True and Fascinating Canadian History
The Mystery of A Mountie
Who Died In Outer Space
Who Died In Outer Space
by J. J. Healy
Today many Canadians, especially people who suffer from serious maladies, can be very appreciative of great discoveries in medical science and especially of new technologies. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allow experts to employ magnetic fields and radio waves and to view the possibility of brain injury. Miniature and stylish blood sugar meters are now available to diabetics which fit snugly into a purse or a pocket and thereby allow diabetics to travel far more freely than years gone by.
And there are many other devices, including surgical implants, which were not available just a few years ago. Medical discoveries are being used to save or to improve the lives of thousands of Canadians. New health features will soon be available on Apple's new I-Watch. It will allow the wearer to track fitness strategies and to measure one's heart rate. Health details can be conveniently downloaded directly to a wearer's physician. Still, all new electronics have limitations and the I Watch is no exception.
In spite of all the functions which it can manage, the I Watch cannot measure sadness. And today, from all news reports, there is sufficient cause for sadness. All the world's trouble is accompanied by no lack of despair and grief. Oftentimes, the sadness is very near to us but beyond our control. It can only be calibrated by the empty spaces in one's heart.
And so sadness. The National Post reported this week that a Labrador Retriever puppy was shot and killed in Peterborough, ON. According to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the dog was out of doors with the family last Saturday when it went missing. On Sunday night, the dog was found by family friends in a roadside ditch. The puppy's collar had been removed and the dog had been shot in the back of its head. The parents of their three small children said, 'Its really set in today, a real mix of how upset you are with losing one of your own family members and then the anger that you're starting to feel with what's just happened'.
The way in which the puppy died, and left in a ditch truly stretches one's mind beyond all comprehension. And there can be little doubt that the traumatic event of the puppy's loss, and the sad way in which it died, essentially in an outer space, outside the bounds of care and affection of the family, left cold and wet in a ditch, will unquestionably rest in the minds of the little children for the remainder of their lives.
And it would almost seem impossible that a similiar fate of dying alone could happen to a friend. But, occasionally a person can die mysteriously alone and under very unusual, sad circumstances. And after the deceased is discovered, there is sometimes no one to bury the person.
This was the situation which happened recently to an RCMP member. The following story was first told by RCMP Vet David Douglas living in Winnipeg, MB. It also appeared on the Winnipeg, MB Vets website.
There may be a lesson for all police officers in The Mystery of A Mountie Who Died In Outer Space.
It is not yet entirely clear where Reg.#18009, Albert 'Al' Pless was born. But, he joined the Force in 1952 and he first served at 'Depot' while he undertook his Basic Recruit Training. After 'Depot', he served honourably in 'F' Div. (Saskatchewan) for twenty years. From all reports, he was a conscientious employee, easy going and self disciplined. He was thorough with the many criminal investigations which came his way, he was well organized and known as a dependable member of the RCMP.
But, in Al's mind, the Force had limitations too and so he retired after twenty years of service. He created a new life and went on to another long career with the Regina Hospital. And it was about the same time as he retired from the Force, that he also separated from his wife. He must have felt some estrangement in other ways too as he slowly bade farewell to the Force and he grew distant from friends. He decided not to join friends and the camaraderie of the Vets Association in Regina.
In recent years, Al retired from the Regina Hospital, but he also began to experience financial troubles. Then, he decided to move from Regina to Winnipeg, MB. Few people, if anyone knew that he had left Regina and that he had moved away.
The exact date is not known, but after living in Manitoba for a short while, Al was evicted from his apartment in the Winnipeg Housing Complex. He was forced to pack up his few personal belongings and he began a desperate and month long life in winter -- eating, sleeping and caring for himself and all the while living out of his car.
In his final days, Al had driven to Lundar, Manitoba, a small community about 100 kms north of Winnipeg, MB. But, before Vet Dennis Hawkins of the RCMP Winnipeg Vets Association caught news of Al's plight from RCMP investigators in Lundar, Al had very sadly and tragically passed away.
Out of necessity, Al Pless' body was taken under the wing of the Manitoba Medical Examiner's Office and then transferred to Bardal's Funeral Home in Winnipeg. Al's former wife, was located in a Personal Care Home, and other family were contacted in Regina, Winnipeg and PEI. Although they were notified of Al's death, no one in the family was able to claim Al's body nor pay for his funeral.
The Winnipeg RCMP Vets resolved to put a plan of action into place to care for Al's body and to provide a proper funeral, and to pay themselves for his burial if necessary. Winnipeg Vet David Douglas said that since no one in Al's family could afford to pay for Al's funeral, that the Winnipeg Vets made the decision to apply to the RCMP Benefit Trust Fund which was necessary to pay for Al's cremation and for his burial.
Bardal Funeral Home kindly discounted their costs by $1110.00 since Al had faithfully served the Force and Canada for many years.
On April 2, 2015 Al was cremated in Winnipeg. His remains were returned to Regina, the city in which Al had spent the greatest portion of his life.
Apart from the Winnipeg RCMP Vets, few people knew the actual circumstances of Al Pless' final hours. It was early March 2015 and Manitoba temperatures were freezing. The police investigation revealed that Al had somehow accidently driven his car into a roadside ditch sometime during the night. He may have been over tired. He got out of his car as if to wave for help. It never arrived. Then he fell. Al's body was discovered on the ground and beside his car by the RCMP. He was found frozen to death.
Down through all of time, many people have died in mysterious ways; sometimes accidently, or by poisoning or by strangulation. And no one knows for sure all the circumstances which led to Albert Pless' death. One can speculate that he led a lonely life but the reasons for him to withdraw from his family and friends remain a mystery. It is also a mystery that he did not retain help from community social programs. And only mystery exists for him not to have had the care that helps or soothes a person who is dying.
Al Pless may have left all police officers with a reminder. Police officers should do their best to retain friends especially those with whom they were close to during active career days. Friends are a source of help and comfort to each other in times of need or suffering. Whenever a Vet or their family experiences a sad situation and it becomes apparent, there are many, many police officers who are willing and capable to help -- to provide food, or shelter or drive others to medical appointments.
RCMP members in Alberta, Canada recently played hockey against the retired Edmonton Oilers to raise money to help the spouse of a deceased member of the Force. It's just one small yet generous sign of friendship which the RCMP continues to do for others in times of need.
And Regina RCMP Vet Emil Knuth coordinated the final burial arrangements of Al Pless. Al was buried at the 'Depot' Cemetery yesterday. R. I. P.
People and puppies. They both need affection and compassion. The awful alternative is to find them lonely or perhaps dead. Cold, and wet and alone in some unintended outer space.
The full story of Al Pless' final days was written originally by Vet David Douglas and, it was sent to me by Vet Keith Shotbolt. The story can be found on the Winnipeg, MB RCMP Vets website. In his article, Vet Douglas expressed his appreciation to several people who shared a role in Al's burial arrangements.
I too am very appreciative to all the Vets who were involved in the care and burial of Corporal Al Pless. Thank you.
Photo above of Corporal Al Pless. Courtesy of Sheldon Boles. Vets Vancouver, BC. 2015
Source: The puppy story. The National Post. Toronto. Tuesday. April 14. 2015. p. A6.
Reporting from the Fort,
J. J. Healy
April 17, 2015
