Wayne Harold Shunamon

Divisions Served: “O,” “B,” “J”

Pillar Location: Pillar IX, Row 33, Column F

Story: 

My name is Wayne Harold Shunamon, born August 25^th, 1948, and grew up in the small community of Aylesford in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia.  The RCMP detachment that included our area was in Kentville, 25 miles away, and it was considered a big event when a policeman came to our community.

It was in grade eleven when I started to think about joining the RCMP, after a member came to our school and gave a talk.  You could apply at age 18, which I did, but was not sworn in until age 19.  On August 29^th, 1967, four days after my 19^th birthday, I was sworn in as a member of the RCMP and on my way to Depot Division in Regina to commence training, where I was the youngest member in my troop. 

We did 3 months of training at Depot in Regina, and then went to Penhold Alberta for the remaining months.  After training, in March 1968, I was transferred to Ottawa where I spent fifteen months working Parliament Hill and The Governor General residence before being transferred in 1969 to Saint John Detachment in New Brunswick, where I spent six years performing both detachment and highway patrol duties.  In 1975 I was transferred to Florenceville detachment and was in charge of the three-man highway patrol unit then to detachment duties. 

In 1979 I was promoted to Cpl. and transferred to Grand Harbour detachment on Grand Manan Island, which is 25 miles off the coast of New Brunswick in the Bay of Fundy.  Grand Harbour detachment was a two-man unit and often only one member was on the island to handle calls.  The ferry stopped sailing at 3:30 in the afternoon, and if there was an emergency requiring leaving the island, we asked one of the fisherman to take us across on his boat.  The only radio contact with the mainland was from the detachment office.  I lived in the married quarters attached to the office, so my wife would take calls from the public and H.Q. on our phone, then call me in the car on a portable radio. 

In 1981 I was transferred Fredericton to attend French language training at the University of New Brunswick.  After successfully completing language training in 1982, I was transferred to Bathurst detachment where I spent five years.  In 1987 I was promoted to Sgt and transferred i/c Caraquet detachment.  I probably hold one of the shortest times as detachment commander, as six weeks later I was brought back to Bathurst Sub/Division with no position and waited for posting.  Although I had the required language level for the position of detachment commander, in Caraquet the political will was to have a French member in charge, and this was arranged.

Within a few weeks I was transferred i/c Perth-Andover detachment, where I spent nine years before going to pension September 18^th, 1996 due to a family need.  I am proud to have been a member of the RCMP and have many fond memories of my time spent in the Force.