Al Vaughan

Divisions Served: “F,” “G,” “B,” “H,” “HQ”

Medals & Honours: CO’s Commendation

Pillar Location: Pillar VII, Row 8, Column D

Story: 

Al Vaughan was born in Trenton, Ontario on January 17, 1936. His aspirations to serve and become an RCMP were realized when he enlisted in August of 1956. He trained at “N” Division and “Depot”. Al graduated with Troop “N” – 1956-1957.

Al met his loving wife Darlene on a blind date at a “Depot” dance. Al’s Officer in Charge, Sergeant Wally Doane, made their initial introduction and instructed Al – “you keep her – she’s the best one you’ve had yet”. Alfred obeyed the order of his superior and married Darlene on July 7, 1962 in Strasbourg, Saskatchewan. Al and Darlene welcomed two beautiful girls to their family Vonda-Gayle in 1963 and Allison in 1968. Both were born at the Grey Nun’s Hospital (now Pasqua) in Regina, Saskatchewan. Al along with his family served an extensive and wide spread career in Canada being stationed in many divisions including:

• “F” Division – Weyburn, SK (1957); Moosomin, SK (1958); Regina Town Station (1959-1968 – GIS); Moose Jaw, SK (1968-1970 – GIS); Fort Qu’Appelle, SK (1970-1971); Regina, SK (1971-1972 GIS); Saskatoon, SK (1972-1973 NCIS)
• “G” Division – Frobisher Bay, NWT (1973-1975 OC)
• “B” Division – St. John’s, NFLD (1975-1979 Assistant CIB Officer)
• RCMP Headquarters – Ottawa, ON (1979-1984 Audit Branch); NDC Kingston, ON (1984-1985)
• “H” Division- Halifax, NS (1985-1988 CIB Officer)

Al received the CO’s Commendation on May 13, 1988 to commemorate investigation code “Atlantic” which recognized his role in investigations involving illegal immigration into Canada at Charlesville, NS on July 12, 1987.

Al retired in August of 1988 and remained with his family in Ottawa until his passing on October 6, 2017.

Annually the Ottawa Division of the RCMP Veterans’ Association makes an inaugural presentation of the ‘Steele Spurs Award’ which invokes the storied past of Sir Samuel Benfield Steele. The award is presented to the member of The Ride who best exemplified the character and traits of Steele in “going the extra mile” as a young leader. The recipient is determined by the Equitation staff and presented with a set of long shank nickel steel spurs to celebrate the occasion. The long shank spurs signify history and celebrate an earlier era. They are coveted by our national police force who values tradition. The award provides a connection between those serving and those who served before them. In 2020 Al Vaughn’s spurs were donated by his family to be the spurs presented for this prestigious award. Al’s wife Darlene and their two daughters were extremely pleased and honored that the spurs once worn by Al Vaughan will continue on and be worn by another member of the RCMP.

Al’s daughter Allison wrote the following tribute to her father.

My dad Alfred Vaughan was a man of great integrity, who left a wonderful legacy with his two children and grandchildren. My dad was a strict man that taught me how to be honest, giving, and the value of hard work. As a child, I followed my dad around while he was always busy repairing, gardening, or generally upgrading our home. Watching him enabled me to be quite the handywoman. My dad was an amazing gardener growing delicious vegetables, various flowers, but most spectacularly roses. Dad was known as the “Rose King”. I share my dad’s deep love for gardening. There are many times I wish I could ask him a question.
In his later years, my dad shared many stories of his childhood, adolescence, and his years in the RCMP. I found it quite funny my serious father, as a young boy was quite mischievous. One time he went around pouring gasoline into puddles and lighting them on fire. He was quickly stopped by a police officer that was driving by. As a teenager, my dad’s compassion showed through when he carried a paralyzed classmate on his back from class to class for an entire year. One of my favorite police stories he shared regarding his time on the force was when he ran a sting that stopped huge amounts of drugs coming into Canada.
My father, Alfred Vaughan was a family man that deeply loved his family. He was a strict father but as a grandfather, he was quite the jokester. He spent large amounts of time teasing and joking around with his beloved grandchildren. He shared his love of gardening with them as well. There are so many things I would like to share about my dad, but it is my joy and honor to have shared a few of my memories of my precious father, Alfred Vaughan.

As well, Al’s daughter Vonda shared the following tribute to her father.

What a privilege it is to write a tribute to my precious father. I often say God richly blessed me when he chose Alfred Vaughan to be my father. I call him dad, and I miss him as much today as I did when he first passed.

Dad was a father who was totally invested in his family. When I say invested, I’m speaking of his heart. No matter what stage of life we were at – whether it be as children, teens, young adult or middle adult he was always there for us and was equally as much for his grandchildren.

A man of great integrity, honesty and love for The Lord could not be hidden. It was the fabric of his DNA. He was the one person who stood by me through the most traumatic season of my life and never once did he let me down. His faithfulness and love gave me the hope I clung to that someday things would get better – and they did. The beauty in all of this is he got to see that everything turned around and the last years of his life I could be there for him.

I carry much pride when I speak of this man that I am privileged to call dad. He was a success at whatever he did whether it be his family, his career and in his retirement, his garden. His influence and legacy will live on through his children and grandchildren. I have no doubt that when dad entered Heaven’s Gate he was told, “Well done good and faithful servant”.

In memory of a career of dedication to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and his family.