NOTE:  Information is being distributed to our membership on behalf of the RCMP Foundation.

Please find attached two documents pertaining to this initiative of the RCMP Foundation.

Introductory email
Informative brochure

The watch is being crafted by Christopher Ward. The company, founded in 2004, was the world’s first online premium watch brand.

If you are interested in this item, please see the brochure for contact information.

Note:  L’information est distribuée à nos membres au nom de la Fondation de la GRC.

Veuillez trouver ci-joint deux documents relatifs à cette initiative de la Fondation de la GRC.

Courriel de présentation
Brochure informative

La montre est fabriquée par Christopher Ward. La société, fondée en 2004, a été la première marque de montres haut de gamme en ligne au monde.

Si cet article vous intéresse, veuillez consulter la brochure pour obtenir les coordonnées.

Dear members,

After more than 2 1/2 years of negotiations to renew the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP), I’m pleased to share that the National Association of Federal Retirees (Federal Retirees), serving as pensioner representative, together with federal union colleagues on the PSHCP Partners Committee, have reached a deal with the Treasury Board Secretariat.

The Federal Retirees team approached these negotiations with resolve and placed your needs and demands first. With improvements ranging from acupuncture to vision care, we are confident this PSHCP deal will benefit all our members.

The plan enhancements and changes will mean dollars saved for all members and will contribute directly to better health and well-being for you, your partners and spouses and your dependents.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your patience and support over the last 2 1/2 years. The PSHCP negotiations have been lengthy and challenging, and the trust you placed in this Association enabled us to approach this process with the tenacity and determination required for a successful outcome.

The renewed plan is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2023, and the deal is subject to approval by the Treasury Board, which is expected over the coming weeks. You can read more about the PSHCP renewal on our website and can expect further updates from Federal Retirees as the changes roll out.

Sincerely,

Anthony Pizzino, CEO
National Association of Federal Retirees

Come to the Friends of Long Island Camp Opening Family Fun Day.  This is your opportunity to see your beautiful camp, become a member, and create amazing memories with your family!

• Family games (Tug-of War, Balloon Toss, Giant Jenga, children’s races, Egg Toss)
• Beach Volley Ball (register your team of 5  before July 5^th at lgpriems@gmail.com)
• Fishing Derby and prizes
• Reptile Rainforest with a chance to touch snakes, frogs and other reptiles
• Static Displays (police and fire vehicles)
• Face painting, photo-booth, music
• BBQ($), canteen
• Raffles and Prizes
• And more!!!!

When:  Saturday July 9^th, 2022   (11am-5pm)

Where: 415 Nicholls Island Road- Manotick Ontario

Time: 11am-5pm

Venez à la journée d’ouverture du camp Friends of Long Island.  C’est l’occasion de découvrir votre magnifique camp, de devenir membre et de créer des souvenirs inoubliables avec votre famille

• familiaux (tir à la corde, lancer de ballons, Jenga géant, courses d’enfants, lancer d’oeufs)
• Beach Volley Ball (inscrivez votre équipe de 5 personnes avant le 5 juillet à lgpriems@gmail.com)
• Derby de pêche et prix
• Reptile Rainforest avec la possibilité de toucher des serpents, des grenouilles et d’autres reptiles
• Expositions statiques (véhicules de police et de pompiers)
• Maquillage, photomaton, musique
• BBQ($), cantine($)
• Tirages et prix
• Et plus encore !!!!

Quand:  Saturday July 9^th, 2022   (11am-5pm)

Où:  415 Nicholls Island Road- Manotick Ontario

Heure:  11am-5pm

“One-hundred and five years, that many times around the sun, oh my goodness,” Fridgen’s grandson Phill Snel said. 

Fridgen’s career with the RCMP took him through three provinces from 1941 to 1974, but it was his badge number that made him a sort of celebrity.

“He’s confirmed to be the oldest living veteran until he passed away, but he also had a very old service number, 13967, beginning with a one,” Snel said. 

His grandson noted Fridgen would draw a crowd of on-duty RCMP officers when he would visit Parliament Hill, being known as a ‘One’.

