Regimental #18343 Staff Sergeant (retired) Ronald Edward Fairhurst was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta on July 23rd 1934 to Bob & Ida Fairhurst.  The family residence was in Redcliff, Alberta, a small town 3 ½ miles West of Medicine Hat. Ron attended school in Redcliff up to the ninth grade and then the 10th to 12th grades at Alexander Junior High School in Medicine Hat. Ron graduated in 1952 and shortly after joined the RCMP.  Ron took all his training in Regina as a member of “N” Troop passing out in 1954 (The term passing out was the RCMP terminology for graduation). 

Ron, at an early age, was always keen on joining the RCMP as it was a semi military organization. The family had a long military history.  Grandpa Edward Fairhurst was a member of the British Army in WW1 and Ron’s dad Bob Fairhurst Sr. was a member of the Canadian Army in WW11 where he fought in France, Germany, Belgium and Holland. Two uncles, Ted and Wilf Fairhurst were also members of the Canadian Forces in WW11.  Ron, prior to joining the RCMP, was an army cadet and later a member of the Canadian South Alberta Regiment reserve army. 

Ron’s first assignment with the RCMP was guard duty outside the parliament building in Ottawa.  A few weeks later, he headed west to British Columbia by train.  In those days, travel was done in uniform.  On the train, his serge caught the attention of an elder gentleman who invited Ron to join him at his breakfast table.  As they finished their coffee, the gentleman thanked Ron for his company, conversation, and future service.  He then introduced himself as Mr. John Diefenbaker.

In 1956 Ron’s brother Bob (Reg.#19695 S/Sgt - retired) joined the RCMP and 6 months later brother Jack (Reg.#19981 S/Sgt - retired) also joined the RCMP.  Three brothers in the Force, at that time, was somewhat of a rarity.  Of course, Ron’s parents were very proud of their sons’ becoming members of Canada’s national police force.

Ron’s first detachment posting was at White Rock, BC which was a recreation town on the US border.  The members covered White Rock as well as the rural area until White Rock became incorporated in 1956 as the City of White Rock.  The RCMP became White Rock’s city police force.  Ron, prior to incorporation, at times patrolled Pattullo Bridge over the Fraser River, which had become a very busy main artery between Surrey and New Westminster.  His next posting was Creston, BC where he was placed on Highway Patrol which covered a large area including the Creston/Salmo section of Highway 3 which is the highest pass in BC.  The next move in 1966 was to Williams Lake, BC where he continued his traffic duties.  180 miles away, in Kamloops, Ron`s brother Bob was stationed.  Bob`s duties in the Identification Section of the RCMP involved investigating and gathering evidence at crime scenes and part of his vast area was Williams Lake. One very interesting incident occurred involving the two brothers. Ron, on one of his patrols located a stolen car abandoned on the side of the road in a rural area West of Williams Lake. Not far away was a male wandering on the dusty road.  The car was towed to Williams Lake and locked in the RCMP compound, and the gentleman was brought into the detachment for questioning.  There was no evidence linking this man to the stolen vehicle other than his proximity and of course there was nothing but denials that he was involved in any wrongdoing. Ron called for the Identification Section in Kamloops to attend to see if evidence could be found such as fingerprints.  Brother Bob travelled the 180 miles to Williams Lake to check out the stolen car.  The examination of the vehicle was fruitless as it was far too dirty and dusty to get any fingerprints off any part.  About to give up, Bob spotted a ripped-out penny match on the driver’s side on the floor.  The match had a peculiar rip,so Ron was asked to see if the man in custody had a book of matches in his possession. Ron came back with a big smile on his face. There was a penny match book in the culprit’s possessions and when confronted with the flimsy evidence of the ripped-out match from the book, he immediately admitted that he had stolen the car.  He was outmatched by two RCMP brothers.

While stationed in White Rock Ron met his future wife Doreen, who was a teacher.  They married in 1958 and had 3 children, Debbie (1959), Bob (1961) and Doug (1963).  From 1980 -1983, Bob (Robert Gary) served as a member of the Force.  He was stationed in Pincher Creek, Alberta.

Some of the more pleasurable duties for Ron were ceremonial.  During the visit by the Royals to British Columbia to honour the province’s centennial in 1971, Ron had privilege of serving as chauffeur to Queen Elizabeth II as she spent an afternoon in Williams Lake.  He remembered Her Majesty as both gracious and interested, asking many questions about this small town in the Cariboo.  Years later, in another capacity Ron welcomed Prince (now King) Charles and his wife Diana during their visit to Kamloops.

Ron had postings in Dawson Creek, BC on highway patrol and Prince Rupert where he was the Admin NCO at Subdivision Headquarters.  His final posting was in Kamloops as the detachment Admin NCO where he retired in 1980 and moved to Chase, BC.  Ron and Doreen enjoyed the outdoors hiking, boating, kayaking, and travelling in their RV to various destinations in Canada from coast to coast.

During his career Ron participated in the following professional development courses:

• Preventative Service Training (1959)
• Crime Detection Laboratories Breathalyzer Course (1967)
• Traffic Training Seminar (1971)
• Senior Police Administrative Course, Ottawa, (1973)
• Detachment Commanders Course #3 (1976)
• Emergency Planning Canada - Disaster Readiness Education (Phase 3 - War) (1978)

Ron passed away in Kamloops BC on December 19^th, 2021, after a two-year battle with blood cancer.