PEI·NewAs Canadians prepare to mark Remembrance Day, many will think of veterans of the armed forces — but may not realize that the day also honours current and former members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which is the only police service in the Commonwealth with a regiment designation.The RCMP is the only police service in the Commonwealth that has a regiment designationRyan McKellop · CBC News · Posted: Nov 10, 2025 12:28 PM EST | Last Updated: 22 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.The RCMP Veterans’ Association offers support and fellowship to those who served, and their families. (Ben Nelms/CBC)As Canadians prepare to mark Remembrance Day, many will think of veterans of the armed forces — but may not realize that the day also honours current and former members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. “This is probably one of the least known aspects of the RCMP, [that it] is actually a regiment. In fact, it’s the only police service in the Commonwealth that has that designation,” said Scott Ferris, senior communications advisor for the P.E.I. RCMP who is also active with the province’s RCMP Veterans’ Association.The association provides a support network for former officers, once they leave the service. “Many members of the RCMP have served in conflicts — from the South African war, the Boer war, First and Second World Wars, [Korea, the Gulf War, Afghanistan — through peacekeeping missions across the decades,” Ferris said.RCMP operations continue to happen worldwide, Ferris said, and range from peacekeeping operations to policing and conducting training.”We recently had individuals from the RCMP here in P.E.I. who were conducting… emergency first aid training in Ukraine.”Ferris says many members of the RCMP have served in conflicts over the years, and RCMP operations have officers deployed worldwide. (Island Morning/CBC)’Provide and share support’There are about 90 members of the RCMP Veterans’ Association on P.E.I., and Ferris said they aim to meet monthly.”It’s a chance for us to get together and conduct our business, update each other, provide and share support,” he said.”There’s also a social aspect to it of course, because these are all retired folks.”Ferris said advocacy and support are main priorities of the association.”If you need help with your pension, you need help with the health services in the province… there’s a network behind you.”Ferris said that while roles and responsibilities may be different, the price and sacrifice is just as high for members of the RCMP as members of the armed forces.”It’s daily service, like members of the Canadian Armed Forces for sure, but it’s a service, you know, in and around the communities where they live,” he said.”You never know what you’re going to face when a call comes along. You need that support, you want that support while serving [and] after service, which is where the veterans’ associations come in.”Moose Mounty programFerris said one of the programs the association is most proud of is the Moose Mounty program.”So picture, if you will… a traffic accident, or a police officer comes upon a home fire or something like that, where people have been displaced or anytime somebody’s in a bit of stress — having something that can help calm them down, reassure them, is a much-needed tool in a police officer’s toolkit,” he said.”The Vet’s Association took the step of getting these stuffed toys, and they are moose in [a] red sergeant uniform.”Pictured above is one of the Moose Mounty plushies that the RCMP Veterans’ Association purchases and provides to officers across P.E.I. to hand out in situations where someone might need extra comfort. (RCMP Heritage Centre)Ferris said these stuffed animals can be presented to anyone to show some care and compassion.”The vets donate, we purchase, through the association, several of these Moose Mounties… and provide them to officers across the Island.”The annual general meeting for the P.E.I. division of the RCMP Veterans’ Association will take place later this month. Next May, the national annual general meeting will be taking place on P.E.I., bringing RCMP veterans from across the country to the Island.”It’s a career, honestly, I think that never really leaves you,” Ferris said.ABOUT THE AUTHORRyan McKellop is a graduate of the Holland College journalism program and is working as an Associate Producer and Web Writer. Got a story idea? Email ryan.mckellop@cbc.caWith files from Island Morning
‘A career… that never really leaves you’: How the RCMP Veterans’ Association supports retired officers
