Christmas Memories – ‘Depot’ Division – December 2008
Our December Vet story is dedicated to Troop # 17-1974/1975 and especially deceased members Reg. # 31814 Beverly Karen Hosker and Reg. # 31819 Anne Valerie Prichard. In 1974, recruits Hosker and Prichard were members of the first female troop to join the RCMP and they were also choral members of a memorable Christmas Carol Festival which was held in December 1974 at ‘Depot’ Div.
Looking back, I had the good fortune and special opportunity to meet hundreds of hard working male and female recruits during their basic training. My instructional tour in ‘Depot’, Regina from 1973 to 1976 allowed me to become acquainted with eager and dedicated young people as they sought to become full fledged members of the RCMP. I was among one of the original instructors for Troop 17.
In addition to their regular workload, many recruits and instructors participated in a variety of ‘Depot’ on-base activities, including: Big Brothers and Big Sisters, dances, photography, band, scuba diving, chess or competitive hockey and baseball. These non-direct police activities were fun, good-spirited and interesting because they gave everyone a diversion away from the stress of constant study, exams or police duties and thus provided well needed relief.
Due to my lifelong interest in music, the CO Chief Superintendent H. P. Tadeson asked me to enlist and direct the Chapel Volunteer Choir. Over my three year ‘Depot’ tour, several hundred very, very special recruits became ‘Singing Angels’. Finding sufficient number of singers and musical talent for Sunday service among the recruit population was rarely a problem. This is how it worked.
Recruits who, during the week, had fallen out of favour with the Sergeant Major were penalized to the Guardroom for a weekend of extra duties such as washing police cars or security foot patrols. The recruit’s ‘offence’ might have been being late for class, falling asleep in class, failing to salute an Officer, failing to get a haircut or neglecting an academic assignment.
Each Saturday morning as I entered the Guardroom I would point to each of the ‘problem’ recruits and shout: “You, you and you! Report to the Chapel at 2PM for singing practice!” The recruits had little choice but to comply and thus, I gained instant prospective singers for Sunday! Since these recruits were already ‘serving time’ and confined to ‘Depot’, they were good natured and laughed about the methods which I employed to rope them in. However, not only did they report to the Chapel at 2PM for choral practice but quite often they brought along a favorite guitar or another friend to lend moral support. The recruits were already busy so I kept the choir practices short and the recruits took the Chapel experience in stride.
In September 1974, Troop 17 made Canadian history as they were the first all female class to join the Force. About a month after their arrival, Troop 17 heard about my plans to form a special choir to celebrate Christmas with a Carol Festival of songs. It was to be held in the Chapel. Troop 17 also knew that I was desperate for singers so they approached me and unhesitatingly offered to lend their voices to the few male recruits from the Guardroom whom I had previously taken prisoner.
As the weeks leading up to Christmas passed by, all the recruits who enlisted for the Carol Festival remained faithful and looked forward to their choral practice. Many civilian ‘Depot’ staff, spouses and their children also joined in with the Choir.
In the fall of 1974, the recruits got into the Christmas spirit. They put their hearts and good spirit into the task of learning the Christmas list of carols. Sunday, December 15, 1974 was chosen as the date for the Carol Festival and the choir was asked to sing two performances; one Sunday afternoon and another again Sunday evening. Leading up to the Carol Festival, the recruits and staff helped to decorate the Chapel with trees, lights and candles. Seating capacity was limited in the Chapel but guests from Regina and the ‘Depot’ community attended to listen to a ‘one of a kind’ Christmas musical experience. It was a very emotional day in the colourful and historical setting of the RCMP Chapel.
Local TV and radio stations taped portions of the Choir Festival for replays during Christmas. The audience thoroughly enjoyed watching and listening to the rich voices of the male and female recruits of Troop 17. Along the way, the audience often joined the recruits singing. One recruit, possibly Bev Busson of Troop 17 was so thrilled with the Festival performances that she mentioned the possibility of the Choir producing a record!
At the mid-point of each performance the recruits and the invited guests were equally generous when a collection was taken up and the donations were given to a Regina charity. It was a very special day in my life and in the lives of Troop 17.
Since that celebration of Christmas in 1974, most of the ‘Singing Angels’ have probably forgotten the significance of a dotted quarter note, but I’m sure they have not forgotten their fond memories, friends, the Carol Festival or the Christmas hymns they sung that December day at ‘Depot’. In the end, everyone had worked especially hard to make the Christmas Choir Festival a truly worthy and memorable event.
Over the years, two women of Troop 17 passed away and we think of them each Christmas. Corporal Beverly Karen Hosker died at Prince George, BC on August 17, 2003 as a result of a traffic accident. Karen was born on May 28, 1955 at Fort St. John, BC and she joined the Force also in Fort St. John on September 16, 1974. She served in ‘E’ Division until she retired on September 17, 1998. Karen distinguished herself by being awarded the RCMP Long Service Medal. As well, she was the first female member to be selected as the NCO in charge of an RCMP detachment – Wells Detachment in ‘E’ Division. Karen is buried in Prince George, BC.
Cst. Anne Valerie Pritchard was born at Glasgow, Scotland and she joined the RCMP on September 16, 1974 at Toronto. After recruit training, Anne served at Colwood Detachment in ‘E’ Division until she took her discharge from the Force on August 15, 1975. Anne died August 4, 1991 at Mission, BC at 46 years of age and she is buried in Mission, BC.
The chief Supervisor for Troop 17 was Cpl. Kenneth Frederick George Wilkins. Ken served in ‘E’, “K”, ‘Depot’ and ‘O’ Divisions and he retired from the Force as a S/Sgt on January 5, 1986. Ken passed away on June 24, 2003 at St. Catharine’s, Ontario. Ken was a gentle and wise man and he was deeply committed to the professional development of Troop 17. He too will be remembered at this time of year.
Christmas is meant to be a time of joy, but it’s hard not to reflect upon family members and special friends who have touched our lives and passed away. Beverly Karen Hosker and Anne Valerie Prichard of Troop 17/1974 were two people who made a wonderful and memorable contribution to the RCMP as well as to the 1974 Christmas Carol Festival at ‘Depot’ Division. They were a special part of a memorable Christmas Carol Festival.
J. J. (Buffalo Joe) Healy
Reg. # 23685
Photo credit: Ottawa Vet Larry Ward