Ward Coates was born on December 29th, 1940, and grew up on the family farm in Salisbury, NB, caring for sheep and horses, developing gardening skills, learning to play a guitar and doing a bit of song writing. When he was 16, Ward went to Happy Valley Goose Bay in Labrador to work as a labourer. He moved back home a year later and worked at Modern Construction before heading off to Ontario to take a welding course.

Ward had relatives in Toronto, so he stayed with his Uncle Harlen. His Aunt Beaulah had a brother living in Toronto and it was at his house that Ward met another young man, (Tom), just four years older and born in St. John, NB, 100 clicks down the Hwy from the Coates family farm. Like Ward, Tom was also a guitar-pickin storyteller and song writer. The mutual love of music for these two Maritimers, naturally drew them together, and they fast became friends, jam sessions, pickin', singing and song writing. Ward eventually returned home with his new-found welding skills & and Tom struck off on his own, travelling the country, writing, and singing his songs for whomever would listen.

At the ripe old age of 23, on January 17th, 1963, Ward travelled over to “J" Division RCMP HQ in Fredericton, N.B and was sworn in as a 3rd/Class Constable, Reg. # 22928. With guitar in hand, he headed west to Regina, SK for nine months of basic recruit training at Depot Division. Ward’s laid-back manner was not always a perfect fit for Depot’s regimentation, but he did adapt, picking and singing every chance he got. Near the end of training, he & a troop mate took a weekend trip west to see the Rocky Mountains. Upon graduating from Depot, Ward was transferred back east to Newfoundland Division and posted to Deer Lake Detachment. During this posting he frequently had the opportunity to provide temporary relief and support duties at Stephenville and Labrador City, sometimes for months at a time. Whilst in Deer Lake, he also met a lovely young lady, Miss Lillian Legge and they fell in love.

In the Fall of 1967, Canada’s birthday, Ward was transferred to "N" Division, Rockcliffe, Ontario as a member of the 1968-69 Musical Ride. He was determined to bring Lillian with him but, had to find a place for her to live as he would be living in barracks across from the stables. On his arrival that fall, his old guitar pickin' friend, Tom, just happened to be playing in the Ottawa valley. Ward took one of the Ride Members with him to a Legion Hall, up the valley, just west of Ottawa on Hwy17. On arrival, Tom was no where to be seen but Ward and his Ride mate were escorted to a reserved table in Tom’s name. Shortly after being seated, the M/C came on stage and introduced the featured entertainer, who had an added moniker to his name: Stompin Tom Connors! Following a very entertaining performance, Tom joined the table and the two Maritimers shared some old Toronto memories. Tom had just released his first album that year, The Northlands. During his two years on the Ride, Ward took a number of Ride Members to see Stompin Tom perform.

Ward found accommodation for Lillian, and she relocated to Ottawa. Ward engrossed himself in the horses and training for the 1968 Musical Ride tour of the United States and Bermuda. But he always found time to pick up his pen and guitar. The Musical Ride set out in July 1968, horses travelling by train, accompanied by a few Riders, whilst the rest of the Ride Members travelled by bus. The first big show was in Omaha, Nebraska, then Colorado Springs, Des Moines, St. Paul, Minnesota, London, ON, back south to Memphis, at Hemis-Fair '68 in San Antonio, Dallas, Kansas City, Washington D.C. and finally, Hamilton, Bermuda, when for the first time, the Musical Ride, travelled by air: Three historic flights, twelve horses-six members per flight. Upon arrival in Bermuda, the Riders & Horses travelled ten miles, (two-and-a-half hours), to their stables and the remaining Ride members travelled via commercial airline.

Ward was a proud member of the Force, a laid back, salt of the earth, true country boy. He was a practical, common sense, measure twice-cut once kinda guy. He had a great sense of humour, was a unique storyteller and a great entertainer. He was an inquisitive man with a mosaic of talents and interests he vigorously pursued: When the Ride performed in London, ON, for example, he just had to go out to the Lucan Line to check out the stories and survey the geography of the areas where the infamous Black Donnelley’s lived. In Kansas City he had to visit a cemetery to see the grave of an infamous wild-west outlaw. In Dallas, Texas he made it priority to meet Mama Maybelle of the Carter Family. Some how, he managed to get himself and a Ride mate, backstage during the half time break, where they met Mama Maybelle, the Carter Sisters, & Johnny Cash.

