ST ROCH Memorial

A message form Inspector Dan Tanner, RCMP (retired) and President of the Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia.

This October 11th marks the 10th anniversary of the unveiling of the RCMP St Roch monument at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth. The event is significant on several fronts, including the involvement of RUSI(NS) in leading the project and the number of people and organizations who played a role in its success. It’s no coincidence either that 11 October 2007 marked the 75th anniversary of the arrival in Halifax of the famed RCMP vessel, following her 28 month transit of the Northwest Passage from west to east. The RUSI(NS) St Roch project not only commemorated the vessel and the truly remarkable achievements of Captain Henry Larsen and his crew, but also provided an opportunity for members of a host of organizations to acknowledge them publicly.

While the supporters of the St Roch project included people from all levels of government, the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP, industry from across Canada, they are just too numerous to mention individually. I would be remiss, though, if I didn’t reference two people: RUSI(NS) member Mike Kelly initiated the idea of commemorating the RCMP St Roch, and Colin Curleigh, an active RUSI(NS) member whom we recently lost, worked tirelessly to see the project through to its memorable culmination. Indeed, Brigadier-General Curleigh arranged for two of Captain Larsen’s children, daughter Doreen Larsen Riedel, and son Gordon Larsen to attend the ceremony.

So, on October 11th, or anytime for that matter, make a point of visiting the RCMP St Roch monument at Alderney Landing, right below the Canadian flag.

See also: Booklet “RCMP Patrol Vessel St. Roch Commemorative“