Of Myth and Mounties:
A History of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
9:00 a.m., Monday, Sept. 21, 2009
Corley Auditorium in Webster Hall
Admission: free

The image of the red-coated Mountie in broad-brimmed Stetson hat is instinctively associated with Canada around the world. But there is more to the Mounties than just a romantic image. The stage was set in 1873 for a role that would intimately connect the Mounted Police and its members with the development of Canada as a great nation. From the beginning of its long history, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have served Canada and its people by establishing law and order in the frontier reaches of this vast nation. As the country grew in population and diversity, and its communities became more established, the Mounted Police adapted, ensuring the peace and security for its citizens.

Inspector A.F. “Al” O’Donnell is the officer in charge of operations at the Nanaimo, British Columbia Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He is a 35-year veteran of the RCMP and has diverse experience in operations, community policing, Aboriginal policing, traffic, strategic planning, and contract policing. His RCMP service includes 15 postings throughout Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Yukon Territory), an 11-year stint north of the 60th parallel, and two years above the Arctic Circle.