History

Originally established in 1873, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's history is long and distinguished. What follows is a brief outline of the Nova Scotia ("H" Division) RCMP's history as an equal opportunity employer striving to create a diverse and reflective police force.

1873 - 1988

The North-West Mounted Police, as it was originally known, was conceived under the direction of Sir John A. MacDonald, Canada’s first Prime Minister and Minister of Justice. His objective was to bring law, order and Canadian authority to the North-West Territories (known today as Alberta and Saskatchewan).

In 1895 the North West Mounted Police began a major expansion and reorganization, which included the extension of services to the Yukon and later the Arctic coast (1903). In 1920 the North West Mounted Police became the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and federal policing was recognized. The jurisdiction and responsibility of the RCMP was for federal law enforcement throughout all provinces and territories in Canada.

It was in 1969 that the first African Canadian member of the RCMP was posted to Nova Scotia. Saint John, New Brunswick's Cst. Hartely Gosline's first posting was in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia and consisted of both detachment and highway patrol duties. He was later transferred to the Dartmouth detachment. Cst. Gosline was posted in various locations during his career including the Security Service Division (now CSIS) in Toronto, as well as postings in both Jasper and Edmonton, Alberta. Cst. Gosline left the force in 1978 and currently resides in New Brunswick.

In 1970 the first black RCMP member from Nova Scotia joined the force -- Mr. Clarence Bodden of Yarmouth. By 1973 the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had had recruited its first female members and, in 1992, Shelburne's Christine MacDonald became the first black female recruit.

In 1988 the RCMP began working aggresivelye to promote diversity in Canada’s national police service. This initiative would help shape diversity in the police service for decades to come.

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