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Wednesday, November 30, 2022 | Sasktoday.ca | Yorkton This Week
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Retired RCMP officer reflects on 40-year career By Tyson Off Staff Writer YORKTON – Being a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police can be a tough job, but for some, it’s the opportunity to have an impact in a community that makes for a rewarding career. Local retired RCMP, Pat Rawlick—who spent 40 years serving the province of Saskatchewan as a member of the RCMP from 1968 until 2008— said his journey through the ranks was “extremely rewarding”. Rawlick, who is originally from Winnipeg Man., said he was still a child when he decided he wanted to join the force. “I was probably ten years old, and there’s a resort north of Winnipeg called Winnipeg Beach – we would drive into Winnipeg Beach and go for lunch and I remember one day walking with my Dad and Mom on the main street in Winnipeg Beach and there were two RCMP coming towards us—honestly they looked like they were ten feet tall—they wore boots and breeches and they had their Stetsons on and their Sam Browns on, which is the holsters,” said Rawlick in an interview with Yorkton This Week. “When people saw them, they went to the edges of the sidewalk or closer to the building to let these two RCMP go through,” said Rawlick, adding, “since that day—I don’t know what it was—
but I always wanted to be a member of the RCMP.” “It was branded in my mind and in my heart that that’s the occupation that I wanted.” Rawlick’s childhood dream would materialize on Jan. 2, 1968, when he would take the train from Winnipeg to Regina to attend training for the RCMP. “I had been sworn in before Jan. 1 in Winnipeg on Main St. and on Jan. 2 my mother and my Dad and my sister and friends took me to the train.” Rawlick said he started training at the RCMP Depot in Regina, but finished his in Alta. “In my time there was a lot of members applying for the force and depot was really full, so to accommodate more policemen they would transfer every second troop to Penhold, Alta. – we stayed at an old military base and we finished our second part of training there.” After completing training, Rawlick returned to Regina to begin working for the RCMP. In the months and years to follow, the new recruit would find himself stationed in several different Sask. communities. “After I had graduated from Penhold Alta. I was transferred back to Regina Town Station – I got into barracks on the fifth floor and that’s where we lived and worked out of,” said Rawlick, noting he was only in Regina for a few months before being
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Pat Rawlick, pictured here with wife Laverne, worked as an RCMP officer in over ten Sask. communites from 1968 - 2008. transferred to Estevan and then to Kindersley several months later. “In those days it was really easy to transfer members because we were all single – you weren’t allowed to get married for five years— and it was cheap—[the RCMP] had no families to move.” After working in Kindersley, Rawlick was transferred to Saskatoon Highway Patrol where he spent a year on the job before being transferred to Rosetown to work Highway Patrol. In 1973 Rawlick was transferred from Rosetown to Moosomin where he spent another year on the force. “I was probably in Moosomin a year plus – from Moosomin I got transferred to Morse,” a town near Swift Current. Rawlick was only in Morse for three months when he got transferred to Big River, the town where he would meet and marry his wife Laverne. After getting married and another transfer— this time to Lumsden— Rawlick was able to set-
tle in to a community for a time. “I think I was in Lumsden for six years and that’s where my three kids were raised,” said Rawlick. It wasn’t the last time Rawlick would transfer as he was eventually promoted and sent to Punnichy where he worked for three years. Another transfer put Rawlick in Kyle, where he worked as the Detachment Commander for five years. “From Kyle I got promoted to Sargeant at Carrot River and I was there for a number of years and then from Carrot River I got promoted again to Staff Sargeant,” said Rawlick. In 1995, after a marriage, three kids and 13 transfers, Rawlick would find himself in the city he now resides in; Yorkton. “My position here was an Area Supervisor – I supervised all the detachments around here,” said Rawlick of his duties with the Yorkton RCMP. Rawlick retired from the RCMP in 2008 and said the career was “extremely rewarding,” noting he received several awards and accolades during his time spent with the force. “I’ve got my long service medal which is gold, representing 35 years, I’ve got a Queen’s
Rawlick was recognized for his service through the Royal Canadian Legion’s Banner Program. Jubilee Medal, I’ve got a Protective Services Medal and I’ve got a Saskatchewan Medal.” “I’m very proud of those. I think in my time I can honestly say that I felt an obligation to the people of Saskatchewan to ensure—to the best of my abilities—safe roads, safe homes and safe communities. As long as you were fully committed, that was the goal.” Though some would find the myriad of transfers difficult to endure, Rawlick said it was just part of the job. “In those days you did what your boss told you – you took orders, you obeyed orders and you made the best of things,” said Rawlick, adding, “I never knew where Morse was or where Big River was—I’d never been through those places— but when he told me I was going I found out where they were and I went—and you know what—I totally enjoyed all those places.” It was important for Rawlick to immerse himself in the communities he lived and worked in to maintain long-lasting friendships. “The RCMP—in my time – and I certainly believe still now—wants community involvement,” said Rawlick. “Others lived different lifestyles than me
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– I remember being stationed in Rosetown and there was a Sargeant there and he was probably the first gentleman to tell me ‘get involved in the communities —don’t think that you’re special and just hang around with the RCMP members—get to know people in the community.’” “That was extremely important—I was young in my service but he was right—if you’re not involved in your community, it’s a long damn ride to sit in some little detachment with no friends.” Having lived in so many communities over the years, Rawlick said he made many long-lasting friendships by having a presence in the community at anywhere from the local coffee shops to sporting events. “Every place that I’ve lived as a married man I have civilian friends there right now—I could go to Carrot River and I could stay with a number of people—Kyle is the same way.” “When you took your family into a community—if you wanted to really enjoy that community you had to take ownership—Lumsden was my community and we did everything in that community.”
