Remarks by
The Honourable Anita Neville, P.C., O.M.
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba
RCMP LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDALS
Government House
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
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Fellow Manitobans, protectors of public peace and safety, members and friends of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – welcome to Government House.
As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I am pleased to acknowledge first that we are gathered on Treaty 1 land and in the heartland of the Red River Metis and that our province is located on the treaty territories and ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe, Anishininew (ANISH-IN-INEW), Cree, Dakota, Dene and Nehetho (NE-HET-HO) Nation and the homeland of the Red River Métis. As well, Manitoba includes northern lands that were and are the ancestral lands of the Inuit.
As Manitobans, we respect the spirit and intent of treaties and treaty making and remain committed to working in partnership with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people in the spirit of truth, reconciliation and collaboration.
As Canadians, we all want to live in a country we can be proud of, in a place of freedom, equality and opportunity, a place where all can live in dignity and safety, a place of prosperity and happiness.
And we all like to think that we’re helping to bring that about.
But with all the myriad needs and challenges of a continent-spanning country of 40 million people, how can one person make a difference?
One answer might be: by helping one person at a time.
Responding to one emergency at a time, preventing one crime at a time, providing a compassionate response to one victim at a time – that’s going to add up over the course of a career as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
This evening, we are carrying on a 90-year tradition of recognizing long-term service and good conduct by member of the RCMP.
Since 1934, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal has recognized individuals who have dedicated themselves for at least twenty years to the protection of their fellow Canadians through excellent service in the RCMP.
RCMP members serve their society in many ways – providing local policing in hundreds of small communities; carrying out federal policing duties in relation to border security, fraud and organized crime; collecting and assessing security threats – and more.
In whatever capacity they serve, I am sure that each of these individuals has built up a massive accumulated total of positive impacts on their province and country.
We are also recognizing civilian and public service employees for careers supporting the mission of the RCMP. In helping the uniformed members do their jobs, these RCMP employees share in making a difference in their community and in their world.
As well, we will hear detailed accounts of acts of bravery and quick-thinking as individuals are recognized for actions that went above and beyond in saving lives and responding to dangers.
As Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, I congratulate each of today’s award recipients on this well-deserved recognition. May the pride and satisfaction you feel today inspire you to further achievement and may it warm the coldest days in the season ahead of us.
Thank you. Merci. Meegwich. Shalom