On the first weekend of summer, the RCMP Musical Ride will return to Surrey for the first time in several years.
The synchronized horse show will be performed at Cloverdale’s Stetson Bowl June 24-25, on a tour of British Columbia.
The dates were announced by Surrey RCMP on Tuesday (May 23), the 150th anniversary of the Mounties in Canada.
The world-famous troop of up to 32 riders will do three shows at Cloverdale Fairgrounds (6050A 176 St.), where the RCMP will also host its annual open house, featuring hands-on activities, demonstrations and more.
Times for the 30-minute show are 1 and 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 25. Tickets start at $10 on the website showpass.com/rcmp-musical-ride-cloverdale. Admission is free for spectators aged 12 and younger, but seats must be reserved ahead of time.
Proceeds will benefit three local charities: Surrey Hospital Foundation, Surrey Food Bank and Cloverdale Community Kitchen.
The Musical Ride performs in up to 50 communities across Canada each year between the months of May and October, according to a post on the RCMP website. The troop travels to each province once every four years “to ensure as many Canadians as possible can experience this spectacle.
“These performances help raise thousands of dollars for local charities and non-profit groups. Where possible, the stables are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at each tour stop.”
Thirteen years ago, the Musical Ride was a hit at Holland Park during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, at the Surrey “Celebration Site” in February of that year.
In a news release, Surrey RCMP Assistant Commissioner Brian Edwards said the detachment is “thrilled” to have the horse team perform in the city because the Musical Ride is “a well-known tradition recognized around the world.
“As we mark the 150th anniversary of the RCMP in Canada today,” Edwards added, “we are grateful to have the opportunity to hold our annual Open House in conjunction with this incredible display and enduring national symbol of our police force.”
Originally known as the North-West Mounted Police, the RCMP was formed in 1873 when the first 150 recruits gathered at Lower Fort Garry, Manitoba to start training.
Next week, on June 3, the RCMP will host a career information session where applicants can start the application process on site, at 14355 57 Ave., Surrey.
The session will be the first of its kind in B.C., according to Sgt. Tammy Lobb, who is new to the Surrey detachment’s media relations office. Details are posted on surrey.rcmp-grc.gc.ca.