The Association has been in existence since 1886. It was incorporated under the name Royal North West Mounted Police Veteran Association by Letters Patent under the Companies Act on January 14, 1924, and steps were taken on December 1, 1954 to change the Association’s name to reflect the present-day name of the Force.

The Montreal Division was inaugurated in 1946. And the first Division rules were sanctioned on February 23 rd 1952.

Purposes and Objectives of the Association

The Association came into being out of a recognition many years ago that the training, experience and comradery that members had obtained/developed during their active service, could still be put to very meaningful use in individual and collective service to Canada, the Force and other former members (or members of their immediate families and their dependents), even after their separation from the Force. That worthwhile precept, is still apropos today. To that end, the Association continues to subscribe to the following worthy purposes and objects in its Constitution:

1. To promote and assist in the promotion and advancement of the best interests of Canada, especially respect for its Constitution;
2. To be of service to the Government of Canada when required and requested;
3. To co-operate with and to render assistance to the Police, especially the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in all matters of common interest or concern;
4. To promote the physical, social and economic welfare of the Corporation’s members or the members of their immediate families;
5. To acquire by purchase, lease, gift, bequest, devise, endowment or otherwise personal property of every nature and kind and any interest or property rights therein and to dispose of the same;
6. To acquire by purchase, lease, gift, bequest, devise, endowment or otherwise real, property, and any interest therein and, subject to the provisions of section 65 of the Canada Corporation Act, to mortgage, sell, lease or other wise dispose of the same;
7. To establish under such names and titles as may be deemed desirable, such benevolent fund or funds as shall be deemed requisite for the purpose of aiding such former members of the North West Mounted Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or the members of their immediate families, or their dependents who are in need of assistance and to appoint trustees to supervise the administration and management of any such funds;
8. To provide support to worthy community services or organizations of a charitable or benevolent nature.

How the Association Functions

Polices and objectives of the Association are usually determined at its annual general meetings. The Dominion Board of Directors is the governing authority between general meetings. In addition, it is the responsibility of the Dominion Headquarters Executive Committee to administer and manage the affairs of the Association on a day to day basis.

To assist the Dominion Headquarters Executive Committee, as well as Divisions of the Association and the general public, the Association maintains a Secretariat office which is usually staffed during normal work hours (Ottawa time), except on Fridays. Being conveniently located in the Headquarters complex of the Force, the Secretariat is thus able to maintain a vital and close liaison with the Force.

Benefit Trust Fund

An outreach of the Association of particular importance is to be able to respond in a meaningful way to former members of the Force, members of their immediate families or their dependants, who are in financial distress. Such needs are often beyond the lawful means of the Force to alleviate. While assistance can take a variety of forms, it is important that rescue be undertaken in an effective, discreet, timely, and meaningful way, if it is to serve a useful purpose.

Such assistance may simply be by way of helping the individual connect with the appropriate Federal, Provincial or Municipal level of government best suited and able to assist.

Another form of assistance is available through the Benefit Trust Fund which exists under authority of the RCMPAct or through a much smaller fund established and maintained by the Association itself. Such assistance can also take the form of a grant, or a loan, repayment of which is geared to one’s circumstances. Financial assistance is available where there is no other funding available, or in addition to other forms of available assistance.

The objective is to provide temporary or ongoing relief where documented financial distress beyond the control of the individual exists, thereby enabling approved recipients to have simple, yet dignified financial expectations out of live.

If you know of an eligible, worthy person you are encouraged to contact the Association for assistance.

The Force and the Association

The Force’s post-discharge responsibilities to former members are generally limited to ensuring that entitlements earned during one’s service are fully paid in a timely manner. While the Association takes a great deal of satisfaction out of its excellent rapport with the Force over the years, it also recognizes that enhancement to existing post-discharge benefits, must often be generated outside the Force, for the reason that the Force’s focus is primarily on serving members. The Force recognizes the Association as a credible advocate for the interests of former members. To retain that important status with the Force, it is vital that the Association be seen as truly representing former members, and this can best be achieved through strong and growing membership.

Esprit De Corps

That important common spirit of enthusiasm, devotion and strong regard for the honour of the Force, continues to be nurtured and promoted following discharge, through membership in the Association. The Association allows former members to work with the Force in areas of common interest, and at the same time brings about the opportunities for former members to regularly gather for purposes of comradeship, socializing and rendering assistance and support to each other as may be required.

Membership

Membership in the Association is open to any former regular, special constable or civilian member of the Force with at least twelve months service, or three years service in the case of a member of the RCMP Reserve, prior to discharge. While membership is voluntary, a condition of acceptance of an application or continuing membership, is that every individual has had and still has an exemplary character.

          RCMP VETERANS ASSOCIATION - QUEBEC DIVISION                                                 4225 Dorchester boulevard, Westmount, Quebec, Canada  H3Z 1V5                                      Phone  514 939-8404  (voice mail)