Allan Claude Conkin

Divisions Served: “E”

Pillar Location: Coming Soon

Story: 

I was born in Nelson BC on December 30/1949 and raised in Castlegar BC, where my father worked for West Kootenay Power and my mother was an elementary school teacher.  Over the years and prior to joining the RCMP, I had many jobs, including planting trees and cruising trees along logging roads in the valley where I was employed by local sawmill and Pulp mill in the Slocan area.

I then went on to be hired by West Kootenay Power and Light as a Supervisor.  It was then I decided to enroll in a 2 year Aviation Tech Course, In 1971 I graduated with my Commercial Pilot’s License and became a Flying Instructor.  This job took me throughout BC, meeting many people from all walks of life.  In 1976, after 4 years in the air, I decided to seek a more stable career and applied to the RCMP.  I was accepted and was sworn in on October 18th, 1976 at the age of 26 years, and never looked back.

I was one of the lucky ones and found myself being stationed back to Castlegar for my very 1st posting as a GD Cst. in1977.  1982 found me transferring to my 2nd posting in Clearwater BC, where I would serve until 1989.  Off to Kelowna in 1989 and served there until 1996.  I transferred to Quesnel in the summer of 1996 and served there until 2005.  Part way through my time there, I switched over from GD to Traffic and would stay with the Traffic unit the rest of my career.  In 2005 I found my wife and I off to Central Interior Traffic in Kamloops, where I would serve 6 years.  In 2011, Vancouver Island came calling, so after much thought, we picked up once more and transferred to Chemainus, and built a beautiful home in Maple Bay overlooking Quamichan Lake.

By 2016, thoughts of Retirement were looming, and we missed the Interior.  After looking into the Reserve Program back in Kamloops, we returned back once more.  I retired in January of 2017 with 40 years service. In April that same year, I joined the Reserve Program and worked out of the City Detachment until January 2021, when I hung my Serge for the final time, a 44 year career!!

I had a very long, and fulfilling career with the Force, little did I know in 1976, 44 years later, I would be looking back, and forward now to where my Journey will take me.

AL CONKIN (Ret)