Prince George, B.C. – With  family members on hand,   eighteen members of the RCMP North District, and five civilian employees of the RCMP, received recognition for their service at a special ceremony this morning in Prince George.

 

Medals were presented by Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens, the commanding officer for “E” Division  to recognize significant milestones in length of service, while North District Chief Superintendent Rod Booth presented Certificates of appreciation.

 

There was one presentation that was different. It was the presentation of the Fallen Members Memorial Dove and it brought a different tone to the morning’s event.  

 

The pewter dove ( in photo at right)  is presented to family of a member who has died as a result of service. 

 

In this case, the dove was presented to Sergeant Suzanne McKelvie, the niece of an RCMP member, Constable Joseph Thompson,  who died in 1961.    Constable Thompson was   the driver of a cruiser full of RCMP members bound for a firearms competition in Lethbridge Alberta in 1957.   As they approached Lethbridge, a Trans Canada Airlines plane was preparing to land at the airport. It was coming in  very low, its landing gear crushed the roof of the cruiser,  and the cruiser   eventually crashed in a ditch. While the other three in the cruiser survived without serious injury, Constable Thompson suffered severe brain damage and a broken neck. He died four years later in a Manitoba care facility, just two days after his 27^th birthday.

 

Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens commended all in attendance for their service, dedication, their   commitment to “serve others” and for carrying out their duties with courage and compassion. He  reminded them that despite the battering the RCMP may take from the public “each of you make a difference in the community you serve, I am honoured to share this morning with you.”

 

Here are the recipients and their awards:

 

·        Sergeant Randall Bosch

·        Sergeant William Casault ( also Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal)

·        Constable Kent Kryzanowski ( also a recipient of District Officer’s Certificate of Appreciation)

·        Sergeant Holly Lavin

·        Sergeant Charles LeBlanc

·        Civilian Member Donald McKelvie

·        Sergeant Stephen Vrolyk

 

·        Corporal John Graham

·        Sergeant Suzanne McKelvie

 

·        Corporal Christopher Knight

 

·        Sergeant Pamela Hart