“Now they start with a six,” Snel said. “So to give you some perspective, over something like, 50,000 police officers have gone through the RCMP since that time. It’s an incredible number.”

“There was an email sent when dad turned 100,” Fridgen’s daughter Lynda Turner remembered. “This RCMP constable wrote, ‘I have the exact same number as you do, but I have a 5 instead of a one.'”

Bill Fridgen passed away on May 11 at the age of 105. Fridgen served as an RCMP officer from 1941 to 1974. (Courtesy/Phill Snel)

His service on Thursday was celebrated by an RCMP honour guard with full flags and decorations. Senator and former RCMP commissioner Bev Busson also read a statement of memoriam for Fridgen in the senate on May 19. 

“(He had) such a rich life, a wonderful man, pillar of the community,” Snel said. “He’s done so much for the community here but also through his life of service with the RCMP and his brief career with the Royal Canadian Navy.”

Fridgen moved to the Iroquois area in the mid-70s and settled on a farm, still mobile and spry up until he passed.

He even bought a new car at the age of 96, surprising the salesman at the dealership.

“They said, ‘How long of a lease would you like sir?’ because he was pretty old, and he said give me a four year lease, that will take me to 100,” Snel smiled. 

“So at 100, he got to go back and buyout his lease and in fact on his 100th birthday he drove me to his own birthday party,” he added. 

“He drove until after he was 100 years old,” his daughter said, but had to give up his licence shortly after. 

“He was aware that he was forgetting, all of the sudden ‘Where am I? Why am I here?” Turner said. “I mean people my age have that feeling sometimes!”

Bill Fridgen driving his grandson to his 100th birthday party in his car. (Courtesy: Phill Snel)

The family says they will continue to share the multiple stories he loved to tell, like the time he and his partner busted some moonshiners in PEI.

“His partner nervously crept up from the grass with his gun and said ‘OK jigs, the boys is up!'” Snel laughed. “He was so excited he mixed it up!”

Snel noted he also had encounters with royalty and world leaders, including U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower in what turned out to be a black op secret assignment.  

“(It was) to guard the president overnight on a fishing trip, plain clothes, unarmed, in a lake in Québec,” Snel said. “Grampa had never been able to find written proof that that had happened, so if anybody has grandparents who remembers seeing the U.S. president and an RCMP float plane from that fishing trip, reach out, that would be great to hear!”

Turner says he will be remembered as a great family man, and community pillar.

“After he had passed away, one of the nurses at St. Lawrence Lodge said, ‘Was he a good parent?’, and I said yes definitely, he was a good parent,” his daughter said. 

“It’s sad, but we’re here to celebrate such a long life,” Snel added. “Blessed with such a great life of good health, wonderful family and really, it’s an amazing celebration of life today.”

A funeral was held in Iroquois, Ont. on Thursday for retired RCMP Sgt. George William Fridgen, who died on May 11 at the age of 105.

From this dialogue a letter was prepared and was sent to the Director General, National Headquarters, the Acting Commanding Officer, National Division, with a copy to the RCMP Veterans’ Association President. The letter was under RCMP Veterans’ Association, Ottawa Division letterhead, signed by myself and contained the following;

“During these times of turmoil and conflict in our greater community of the National Capital Region, the RCMP Veterans’ Association, Ottawa Division, at the Division Executive Meeting held on February 16, 2022, openly discussed the policing challenges that are presently being faced.

The Associations purpose clearly articulates the following;

“The RCMP Veterans’ Association is a dedicated family of former employees of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The members of the Association possess shared life experiences and unique skills and abilities that are reflected in all we do for the greater good of our membership and all of the RCMP family. We are proud of our career contributions in the preservation of peace and security of Canada and our role in the rich history and traditions of the Force. Together we are stronger and we welcome you to become a member of the venerated family of Veterans.”

In line with this overarching Association purpose, Ottawa Division further defines itself by;

“The Ottawa Division of the RCMP Veterans’ Association is comprised of retired regular members (police officers), civilian members and public servants who live mainly in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. Consistent with the objectives of the Association, your Ottawa Division is committed to acting in accordance with its “three C’s”, those being;

CARE: We take care of one another.

