Richard Froese
Canada is a great country to live in – with all its freedoms, opportunities and places to see and visit.
Canadians are proud to call this nation their home.
Probably the greatest Canadian icon is the RCMP Musical Ride that performed Aug. 27 at the Smoky River Fairgrounds in Donnelly.
At a time when Canadian patriotism is on a high, those who watched the performance truly showed their Canadian colours.
After new United States President Donald Trump was inaugurated in January, he announces tariffs on many Canadian products entering the U.S. market.
Trump also said he wants Canada to become the 51st state in the U.S.
Since then, Canadians, Canadian governments and businesses have stepped up to promote more Canadian products and urge people to buy Canadian products to support Canadian businesses.
Many businesses identify Canadian products on shelves with labels “Made in Canada” and shoppers are responding to choose Canada over foreign products. Shop local – support Canada.
The RCMP Musical Ride in Donnelly was a great way to celebrate Canada presented by a longtime national police force.
The Musical ride is a significant symbol of the RCMP’s identify and Canada and was featured on 1975 series of the Canadian $50 bill.
One of the riders in the Musical Ride was RCMP Corps Sergeant Major Elaine Maisonneuve, formerly of Donnelly.
She so eloquently describes the value and purpose of the RCMP Musical Ride in a story in the South Peace News on Aug. 13.
The Musical Ride offers a moment of connection, joy, and pride in something distinctly Canadian.
It’s a chance to come together as neighbours and as a nation.
It is a symbol of precision, trust and connection.
It’s a way for communities to witness more than a century of RCMP legacy.
The RCMP has served Canada, Alberta, and local communities since 1873 and remains committed to serve and protect.
Despite some of the challenges of rural crime and the Government of Alberta talking about a provincial police, it’s important that citizens continue to support, value and appreciate the service the RCMP provides.
Citizens, communities and RCMP need to continue to work together to combat and curb crime to make everyone safe and protected.
Organizations like Citizens on Patrol and Rural Crime Watch aid the RCMP to be the extra set of ears and eyes in the community.
The RCMP does their best to meet the needs of communities and make them a better place to live.
Let’s do the best to make Canada and communities a place where more people want to call home.
As the national anthem O Canada states, let’s keep “the True North strong and free. “God keep our land glorious and free.”