Harvey Stark

Divisions Served: “K,” “A,” “HQ,” Germany, Sweden, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Africa, India

Medals & Honours: President Kekkonen Medal from Finland, Medal by Peruvian Drug Police

Pillar Location: Pillar V, Row 5, Column A

Story: 

I graduated from Chilliwack high school in 1958 and joined the RCMP in February, 1959.  On completion of training in December I was transferred to Edmonton, Alberta to transport wanted and convicted criminals around the country.   In 1961, I was transferred to Rocky Mountain for a few months, and then to Innisfail, Alberta, when I married my wife Kay, whom I had met in Edmonton.  In 1965, we were transferred to Ottawa and into the intelligence directorate, where I was active in A division and HQ division while taking several night courses at Carleton University.

In 1970 we, along with our three children, were transferred abroad where, as a Canadian diplomat, I was responsible for liaising with the national authorities on security and criminal matters.   We served in Stuttgart, Germany, Vienna, Austria and Stockholm, Sweden and I was also responsible for the other 3 Scandinavian countries.  Working with all these wonderful colleagues was a rewarding exciting experience with many mutual successes.   I received the President Kekkonen medal from Finland in recognition.

We transferred back to HQ division in Ottawa in 1977 where I completed French studies to become officially bilingual, and then Spanish in Guatemala before we were transferred to Santiago, Chile in 1979 with responsibilities for Peru and Bolivia as well.  There, the duties were focused on countering international terrorists and drug trafficking.  Working in coordination with headquarters in Canada, a fellow member and the local police, 40-plus Canadian traffickers were arrested in a 2-year period, along with the Peruvian suppliers.   I was subsequently awarded a medal by the Peruvian Drug Police.  In 1981, we returned to Germany, and again I was responsible for liaising on criminal and securities matters from the Embassy in Bonn.  While there, I was assigned to temporary duties in the Ivory Coast in Africa and New Delhi, India.  In 1986 we returned to Ottawa and I retired in July of 1987, and we moved to Vancouver, B.C., and then to Kelowna, B.C., in 2000.

Thanks to my postings in S. America, knowledge of Spanish and the many Canadian mining executives I met there, I joined and become a part of the mining industry ever since.  I have been a founder, director or executive of mining companies with projects in S. America, Latin America, Africa, N. America and Scandinavia.  Owing to these activities my wife and I have met and become part of many other sectors with many wonderful people. 

My wife played a big supportive roll for the family that comes with living in many countries and cities. Not to mention being the wife of a diplomat with all the related social and cultural requirements and responsibilities.  Our three children all became successes and multilingual, with much appreciation for the chance to see so much of the world and have friends globally.  We all look back at our time in the RCMP with thanks and appreciation for the wonderful experiences, the opportunities and the work with our amazing fellow members.