True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: June, 2016
Reg.#46470, Sergeant Mark Charles Gallagher
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
High scoring and high elbows gained hockey legend Gordie Howe an on ice reputation as a superstar in the National Hockey League (NHL) and his speed and scoring feats might not be matched for many, many years. Few would argue that Mr. Howe was one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Mr. Howe was also described as humble, good natured and honest. His life was filled with acts of charity.
In the RCMP as in hockey, it should come as no surprise that some police officers also lead exemplary lives; -- not nearly as famous as Mr. Howe perhaps, but lives which are ideal models for other police officers to follow.
Sergeant Mark Gallagher was a valued member of the RCMP and he fell into that ideal and special category. His life too was one of giving -- giving to his family, his community in New Brunswick and to the Force. Then he turned his kindness to Haiti.
In 2010, Sergeant Gallagher had volunteered though the RCMP for work with the United Nations Mission in Haiti. At the time, about 100 police officers from across Canada were posted in Haiti. Their work consisted of training the newly established Haitian Police; Criminal Law, administrative procedures, First Aid, care of prisoners, statement taking and the like.
Part of Sgt. Gallagher's job was to shadow Haitian recruits in the field while their performed their tasks and to evaluate their performance. It was a dangerous assignmentin a highly dangerous and charged environment.
With no warning, Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake. Sgt Gallagher was killed on January 12, 2010 along with RCMP Chief Superintendent Doug Coates.
Sgt. Gallagher's reputation for generosity was well known within New Brunswick circles. In additional to his regular police duties, he was a familiar face of the RCMP on Moncton, NB nightly TV news channels.
Shortly after his death, a group of New Brunswick community leaders began plans for a Vocational School to be built in Haiti and which would be dedicated to the life and in honour of Sgt. Gallagher.
Fund raising activities have been held throughout New Brunswick. The Sergeant Mark Gallagher Vocational School first opened its doors in October 2014. The school has a capacity of 50 to 60 students between the ages of 16 and 35 years of age.
The Vocational School in Sgt. Gallagher's name has filled a desperate educational need for the young people of Haiti. Mr. Jamie Watson, Administrative Assistant at New Brunswick's Community College, said, "The idea thatthose that are graduating are learning carpentry and masonry and things that are going to be able to help them rebuild Haiti, which is what Mark was down there doing when he died."
Over $500,000 has been raised and donated over the years. Mr. Richard Blaquiere, President of the Fiends of Mark Gallagher Society said he is amazed at how many people in New Brunswick wanted to help.
Sgt. Gallagher left a true legacy of generosity and a spirit and a readiness to give. In short, he was a gem of a person and a gem of a police officer -- one measured to the highest degree. He was unselfish by nature for he could have stayed in the comforts of Canada rather than travel to Haiti. Yet he volunteered for Haiti and he was fully aware of the possibilities of harm to himself in one form or another.
Sgt. Gallagher left a gap in New Brunswick policing and the vacuum will be felt within the RCMP for a long time. On the bright side, however, one can look to the new Vocational School in Haiti which was built and named in his memory. It stands as a reminder of all the good which he accomplished throughout his life.
And for that, we are forever grateful to Mark Gallagher.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
June 23, 2016
Source: I thank journalist Ms Emma Davie of The Daily Gleaner. Fredericton, NB. and The Saint John, NB Telegraph Journal for their newspaper article.
The photo of the Sergeant Mark Gallagher Vocational School in Haiti, and the comments by Mr. Jamie Watson and by Mr. Richard Blaquiere were taken from an article in The Saint John, NB Telegraph Journal. May 30, 2016. p. A5.
