We are still in Regina visiting museums in the capital city of Saskatchewan. Today we are visiting the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Heritage Center.

The modern day Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is equivalent to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. The RCMP’s formation is a complicated story primarily due to the complex way modern day Canada was formed. What follows are the highlights of how the Royal Canadian Mounted Police came into existence. If you want all the details see RCMP origin story.

Prior to 1870, Canada consisted of the Provences of Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Law enforcement was the responsibility of individual Provinces.

The Hudson-Bay Company controlled a large portion of the land that comprises present-day Canada. When the Company was incorporated in England in 1670, it was charged with securing and managing commerce in the land (yellow on map) adjacent to the Hudson Bay.

In 1870, Canada purchased Rupert’s Land and the North-Western Territories from the Hudson-Bay Company. Since no Provinces existed in the newly purchased land, Canada created a North-West Mounted Police force for what was then known as the “North-West Territories”.

In June of 1873, a group of American bison hunters and whiskey traders attacked an Assiniboine Camp killing 20 First Nations people. These murders took place in Cypress Hills of present day Alberta and Saskatchewan. This incident became known as the Cypress Hills Massacre, and reinforced the immediate need for more police in the North-West Territories. The North-Western Mounted Police tracked down the killers who were tried and incarcerated.

The Gold Rush of 1897 also increased the need for more policing in the North-Western Territories. Apparently miners were taking the law into their own hands.

In 1904, King Edward VII awarded the title of Royal to the North-West Mounted Police.

Saskatchewan and Alberta became provinces in 1905 and contracted with The Royal North-West Mounted Police for Police services. In 1917, the policing contracts with Saskatchewan and Alberta were canceled by the Canadian government and The Royal North-West Mounted Police were given responsibility for Federal Policing across Canada. Their name was then changed to Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Today The Royal Canadian Mounted Police serves as Canada’s
national police service. The RCMP enforces laws made by the Canadian Parliament. It’s National Headquarters is in Ottawa.

The Heritage Centre contained numerous vehicles and weapons used the RCMP. This includes snow mobiles and a snow mobile-like car.

Of all the history of the RCMP, which includes their service in military operations overseas, we were taken by the story of a horse named Nero. In his day, Nero was considered the best horse in The Music Ride.

The Musical Ride is a performance by Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers on horseback performing drills and intricate formations.

Nero (1954-1972) knew all the ceremonial performances of the RCMP and taught other horses the routine. He was very selective about his rider and was known to throw a rider that did not meet his standards. When he died, his body was mounted and put on display at the Heritage Centre. Over the years, the horse’s black coat has turned brown as a result of light damage and the effects of taxidermy chemicals.

If you get to Regina we recommend that you visit the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Heritage Centre. There is ample parking for RVs of any size. We learned much during our visit and have a whole new appreciation for how Canada came to exist as a country.

There was also a great Photo Booth that we took advantage of.

Thank’s for following along.