Barry Bruce Weafer

Pillar Location: Pillar VII, Row 34, Column F

Story: 

In 1955, at 19 years of age, Barry joined the RCMP in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was a gifted musician, and his first posting was with the RCMP band in Ottawa. Barry played the French horn in the band and the piano in the dance band. Barry enjoyed 4 years of service with the band.

In 1959 Barry was transferred to F division in Indian Head, Saskatchewan. It was his first posting in the “field”. From there he was transferred to Regina Highway Patrol.  Moving to Meadow Lake in northern Saskatchewan was his next posting.

In 1963 Barry and his wife Linda were married and were posted to Hafford, a 2 man detachment.  Then, in 1966, Barry was transferred as Officer in charge of Biggar. During his time in Biggar, the detachment was plagued with many thefts of grain in the area. Barry developed a product called “grainfetti”. The owner of the Biggar Independent Newspaper at the time printed and cut small pieces of paper with a unique number on each. Farmers could purchase the “grainfetti” with a registered number on it from the Biggar Independent. They would then mix it with their bins of grain. If sold to the elevator, the grainfetti would determine if the seller was the actual owner of the grain.

Craik was the family’s next posting, which was a three man detachment. Being on a busy highway, the detachment was busy with many traffic accidents. Winters saw the detachment develop a plan to bring motorists stranded in severe storms into town and house them throughout the storm with members of the community. If any buses were stranded, they were brought to the detachment. Passengers stayed on the running bus and used the RCMP facilities and the family living quarters as well.

Barry was transferred to Swift Current, and his first shift as a shift supervisor was midnight Jan. 1, the night the RCMP took over the policing of Swift Current City.

From Swift Current the family transferred to North Battleford. Barry was promoted to Sgt. and worked on the North Battleford City detachment. Next stop was Barry’s second posting to Meadow Lake. After a year in Meadow Lake, a transfer to Moosomin was on the agenda. Three years later, he was transferred in charge of Broadview detachment and became a Staff Sgt.

In 1975 Barry retired from the force. The family moved to Regina. Barry spent 18 years as Chief Traffic Officer for the province of Saskatchewan.  In 1996 he took a leave from his job and did consulting for an engineering company in Vancouver, working in Vietnam, Mexico and northern Canada.  In 1997 Barry and his wife Linda moved to White Rock, BC.  Barry was involved with the RCMP Veterans Association in Regina and Vancouver for many years.

Barry passed away in White Rock Peace Arch Hospital on his 82 birthday Dec. 2, 2018. . Barry rests in the RCMP Columbarium in the RCMP Cemetery at RCMP Depot. Barry is survived by his wife, three sons and their families.

His wonderful sense of humour and his musical talents were remembered by all who knew him.