RICHARD ALLEN SCOTT - Through the Years

RICHARD ALLEN SCOTT
THROUGH THE YEARS
RCMP Headquarters Ottawa
Originally erected to
accommodate a Roman
Catholic seminary, the
RCMP HQ building was
instead leased and later
sold to the Force. HQ
has since relocated.
I arrived in Ottawa at the
end of November, 1970
and found
Former RCMP HQ, Ottawa,
Main Door – HQ Ottawa
accommodation in the Headquarters barracks.
Had to live in an 8-man dorm as all of the single
rooms were taken. What a shock after having
my very own apartment! And I quickly found out
that the Sergeant-Major was (although I didn’t
know it) to be my father-in law in a few years’
time. I happened to be in my bed one morning,
under the weather with a very bad cold (or
something), when the S/M came into the room
and demanded to know why I wasn’t at work...
and on and on! Made me wish I was back in
B.C.
Couldn’t bring booze into the barracks, and access was strictly controlled, so no
‘companionship’ either. We had to enter through the front door and pass by watchful security
personnel. One good thing about living just down the hall from the cafeteria was that at
10:45PM every night, a commissionaire would come down and unlock the place so all as hungry
animals could raid the kitchen, make toast, get drinks, etc. Saved going out and spending
money. Many evenings were spent having ping pong tournaments or playing Monopoly. Less
than thrilling times.
One of my first duties on arriving was to be immediately
transferred to Embassy Patrol. It was the height of the
FLQ Crisis, and they needed more bodies to protect
embassies and VIPs. That had to be the most boring
job I’ve ever experienced. Driving around the small
village of Rockcliffe within Ottawa, and where most
foreign Ambassadors maintain their extremely
lavish mansions, such as the one pictured here.
Rockcliffe is also home to the Prime Minister, and
just about every rich person in Ottawa.
Residence of Apostolic Nunciature (Pope’s Ambassador)
June 2017
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