Two RCMP officers who grew up in Bay St. George and have their families in the area are looking forward to coming home and performing in the RCMP Musical Ride in July.
The performance takes place in Stephenville on Mayfield on Wednesday, July 28 starting with a pre-show at 6:30 p.m., followed at 7 p.m. by the actual ride.
Both Cpl. Jeremy Dawson, who grew up in St. George’s, and Const. Stephen Archibald, who grew up in Kippens, have family history in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Cpl. Dawson’s grandfather, Sgt. Edward Byrne, who is deceased, retired from the RCMP in 1980 after a 26-year career. His father, Const. Mike Dawson, who is retired, completed his whole 34 years in Newfoundland and Labrador; while his twin brother, Cpl. John Dawson is stationed in Flowers Cove and will soon be transferred to Burgeo.
Cpl. Dawson joined the RCMP in 2000 with his first posting in Charlottetown, P.E.I., then Stratford, P.E.I. He transferred to Twillingate, Newfoundland and Labrdor, for four years and then transferred to the Musical Ride in 2006.
In 2009 he was promoted to corporal and became an instructor for the RCMP Musical Ride. In this new role, Cpl. Dawson teaches other members how to ride and sets the pace for performances.
Cpl. Dawson said he can’t wait to come back to the province with the ride, especially now in his new role as an instructor. His job is a little different from before as the last time he was learning the ropes, which he is now teaching others.
It’s exciting for him that his twin brother will be there, as well as his mom, Violet Dawson and dad and he’s hoping that if she can fit it into her schedule, that his sister Jennifer Dawson-Hobbs will be able to sing the national anthem for the event.
The last time around the closest he got was to Corner Brook, which is the city he was born in; but said it will be great to perform even nearer his hometown in Stephenville.
“Riding horses is something my grandfather and my dad said I would enjoy and they were right. I love my job and where it’s taking me - right across Canada and into parts of the United States, where we tour as well,” he said. “The people in the ride are almost like a brotherhood and sisterhood.”
Dawson takes pride in the fact that his job now makes him officially a “mountie.”
In addition to riding horses, criteria considered for being a member of the ride include personality and how you are able to deal with the public.
Although the ride performs in all different sizes of communities, Cpl. Dawson prefers the smaller towns as he said that’s where they seems to draw the larger crowds as most every in the community gets out.
“Riding horses is something my grandfather and my dad said I would enjoy and they were right." - Cpl. Jeremy Dawson
“Its great for the riders to hear the clapping. It fills you up inside and makes you want to perform well,” he said.
Const. Archibald, who is currently posted in Labrador as a member of the Labrador District Relief Team, is looking forward to being back on the ride, which he toured with for three years after becoming part of it in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
He said he was only too happy when he was asked to join touring with the Musical Ride when it comes to the province from July 12 to Aug 15, because they were tight on riders.
“To get called up to the ride is a fun opportunity and it will be great to ride with Jeremy as were roomed together when I was formerly on the ride,” he said.
Const. Archibald also has an RCMP history with his dad, Staff Sgt. Sandy Archibald serving in a member employee assistance capacity. He has two younger brothers in the RCMP as well, including Daniel, who is stationed in Manitoba; and Robert, in Nova Scotia.
Although he gets home more now that he lives in Goose Bay, Labrador after working in Manitoba and Ottawa, he’s still looking forward to coming home and performing in the ride in front of friends and family this summer.
At 28 years of age, Const. Archibald has been in the RCMP for years and his current duties take him all across Labrador, doing relief work.
He thinks that after not riding for a while that he will still be able to jump back up on the horse and ride well.
“I think I’m going to be a little sore for awhile though,” he said.
The other Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in this year’s ride include Const. Brent Edwards, who was raised in Goose Bay, Labrador but his family is from the Burin Peninsula, Lawn and the St Lawrence area; and Const. Jennifer Dowden, who is from Logy Bay.
Stephenville Councillor Darlene Oake, liaison with the Stephenville Leisure and Recreation Council, said there will be designated parking spots during the event. However, people won’t be able to park on the ledges above the soccer pitch but can watch the performance from there and are welcome to bring along lawn chairs.
Cpl. Dawson said those ledges above the soccer field makes it an excellent place to hold the performance as the formations can be seen better looking down. He is excited at the horses being stabled in the Stephenville Dome as well.
