Scarlet clad Mounties atop sleek black steeds will descend on Burnaby in August.
The City of Burnaby and Burnaby RCMP host the RCMP musical ride on Aug. 18 at Swangard Stadium in an event that will also feature displays by the RCMP’s helicopter, explosives disposal, emergency response, police dog and dive team.
It’s the second time the local detachment has helped bring the ride to the city (the first was in 2013), and we talked to Burnaby RCMP Staff Sgt. Maj. John Buis for his take on bringing the ride to town and about sitting on one of those shiny black horses when they were here last time.
What’s involved with hosting a musical ride?
First of all, getting a site, which is probably the most difficult thing we had to do until we went to the City of Burnaby and asked, ‘Are there any suitable sites?’ and they offered Swangard Stadium. … It’s an ideal site.
The grass turf is very hard and compact by that time of year. The last time we hosted it, there was little or no damage.
Why take it on?
Well, the first time, because it was unique and we’d never done it before, so that was the challenge, the second time, to celebrate two things: Canada’s 150th birthday of Confederation and also the city’s 125th anniversary.
Are there any local traditions around hosting this?
We have a young fellow by the name of Casey Wright who will be there as an honoured guest.
He’s an honorary Staff Sgt. Maj. in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It’s a long story about how we got him to be an honorary member of the RCMP.
On the list of criteria that’s required from the musical ride – there’s obviously venue, feeding, stabling, all those kinds of things – but also you have to provide an honoured guest, somebody the city thinks is an important person to welcome the musical ride and open the show.
That’s a unique local tradition. The mayor has graciously invited Casey to be the honoured guest again this time.
Do you know how to ride?
No, I do not.
Do you get to interact with the horses at all?
I do. I did last time. I did actually get on a horse at the Agrodome two days afterwards, when they were performing there.
They called me down from the stands. I was in my full uniform. They called me down and got me up on a horse.
How did you feel about that?
They didn’t tell me that once they got me up there, they were going to bring all the other horses in.
They started going around the arena, and I thought for sure that the horse was going to take off and go after them, but it was a very stable horse and it didn’t go.
What’s your favourite part about organizing this?
I get to meet a lot of very interesting people throughout the community.
A corporation can’t sponsor the musical ride. It has to be a charity or the proceeds have to go to a charity.
While the City of Burnaby is undertaking to host it, there are two charities – Burnaby Neighbourhood House and Honour House in New Westminster and they’re going to receive the proceeds from the event itself. It’s not a moneymaking venture.
How much is usually generated?
The last time, it was around $5,000 or $6,000. That’s all done through the city.
How long does it take to plan this?
The last time we started in February and the event was in August. This time it was about January, so a solid six or seven months once all the approvals come into place.
The Details: Purchase tickets ($10 general admission; free for kids five years and under) in person at the Shadbolt Centre box office (6450 Deer Lake Ave.) or online at burnaby.ca/musicalride.
