True and Fascinating Canadian History
The Mystery Of The Dance
Once Danced At 'Depot'
by J. J. Healy
This is a true story.
It is the story of a very sad incident which took place at 'Depot' many, many years ago. Ole' timers will easily recall the crisis with regret and because of the stressful toll which it placed on all those involved.
Fortunately, the incident was never replayed but many have not forgotten the day it happened. The Instructors were on one side of the unholy dance. They were left angry and perplexed. On the other side, were the recruits who remained fearful of retaliation. In the middle, as often is the case, were the unfortunates who could not fend for themselves nor was suitable representation made available to them. There were no winners when the music finally stopped. Darkness and the devil were partners in 'The Mystery of the Dance Once Danced at 'Depot'. Still in all, there may be a lesson for everyone in the story. The lesson may stem from the days of pranks taken too far in an all male domain.
In the first one hundred years of the RCMP’s existence women were excluded from joining its ranks. It is valid to note that gender was a huge factor in the early days of the North West Mounted Police if for no other reason than the physical requirements of the job. Perception held that men had the brawn and that women did not have the required strength to haul, lift, pull, shoot and ride. It’s too late for the RCMP to back track and it is equally impossible to measure the ways in which the Force might have evolved or done policing differently if women had been allowed to join the Force beginning in 1873.
Yet, study after study has shown that the presence of women does have a moderating effect on the conduct of men. Universities learned the lesson years ago. There was a time when men and women had separate residences at Canadian universities but it was discovered that co-ed residences resulted in far fewer pranks and better behaviour, in general, by all residents. When looking at the RCMP, perhaps personnel problems which the Force is presently facing would have been significantly minimized if women had been allowed to join much earlier than 1974. And perhaps the following incident would have never happened.
One early morning in 1965 at ‘Depot’ our Troop was witness to a very distasteful, upsetting and unprofessional event which many of us have not forgotten. Upon our arrival in the Stables at 6AM, we noticed that some of the horses had been painted by someone during the night. The act was as alarming to the Rough Riding Staff and all the recruits as it was unpleasant for the horses. Some persons had gained access to white house paint and then secretly applied stripes and slogans on about a half dozen horses.
All recruits were immediately banned from the affected area in the Stables while the Instructors assessed the health and condition of the horses. No doubt the RCMP Vet was called in. The incident affected everyone but it seemed that the Riding Staff were most deeply hurt and stressed including; Sergeant Harry Armstrong, Corporal Dee Jessiman, Corporal Fred Rasmussen, Corporal Tex Shearer, Corporal Evans & Corporal Breton.
The culprits were soon caught but it took several days before the horses regained normality. They had undergone a very stressful incident which they did not expect nor deserve. The presence and skills of the Instructors would have helped to calm them down. The horses' agitation was a distasteful dance. There was no question that the toxicity of the paint oozed into their pores and affected their skin and their eyes. The weight of paint on the horses was another factor and it had to be cleaned off immediately; it is one thing to expect a horse to carry a saddle and a rider but to paint a horse was malicious and spiteful.
At first, one could see the rage in the Instructors eyes. It was an ugly event at the time. There was some thought among recruits that the Instructors might retaliate but that did not happen – the guilty were caught and punished. The Instructors quickly realized that the harm to the horses was done by a few people and that not all recruits should be blamed.
Looking back, there is a good possibility that the paint incident would not have happened if women had been living at ‘Depot at the time. There is a high probability that women would not have participated in shenanigans which resulted in harm to the horses. Also, there is a diminished possibility that men would have done harm to the horses in the first place as they would have been even ashamed in the presence of women.
The unholy dance at ‘Depot’ may have left us with a lesson. First, the RCMP has come a long way. Life has demonstrated that men and women can work together in harmony. It’s like jazz on the piano – it’s best when played with two hands. Secondly, personnel issues should not focus on gender. Policing is more about helping people and which people deliver the best job to the community. Men and women both have excellent skills and education and both genders are necessary for the job to be done well.
Finally, young Canadians who aspire to join the Force expect to see both genders working together. A chain is made stronger with a higher mix of carbon and steel.
On one side of the unholy dance at ‘Depot’ were the Instructors. They were left angry and perplexed. On the other side, were all the innocent recruits who remained fearful of retaliation. But it did not happen. In the middle were the horses – they could not fend for themselves. Then there was the shame of the perpetrators who should have known better.
There were no winners when the music finally stopped. Darkness and the devil were partners 'In the Mystery of the Dance Once Danced at 'Depot'.
'Maintain Our Memories'
From the Fort,
I have the honour to be, Sir
Your Obedient Servant
J. J. Healy
