Fort Dufferin marks a historic day

Fort Dufferin celebrated their annual Heritage Day on Sept. 15.

Along with the day’s traditional events, such as the church service, children’s games, live music, and barbecue lunch, guests were also invited to tour the nearly completed officer mess kitchen, the interpretive centre and to wander the self-guided interpretive trail.

But the biggest priority of the day was commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP) March West.

Marlyn Empson, who chairs the Post Road Heritage Group, which has worked hard to restore the historic sites at Fort Dufferin since1986, welcomed special guests such as Red River Metis Minister of Culture Alfred Anderson and Allan Schaldemose, retired member of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, RCMP, Canadian Armed Forces Reserve, and the RCMP Veterans Association.

Schaldemose told the crowd gathered under the ancient trees for shade that there are lots of reasons to celebrate Fort Dufferin, not the least of which is that it was the British (Canadian) Boundary Commission Headquarters, that it was a major immigration hub for Mennonite settlement in Manitoba, and the origin point of the Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP) March West.

He noted that the cavalcade that moved out of Fort Dufferin on that fateful day in 1874 contained 295 mounted policemen, 142 oxen, 310 horses, 93 head of cattle, 114 ox carts, two field guns, and an assortment of agricultural machines.

That day also marked the first and last time the entire force was ever formally assembled in its entirety. “It has never happened again since,” he said.

Schaldemose thanked the Post Road Heritage Group for all the work they’ve done at Fort Dufferin, preserving a place that is very close to the hearts of Manitoba RCMP veterans.

As a token of appreciation, he presented Empson with a NWMP map of activities, a feasibility study, and a commemorative integrity statement to display at Fort Dufferin. The map was created in the 1960’s and is a rare find.

In honour of the day, RCMP Aboriginal Policing erected a Cultural Community Teepee.

Also in attendance was Minister Alfred “Buck” Anderson, the Vice-President of the Interlake Region and the Minister of Culture & Heritage at the Manitoba Metis Federation. Anderson brought his Metis Music Van, which was created to promote and revitalize the Red River Metis culture and heritage. The traditional Metis music carried from the speakers had many visitors tapping their feet.