True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: August, 2022
Chief Superintendent Willam John 'Jack' Hunter. O.660
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
I finally met the famous John 'Jack' Hunter. Within RCMP ranks today, he is a legend.
On July 23rd, 2022, New Brunswick RCMP Veterans Len O'Halloran, Danny McNeill and Fredericton Historian and Author, Mr. Herb Curtis joined me for the two hour drive from Fredericton to Miramichi City, NB. We met Jack and his wife Bunny at their newly built retirement home on the wide and fast flowing Miramichi River then we drove Jack out to a local restaurant for a very appetizing, delicious and filling lobster lunch which had all been pre-arranged. Jack is 93 years of age, and apart from some early morning soreness brought on by age he is in great health.
For years and years, I had heard about the incredible reputation of Reg#15369, Chief Superintendent 'Jack' Hunter who retired in 1983 as the Commanding Officer (CO) of the RCMP in my native province of New Brunswick. Throughout his long career in the RCMP 'Jack' Hunter was held in high esteem by everyone who knew him. His reputation was grounded in a strong ethical base, his blunt honesty and his sincere and caring personality. His investigational ability and his years of field experience were never challenged.
In his time, Jack Hunter was a very rare Officer within the RCMP Officer Corps. He took the time to speak and confer with every RCMP whom he met whether in office corridors or in the field. His sincerity could not be hidden. It was well known that Jack Hunter considered his constables his top priority and his most valuable asset. Recalling his lifelong friendship with Jack Hunter, Woodstock, NB RCMP Veteran Len O'Halloron said, "Jack was a true detachment man and your rank didn't matter." Len said, Jack Hunter knew everyone in the Division, and he made the time to get to know you."
As it turned out, I recently had a phone call from NB RCMP Veteran long retired Assistant Commissioner Rod Smith who presently lives in New Brunswick. Rod and his wife remain cherished 'ole friends from our Ottawa days. When Rod heard that I had met Jack Hunter, he quickly wrote a short story about him meeting Jack under some very humorous circumstances. After all these years, Rod was able to recall the story, and he tells it here.
Rod said, "In 1982, I was a young constable recently assigned to the position of Official Languages Coordinator in "J" Division (New Brunswick) Headquarters (J-HQ). At that time, J-HQ operated out of the former residence of the pre-Confederation Governor of New Brunswick on Woodstock Road in Fredericton. This stately mansion had enjoyed a number of functional purposes after the Colonial Governor moved on, one of which was a home for the deaf. As you can imagine, after the RCMP took it over in 1932, Old Government House continued to be referred to - by many in the rank and file - as, "A home for the deaf." This historical building is now occupied by the current Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick and a small museum.
Rod continued, my new position as Official Languages Coordinator in Fredericton was classified at the rank of Corporal, so I expected to be promoted at some point in time. In those days, it seemed to take forever for the actual paperwork and the promotion to arrive. In the meantime, that summer, the employees at J-HQ decided to hold a Fun Day which included a picnic, some games for local children and, of course, a much contested tug o' war contest. I was assigned to coordinate the whole event.
I marshaled some helpers whom I knew, and together we designed and distributed an 11" x 14" poster to announce all the activities of Fun Day. Anyway, out of the blue a few days later, I was called into the CO's office. As a lowly constable, I had never been there before and it was with no small amount of trepidation that I made my way to the CO's lair on the second floor. Despite his current reputation as a kind and gentle soul Jack Hunter as the Commanding Officer took his role quite seriously and was a bit of a mythical figure to the Non-Commissioned ranks. He would stride up and down the halls of J-HQ with an enigmatic smile on his face, but I thought that he rarely stopped to chat with anyone, especially someone like me. But, I made my way upstairs.
I arrived at the CO's office and I noticed that the door of his office was open. I also noted that his office was enormous compared to the rest of the office accommodations at J-HQ. Jack was seated behind an oversized desk at the far end of the room. I knocked gently on the doorframe - but there was no response. So I knocked harder a couple of times and finally I heard him shout, "Is that you Smith?"
"Yes Sir," I replied.
"Well don't just stand there, get in here, he barked!
"Y-y-y-yes, Sir," I stammered as I approached his desk to stand ramrod at attention while awaiting the worst. I couldn't recall any trouble I'd been in.
"He said, "Are you the person responsible for THIS!" Jack almost shouted as he threw a copy of our Fun Day announcement across the desk at me.
"Uh, mmn, yes Sir," I managed to croak out as he stood up with a scowl on his face.
"Well he said, I have noted an error at the bottom of the page!" Jack spat out, "A serious error!"
As I started to blurt out an apology, Jack's entire demeanour changed and with an enormous smile he said, "Down here at the bottom it says, "Prepared by Constable Rod Smith" whereas it should say, "Prepared by Corporal Rod Smith!"
Congratulations my boy, Congratulations!"
When I returned to J-HQ some years later as the Division's Audit Officer (Inspector), I had the pleasure of meeting Jack occasionally at the Officers' Mess and other social functions. By then Jack had retired, but we both enjoyed a good laugh when I reminded him of my very memorable first promotion in the RCMP.
Prior to his appointment as Commanding Officer of 'J' Division (NB) Jack Hunter spent many, many years with the RCMP posted to the far north -- in the cold and bitter weather of the Northwest Territories. Although Jack's wife was born and raised in Miramichi City, NB., Jack actually met Bunny in Hay River, a town in the Northwest Territories located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, at the mouth of the Hay River. Bunny was a teacher, they fell in love and got married. That was over 60 years ago.
Hey Rod, now it's our turn to say to Jack, Congratulations my boy, Congratulations!"
The end.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
August 11, 2022
