Eric Roland Thomas Howard

Divisions Served: “K,” “G,” “V,”

Pillar Location: Pillar VII, Row 34, Column C

Story: 

Staff Sergeant (Retired)

My story is typical of many members of my era.  An RCMP corporal, Al JAY (now a retired S/Sgt.) and his family lived next door to my family in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.  He was my inspiration for wanting to join the RCMP.  I was too young to join right out of high school, so I went to St. Francis Xavier University, graduating with a B.Sc (Biology) in May 1976.  I became part of Troop 8, 1976/77 on September 07, 1976.

The 26 week course was tough, physically and mentally, but I got through okay and made many lifelong friendships.   I graduated March 24, 1977 and was posted to Innisfail, Alberta.  It was a great training ground for a young policeman, especially one from the Maritimes.  I had so much to learn about the Police work, but also about cattle, grain, quarter sections, grid roads to name a few. 

I had many postings throughout my 27.5 years career.  After Innisfail, Fort Vermilion was my introduction to Aboriginal Policing.  Next was Vermilion, where I worked mostly on Highway Patrol and learned about the oil patch. 

In January, 1982, with a 6 week old baby, my wife Debbie and I transferred to Fort Smith, NWT.  I had to learn all about the Territorial statutes and how to get along in a Northern Aboriginal community.  Our next stop was Eskimo Point (now Arviat, Nunavut.)  It is an Inuit fly-in community on the west coast of Hudson’s Bay.  We enjoyed learning lots about Inuit customs.  Debbie really was ‘the second man’ during our time there.  It was a ‘dry’ community so crime was very low.  We got to drive in a Bombadier and went ice fishing in the winter.  In the summer of 1983, we moved to Rankin Inlet, a larger Inuit community.  The four-member detachment policed the fly-in communities of Whale Cove, Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour and Repulse Bay.  There, I really learned how to get things done by myself, as we were usually alone when travelling to the communities.  We enjoyed wonderful char fishing near Rankin.

Our transfer South in 1985 brought us to Slave Lake, Alberta, a mostly Aboriginal town with the oil patch, forestry and fishing as the main industries.  It was very busy and, in 1987, I made a decision to leave the RCMP.  I got a job as a Security Manager for Alberta Government Telephones in Calgary.  We moved to Airdrie, just North of Calgary. 

In January, 1989, I rejoined the RCMP and was posted to Airdrie.  Two years later, I went to Calgary General Investigation Section.  A year after that, I was promoted to Corporal in Commercial Crime.  A few years later I was promoted to Sergeant.  As well, during this time, I was on the Calgary Emergency Response Team for nine years.  I was the Team Leader for my last two years.  In 2001, I took my last transfer and became the Member Employee Assistance Coordinator for K, G and V Divisions, based in the K Division Headquarters building in Edmonton.  In 2003, I was promoted to Staff Sergeant.  MEAP provided peer support to RCMP employees, especially after member deaths.  We were heavily involved with the families of the four members killed near Mayerthorpe, Alberta on March 03, 2005.

I retired from the RCMP in October, 2005.  In retirement, I did corporate Security work for Sobeys, a large grocery company and for Encana, an energy company.

Along this incredible journey, I was accompanied by my beautiful wife, Debbie KINSELLA.  We worked together very well during our many transfers.  She truly was ‘the second man’ when we were in the two, three and four member detachments.  We raised our two sons, Brent and Graham and now they have families of their own.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the RCMP.  By and large, the members I worked with were selfless, always wanting the best for the public we served and for their chosen profession.

Thank You.  Eric HOWARD