years building the Open 40 boat with the assistance of friends and family...The 1996 Europe One Single-handed Transatlantic race was a gruelling 28-day, 4000-mile slog across the North Atlantic, considered among the most treacherous waters in the world - rigging failure prevented Hatfield from a higher ranking but his perseverance allowed him to complete the course...Other significant results include: 3rd in Class 2 for the combined legs of the 1995 Bermuda One-Two; 1st in 1994 Labatt's Single-handed Race Series...Was introduced to the sport by a neighbour in Whitby, Ontario...Has accrued more than 90,000 nautical miles of sailing and yacht racing experience...Has competed in countless national and international regattas on sailboats of all sizes, honing his skills in both crewed and short-handed events...Favourite vessel to sail is the Open 60...First international competition was the Bermuda 1-2 Race in 1995...Most influenced by Lloyd Hircock...Named the 2003 Rolex Sailor of the Year and won the 2003 Gerry Roufs Offshore Sailing Award...Has partnered with Earth Rangers - a charitable organization funded by the Schad Foundation "inspiring within children a lasting passion to improve the environment." 