Always expanding his musical talents, Ward purchased a fiddle, a banjo and a 12 string guitar during a short stop in Nashville. He planned to take the latter two with him on the upcoming tour of Great Britain in 1969. He wrote a song during the '68 tour that became a favourite of the Ride Members, in fact, one could safely say; “it become the 1968/69 Ride Song". The first four lines went something like this:
                    I’ve been totin this satchel for many long days,
                    I’ve seen towns and cities and big old highways,
                    But nothing I’ve seen can hold a light,
                   To the girl who I dreamed of last night.

The Ride returned home to Ottawa in November and a few weeks later, December 14th, 1968, in Toronto, Ontario, Ward married that “girl he dreamed of” and Miss Lillian Legge became Mrs. Lillian Coates. Their wedding reception/dinner was a small gathering of friends and family, in a 1950’s style bungalow where Lillian’s parents were then living, having relocated from NFLD. Their L shaped living/dining room accommodated a long L shaped dinner table(s). When it came time to toast the bride, the M/C who was supposed to “make the toast”, rose and apologized to the guests, for not being able to find the right words to properly toast the beautiful bride, BUT he knew someone who could do so. And right on cue, a guitar strum came from the kitchen and out walked Stompin Tom, singing the bride’s favourite song, much to the delight and surprise of all, especially the newly married couple! After dinner, of course, “the boys” had a jam session in the basement. Following their honeymoon in Niagara Falls, Ward and Lillian settled into their first family home, in Ottawa.

1969 was a life changing year for the newly weds. Ward & Lillian welcomed their first child, Novalee. Ward departed with the Musical Ride to the United Kingdom, via KLM Airlines, two flights, one week apart. The horses travelled first class and the riders flew second class. The tour included Agricultural Fairs at: Newark & Nottinghamshire, Devon County, Shropshire & West Midlands, Surrey County at Guildford, Bath & West, Cheshire, Leicestershire, Malvern Chelmsford, Essex, Royal Norfolk, Royal Agriculture Society of England and of course, the Royal Windsor Horse Show, where Burmese had already been gifted to The Queen, Elizabeth II. Burmese partook in her final performance with the Ride, ridden by Corporal John Hossfeld. He carried the Royal Standard on his lance, thus enabling Her Majesty to easily follow Burmese throughout the various manoeuvres. The Ride wrapped up the tour, performing in four Military Tattoos: The Royal Tournament in London’s Earl’s Court, Colchester Tattoo, Searchlight Tattoo at Cardiff, Wales, and their final performance at the world-famous Edinburgh Tattoo in Scotland.

On returning home, Ward was transferred to the Forensic Identification Branch in Ottawa, to commence his training. The perfect career path for such an inquisitive guy! In 1970, the family of three was posted to L Division, (PEI). During their five years on the Island, the family doubled in size, with the arrivals of James Wesley, Lorrieann and Shelley. In 1976. the family of six was on the move, right across the country, to Quesnell, B.C., “E” Division. In 1978, they transferred back east again, to "B" Division (NFLD & Labrador - NL).

On November 26, 1981, Sergeant Ward Coates died suddenly at Grand Falls Windsor, following a workout in pursuit of his latest passion, to secure his blackbelt in karate. He was just 41 years of age and left behind his beautiful bride and four young children.

Ward was a proud, multi talented, member of the Force, a dedicated family man and much respected by his colleagues. He loved meeting new people wherever he was, so it came as no surprise to family & friends when we had a face to face with a young Terry Fox in 1980, in the early days of his cross-Canada run to raise awareness for cancer research. Ward also loved his get-togethers with the folks at senior’s homes, sharing stories and entertaining, with his expansive repertoire of songs.

Sergeant Ward Coates: A good man! A PILLAR OF THE FORCE!

Sadly, on January 12th, 2010, Ward & Lillian's only son, James Wesley Coates, also died suddenly, during an earthquake in Haiti, where he was serving with the United Nations. Just 37 years of age.