DUTCHAK, M.A. (Maurice A. / Moe)

Regimental Number: #24602

Troop Number and Year: TR. Q 1965/66

Location: 1969 Ride

I was born on December 16th, 1944 at Sioux Lookout, Ontario. My parents were Alex and Vera Dutchak. I have one sister, Evelyn Tallon nee Dutchak. My father worked in the local saw mills and was later employed at the 915 AC&W Squadron Radar Base until his retirement. We lived in Hudson, ON which is 16 miles from Sioux Lookout. I did a lot of fishing and hunting growing up, played all the usual sports, skating, and hockey on our outdoor rink, curling, baseball, football, swimming, badminton; none of these sports were organized, we just got together and played.  We rode our bikes everywhere and explored the bush country around us. I spent my summers at my Grandparents' farm in Manitoba, where we rode horses, helped with haying and did a lot of swimming at Manipogo Park, Lake Manitoba.

After High School I was employed at the local sawmill for four years and then applied to the RCMP in 1965 and was sent to “Depot” Division in 1966. I was fortunate enough to ride horses in training as they were taken off the training curriculum shortly after. I participated in the Scuba Diving Course in training and was part of the Dive teams in the F and E Division.

After training I was posted to K Division and was stationed at Lethbridge and Taber,  Alberta. I then applied for the Equitation Course at N Division Ottawa and was accepted into the 1968/69 Musical Ride. My tours with the ride included the US, Bermuda and Great Britain.
(England, Scotland, Wales).

I met my wife, Carole Anne Roy in 1969 and got married on Valentine's Day in 1970 in Ottawa, with an Honor Guard of members of the 68/69 Musical Ride. I was then posted at Red Deer, AB, City Detachment, K Division. During this posting I was mainly on General Duties, with a short stint on the Plain Cloths Unit. I then applied for the Forensic Identification Course and was posted to the Single Fingerprint Section in HQ in Ottawa. During this time, I was moved to the Photographic Section of the Crime Lab in Ottawa, Police Plan Drawing and Surveying Course at Carleton University, and finally the Forensic Identification Course.

My next posting was to the Forensic Identification Section in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. During my time at North Battleford, I taught Scuba Diving and Swimming at the city pool. I was a registered instructor with the National Lifeguard Service, successfully completing my instruction at SAIT in Calgary, Alberta.

My son Brent was born in Ottawa in 1973, and my daughter Kellie was born in North Battleford, SK in 1974. My Grandson Hunter Dutchak Johnston was born May 27, 2012, in Vancouver, B.C.

My next posting was to the Forensic Identification Section in Regina, Saskatchewan. Our Office was on the fifth floor of the Post Office building. Inspector Cliff Morin was the OIC in Regina at this time and was also OIC OF the Musical Ride while I was on it, thus we shared a
lot of memories of our time together.

After Regina I was then posted to the Forensic Identification Section in Swift Current, SK. Next came a posting to the Forensic Identification Section in Chilliwack, B.C. where I remained until my retirement in May of 1992.

After retirement I went framing houses, did kitchen and bathroom renos, landscaping and was basically a jack of all trades. My best memories of retirement were the vacations with my family, plus my boat, fishing, exploring the coast and snowmobiling out of Osprey Lake. I also bought a Motorcycle and did a lot of travelling throughout the US and Canada, putting on hundreds of thousands of miles with my wife on the back and accompanied by other retired members.

I am now 80 years of age, still mobile and have my wits about me. What can I say ... Life is Good!

Submitted by M. Dutchak

5 June 2025

 

Divisions Served: E, K, F, N, HQ Ottawa

Medals and Honours: Long Service Medal

Regimental Number: #24602

Training Division: Depot

Troop Number and Year: TR. Q 1965/66

Home Town: Hudson, ON

Engagement Date: Feb 01, 1966