Hon. Marty Klyne: Honourable senators, I rise with pride to speak about the RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina and the progress made in transforming it into a national museum. This project is close to my heart and has extraordinary potential to deepen Canadians’ understanding of our history.
The RCMP Heritage Centre is a majestic, 65,000-square-foot facility that houses 18,000 square feet of exhibits. It opened on May 23, 2007, next to the elite RCMP Training Academy, Depot Division, where Mounties have been training since 1885; they continue to train there.
This connection makes it a uniquely powerful place: a living link between the history of the RCMP and the service of today’s members. Inside, the centre’s exhibits trace the RCMP story back to the earliest days of the North-West Mounted Police and the development of Western Canada.
But the Heritage Centre is not only about artifacts behind glass. It is a place of discovery, reflection and reconciliation. Its vision is to celebrate the courage and service of RCMP members, while also telling the difficult stories of the RCMP’s role in Indigenous communities and the traumatic legacy of residential schools. These are approached with honesty, dignity and compassion. This role is central to the centre’s commitment to truth and reconciliation.
The transition to national museum status is vital. It will secure the Heritage Centre’s future as a place of learning and healing, ensuring Canadians and visitors alike can explore the RCMP’s complex legacy in full and its continuing role in shaping Canada. Of 6,400 Canadians surveyed, 91% said they believe it is important or very important to establish a national RCMP museum. Canadians clearly want this. The Government of Canada affirmed this vision by proposing a $12-million commitment in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement.
As was just pointed out by His Honour, we are joined in the gallery by Sam Karikas, CEO of the RCMP Heritage Centre. Her leadership has been instrumental in turning this vision into reality, and I’m excited about the progress she’s achieved.
Colleagues, Mounties — in their red serge, Strathcona boots and Stetson hats — are collectively one of the most recognized symbols in the world. We also know that those who serve in our national police force act with courage every time they put on the uniform, sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Situated in Saskatchewan, on Treaty 4 territory and the homeland of the Métis Nation, the RCMP’s chapter in Canada’s story will soon be told at our newest national museum, a development I greatly appreciate and anticipate.