Richard Froese
South Peace News
When the Canadian-famed RCMP Musical Ride presents a show in Donnelly on Aug. 27, it will be a homecoming for one of the 32 riders.
Smoky River Agricultural Society hosts the Musical Ride at the Smoky River Fairgrounds at 6:30 p.m.
The Alberta summer tour has a deeply personal connection for Corps Sgt. Major Elaine Maisonneuve, the first female to hold that position in RCMP history, states an Alberta RCMP news release Aug. 6.
Coming back home to Donnelly where she spent childhood Sundays watching gymkhana events is very precious to her.
“This is profoundly meaningful,” says Maisonneuve.
“They supported me every step of the way and it’s my way of saying thank you and giving back to the community that gave me so much.”
She describes the event as more than just a show.
“It’s a celebration of tradition, discipline and Canadian pride,” says Maisonneuve.
“It’s a chance to witness the harmony between horse and rider and to connect with the RCMP in a truly meaningful way.
“Alberta is ranch and rodeo country and the people here know what goes into working with animals, training with care and travelling long distances to put on a show.
“The Musical Ride reflects the same dedication.
“Many of the riders started with little or no equestrian experience, yet they perform with incredible skill and precision.”
Maisonneuve began her RCMP career in 1997 when she was first posted in Whitehorse, Y.T. for 10 years.
During the next 17 years, she was posted in Ottawa serving in national security, sensitivity and international investigations before she serve two years with the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
Her historic appointment as the RCMP’s first female Corps Sergeant Major highlights her career of almost three decades of trailblazing dedication to community service.
“The Musical Ride offers a moment of connection, joy, and pride in something distinctly Canadian,” Maisonneuve says.
“It’s a chance to come together as neighbours and as a nation.”
A cornerstone of RCMP heritage, the Musical Ride showcases riders and horses performing intricate drills choreographed to music.
It is a symbol of precision, trust and connection and a way for communities to witness more that a century of RCMP legacy.
Gates for the RCMP Musical Ride open at 5 p.m. and the pre-show starts at 6 p.m.
Available only at the gate at the event, tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children and youth ages five to 15 years and children under five are free.
