The chance to take a ride back into history will be available in the Weyburn area at the end of the month, when the re-enactment of the historic trek by the North West Mounted Police 125 years ago passes through between May 29 and June 3.
The ride left from Emerson, Man., on May 8 and will continue through until it ends at Fort Saskatchewan near Edmonton on July 27, retracing the steps of the predecessor to the RCMP as they entered the West in 1874. This march established the presence of the police force in the frontier, and helped in the forging of a new nation.
The ride will take place in two parts, with the first leg of the journey going from Emerson through southern Saskatchewan and ending at Fort Macleod, Alta., on July 3. The second leg leaves from Fort Carlton on June 28, just north of Saskatoon, and will travel to Fort Saskatchewan.
The historic March West will enter the Weyburn area on Saturday, May 29, when it arrives in the Torquay area; the ride will travel to Tribune on May 30, the Radville district on May 31, Ceylon on June 1 and ride into Pangman on June 2. After staying overnight in Pangman, the ride will go northwest to Parry on June 3 and be in Avonlea by June 4.
The RCMP are continuing to take registrations for the ride, and will do so until the very end of the trek in July, said Sgt. Rick Wychreschuk, the force's spokesman for the Saskatchewan leg. People can register by phoning the special 1-800 number set up for the March West, or by going to the RCMP's web site on the Internet at www.rcmp-grc.ca.
Once a rider has received confirmation of acceptance to take part, they will be advised as to which mustering camp to report to and when. Individual riders or those with a wagon and team may join in the march, and will be required to ride in formation.
When the rider arrives at the mustering camp, they will be sworn in as a member of the 1999 North West Mounted Police, assigned to a troop and ordered to report to the troop sergeant major. Where possible, they will also be issued a uniform, similar to those worn by the original members of the march.
The RCMP have received registrations for this ride from across Canada and from as far away as London, England.
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