“You make friends because you want to be a part of their community and that’s what Laverne and I did.” Rawlick credits his wife Laverne for the support she showed him throughout his time with the RCMP. “I can tell you one person—that really has kept me focused and supported me in every way—is my wife. There were times you’d come home and you’d had a bad day and you talked to your wife and she would console you. There were times when you were getting transferred and say, ‘God, I’m not sure I want to take the family and move at this time of the year – ‘it’s okay, we’ll work it out,’ she would Continued on Page A11
Yorkton This Week | Sasktoday.ca | Wednesday, November 30, 2022
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just for SENIORS
November 2022
Is 70 the happiest age? According to research, it seems the age most people are happiest is 70. Does that surprise you? Here’s why this period of life is sometimes called the Age of Happiness. Factors in your favour Why, despite losing their youthful energy, do people at this age tend to say they’ve never felt better? The reasons may vary, but the following factors are consistent: • They let go of the pressure to perform or please others at any price • They lose job-related stressors • They have more time to do activities they truly love • They realize that time is finite and make the most of every moment • They have more life experience that gives them a profound sense of wisdom In a nutshell, seventy-somethings have nothing left to prove, have fewer work-related worries and are relieved of childcare responsibilities. They have free time to do whatever makes them happy, like volunteering, gardening, reading, travelling, learning or socializing. Indeed, various factors can detract from this rosy picture, such as health issues, loneliness or financial difficulties. Therefore, don’t wait until your 70th birthday to start taking care of your health and cultivating friendships. Also, talk to a financial advisor for help creating a retirement nest egg.
Benefits of stretching As you age, regular stretching provides numerous health benefits and when combined with other types of exercise, it can add years to your life. Here are five reasons to regularly stretch. 1. IMPROVE FLEXIBILITY As you age, your muscles shorten and lose elasticity. Stretching keeps you flexible and helps you maintain your mobility. 2. AVERT INJURIES Stretching improves your balance and strength, which can reduce your risk of falling. This will likely help you feel more confident when moving around and performing your daily tasks. 3. BOOST BLOOD CIRCULATION Stretching stimulates blood flow and increases the oxygen supply to your muscles. 4. PREVENT DISEASES
Maintaining an active lifestyle and stretching regularly can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and certain cancers. 5. REDUCE SORE-
NESS Stretching can help minimize aches and pains. Ask a health professional for ad vice on which exercises to perform to
target specific areas of your body. To reap these benefits, make it a habit to stretch at least several times a week or as much as every day.
What’s a continuing care retirement community? Are you considering a visit to a seniors’ residence or retirement home in anticipation of a move for yourself or your loved ones? Have you considered a continuing care retirement community? Here’s what you need to know. The concept Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) are characterized by an ability to adapt from independent living and assisted living to memory care and nursing home services. It allows the residents to age in place, with supports varying according to their shifting levels of mobility and autonomy. The accessibility options may be in a single building or in a complex depending on the establishment. The advantages CCRCs provide residents with plenty of flexibility and allow for adaptive support to meet
RCMP Continued from Page A10 say. “We met a lot of good people. I had a young fella working for me that’s now an extremely high-ranking officer in Ottawa. You like to see those careers develop and think that maybe you had just a little bit of influence to get him or her to that position.” Though Rawlick believes it’s harder to be an RCMP Officer with the current state of the world, he still appreciates the time he spent with the force. “I was privileged to have a job like this – I was proud to be a member of the RCMP. In my day we were the police force of choice, we were probably world renowned.” “I think it’s changed;
I think it’s harder now to be an RCMP...I think society has changed dramatically – that respect for police isn’t as great as it used to be.” “The thing that’s very strange is you don’t see many single RCMP nowadays – most of them are married,” said Rawlick, noting you had to be single for five years when new to the job hence recruits were “really committed to the force.” “And in my time we never had ladies in the force...everybody thought that it was going to be the fall of the force [when they came]—but I’ll tell you that was not the case—the ladies are the RCMP and they’re a valuable part of the RCMP and a lot of male mem-
bers could be well-guided by how they conduct themselves.” Rawlick said that after retiring from the RCMP he spent time working for the Good Spirit School Division as a bus driver and enjoyed driving kids to extra-curricular activities. “There came a time when I said, ‘I don’t want to get up at 6:00 a.m. anymore and get into my cold bus and have to ride on icy roads and once my driver’s license expired, I let it go.” Rawlick said he keeps busy with his seven grandchildren, reading books, watching television and visiting with neighbours. “Enjoying life and being appreciative of what I’ve got.”
them wherever they are on life’s journey. It ensures long-term care by enabling occupants to stay in the same facility even as their health and abilities decline. In conventional senior care, the resident must change institutions as they lose their autonomy, further complicating their condition. The consistency provided by CCRCs minimizes this disruption.
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