A dream almost a lifetime in the making has come true for 88-year-old Jenny Stewart of Port Alberni, who has finally met a Mountie dressed in full red serge.
A staff member at Ty Watson House, a hospice facility where Stewart resides, approached Port Alberni RCMP Const. Scott Macleod after hearing about the long-held wish. Soon after, a red serge-wearing Macleod dropped in and chatted with Stewart over tea and biscuits.
“He was all dressed up,” Stewart said Thursday.
She said her fascination with Mounties in uniform started “way back in time” when she was a girl in Scotland.
“I was probably about nine or 10, and my teacher at school took us all to Glasgow on the train to the British Empire Exhibition. Not too far in was the Canadian exhibit.”
She remembers rows of red apples on display. “And standing at the top was a Mountie in full garb, and I was sunk. I love the Mounties.”
That first sighting also fed her desire to one day move to Canada, something that happened in 1946 when she came here as a war bride and settled in Saskatoon. She and her late husband moved to Port Alberni in 1958.
Stewart said the meeting arranged with the Port Alberni RCMP was a big surprise.
“And such a nice Mountie.”
She said Macleod was curious about her enduring desire to meet a Mountie, so she shared the story with him.
Macleod said he considered it a privilege to be able to pay a visit to Stewart.
“Being part of the RCMP and having the opportunity to fulfill somebody’s dream is great,” he said. “I didn’t have a second thought about doing that for her.
“She is a delightful lady.”
Macleod said it turned out that he and Stewart share a love of dogs, particularly golden retrievers. She bred golden retrievers, while he owns a golden retriever puppy.
Stewart said she thoroughly enjoyed her time with Macleod.
“It was just a nice visit.”
