Leonard Simon Jerritt

Divisions Served: “E,” “G,” “K,” “M,” “F,” “Depot”

Medals & Honours: Long Service Medal, Queen’s Volunteer Medal, St. John Ambulance

Pillar Location: Pillar V, Row 4, Column B

Story: 

I was born the third of 15 children to Edward and Veronica Jerrett in Cape Breton in June 1940. I was blessed with 9 sisters and 5 brothers. Sydney Mines was my birthplace and was a coal mining town which now suffered severe unemployment as all the mines had closed down. At an early age I knew I would leave and after graduating from Xavier Junior College at 18 years of age I flipped a coin. Heads I would apply for the Air Force and tails I would apply for the RCMP. Tails won so I applied at North Sydney RCMP Detachment and was successful in the recruiting process. I then told my family of my decision. On a very cold night in February I BOARDED THE TRAIN IN Sydney Mines and several days later I arrived in Regina and became one of 32 members of “k” Troop.

Ten months later 4 of our troop were posted to B.C. and Neil Bruce and I went to Kamloops, arriving noon on Xmas Eve 1959. The next six years found me going from Kamloops to 100 Mile House and then to Kelowna. I fell in love with BC and knew it would eventually become my permanent home.

In May 1962 I left in my Volkswagen bug on vacation intending to drive to Mexico.  I made a stop in Castroville, California and there I met a beautiful Mexican American lady named Virginia (Ginny) Ramirez. I never made it any farther south as Virginia insisted that I stay and she became my tour guide to all the beauty of the Monterey Peninsula. In May 1963 I flew to San Francisco where Virginia met me and took me back to Castroville where we married.  Shortly thereafter, with a Tilden rental trailer in tow and Virginia’s 1959 Plymouth we left for her new home in Kelowna, BC. We were blessed with two children in Kelowna, Leonard, who would forever be called Boomer and Maria who forever would answer to Mia.

 I had always been intrigued with Canada’s north and in 1965 the RCMP announced they would now entertain volunteers for Northern service who were married. After discussing the prospects, Virginia said OK with me, “what do I know about the north”? Our application was accepted.

We now had two infants aged 16 and 1 month old.  I had to leave before Virginia as I was to do an undercover operation in both Whitehorse and Calumet, a silver mining town. I hired on to work underground in Calumet and when I finished 30 days later, I transferred back to Whitehorse in uniform. It was decided I should transfer from Whitehorse and on the day Virginia unpacked our last box, I told her we were off to Aklavik. The next seven years found us serving in Aklavik, Fort Liard and Fort Simpson, NWT. In Fort Simpson we welcomed another girl to our family, Jodi, who was born in Fort Smith, NWT.

In June 1973 we transferred to Surrey BC for two years where I was NCO i/c Morality and then i/c Robbery & Homicide squad. Two more transfers followed in the next four years where I was detachment commander of Chetwynd, where our third daughter, Kathy, was born and then Quesnel detachments.

 For some reason, my boss in Prince George felt I was officer material and after discussing the ramifications of same with Virginia we decided to go for it. I was successful in all aspects of the screening process and in September 1979 I became Asst. Officer Commanding Calgary Sub.Division followed by 3 years as Officer in Charge of Staffing & Personnel in Calgary. After 5 years in Calgary we were off to Whitehorse again, this time as Officer in charge of Criminal Operations in “M” Division. Our last move in 1989 was back to the birthplace of the Mounties, Regina, Sask. as OIC Admin & Personnel, “F” Division. On retirement we decided to make our last move to the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island as 3 of our children had made it their place of residence.

I write this summary not to document anything special I had accomplished in my career but to pay homage to my wife Virginia. Being born and raised in California she knew nothing about the RCMP and very little about Canada. After we married, she never hesitated to say “yes” to any career moves or transfers. Whenever any family emergencies arose, she was the one who stepped up. Her own experiences as wife and mother of a much-travelled family would make far more interesting reading than mine. Through many harrowing flying experiences in Canada’s north and her time as my second member at one of “G” Divisions last one man detachments, Fort Liard, shed was my PILLAR OF STRENGTH. I write this in dedication to you Virginia and a big THANK YOU for all your support and always being there when I needed you. The fire still burns as brightly as it did that day I met you on your doorstep 57 years ago in Castroville, Calif., USA.