David E. Beazley

Divisions Served: “D”

Pillar Location: Pillar IX, Row 21, Column A

Story: 

I just turned 19 when I left the out port of Newfoundland to become a Mountie. After being sworn in at St John’s RCMP Headquarters I was off to Regina. To say my first trip off the island was a cultural shock was an understatement: first plane ride, first elevator and different food, Chinese, Italian (pizza)?? My accent was also an issue. I still remember Scott Hollis from Nova Scotia having to introduce me to the commanding officer as he could not understand me after several attempts. After graduation I was off to Headingly, Manitoba for my first posting in the winter. It was difficult living on the flat land without trees, rocks and water. In the spring, I gladly took a transfer to Grand Rapids, MB. From Grand Rapids, I moved to Winnipeg, then Lac du Bonnet where Janice and I were married. After Lac du Bonnet, we moved to Thompson, MB where our son Greg was born. It was here that I had the pleasure of working with Karen SOMERS (Adams) who was in the first female troop. From Thompson Drug Section, we moved to Fort Frances, ON Drug Section. It was here we were blessed with another son Shane. In 1984 I resigned from the Force and started a new career that lead me into program development, design, and construction of hospitals across Ontario.
It was a very rewarding outcome in that our son Greg followed in my first career path and joined the Ontario Provincial Police. Shane gravitated to my second career and now holds an Executive role with Ellis Don Construction in Calgary. We are also blessed with 4 beautiful grandchildren.