CONNECT: We reach out to the RCMP and the broader police community.

COMMUNITY:  We commit to make our community a better place.

With this purpose in mind, on this day of February 16, 2022, the RCMP Veterans’ Association, Ottawa Division, at its’ Division Executive Meeting moved and subsequently passed the following;

MOTION: That Ottawa Division Veterans are prepared to support in a non-operational capacity the required actions of the RCMP and other police services in the Ottawa area.

Moved; Seconded; and CARRIED

Please do not hesitate to contact us if any coordination is required for volunteers or other related assistance.  A copy of this correspondence is also being sent to our National President.”

In conclusion, as your representatives and that of the broader RCMP Veterans’ Association Community, we continue to advocate for adherence to our core principles of the “three C’s” and of our Core Values of Diversity, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Teamwork, Service and Leadership, knowing that we will always act in an unbiased manner while adhering to the rule of law.

Respectfully yours,

W.A. (Wayne) Jacquard, President

RCMP Veterans’ Association,

Ottawa Division

The RCMP does have a “survivor benefit” program that allows the pensioner to divert up to 50% of his/her pension that can be made available in monthly payments to the surviving spouse. Please give this so called “benefit” serious thought.  If a pensioner who is receiving $2000 per month wishes to contribute 50% of that amount, that means the couple will see only $1000 per month during their marriage.  That’s not a lot to live on, and there are many of our fellow pensioners who do not receive $2000 per month.  
Today, it is not uncommon for folks to live to the age of 85 years.  If married at the age of 60, this means the diverted monies would continue for those 25 years.  50% of $2000 per month means $1000 per month has been diverted.  That amounts to $300,000 and if the spouse predeceases the pensioner, not one cent of the $300,000 is returned to the pensioner. 
Recently, a Private Members Bill was tabled in the House of Commons, recommending the “Marriage Over Sixty” rule be eliminated.  In order for a Private Members Bill to reach the “vote” stage, it must have at least two Federal parties support it.So far, only the NDP is in favour.  The Liberal Party just advised they do not see the “Over Sixty” legislation as being unfair.  The Conservative Party has not responded, nor has the Bloc.
One method of encouraging Federal Parties to support a Private Members Bill is to present a petition with a substantial number of signatures from Canadians.  One such petition was been established by a former CAF member I have been working with and the details are noted below.  If anyone wishes to sign this petition, there is an “open for signature” indication within the first line of the House of Commons notice.  This will bring anyone interested directly to the details of the petition and after the details, there is the opportunity to sign.
I ask you to consider circulating this petition throughout your respective membership. I suspect many will agree to sign, and the more, the better.  Some may also wish to send messages to their respective Members of Parliament and Senators. In fact, I have personally written to every Senator and Member of Parliament, asking their support in eliminating the over sixty stipulation.
There are many seniors within our Association who will appreciate your support.
Sincerely
Sandy

A.P. (Sandy) Glenn,  National PresidentRCMP Veterans AssociationMembers Helping Members and Their Families

(le français suit)

House of Commons Petitions

This is to inform you that petition e-3825 initiated by Kevin Sewell, which you have supported, has been published and is open for signature. Please note that you have already been counted as a signatory to the petition and no further action is required.

Please do not reply to this email. If you have questions about the e-petition process or encounter technical problems, please visit the petitions website or contact the Clerk of Petitions at PMB-AED@parl.gc.ca.

Pétitions de la Chambre des communes

Le présent message vise à vous informer que la pétition e-3825 créée par Kevin Sewell, que vous avez appuyée, a été publiée et est ouverte aux signatures. Veuillez noter que votre nom a été ajouté à la liste des signataires de la pétition; vous n’avez aucune autre mesure à prendre.

Nous vous prions de ne pas répondre au présent courriel. Si vous avez des questions sur le processus des pétitions électroniques ou si vous éprouvez des problèmes techniques, veuillez consulter le site Web des pétitions ou communiquer avec le greffier des pétitions à PMB-AED@parl.gc.ca.