Ronald W. Duncan was posted as the first RCMP Constable in 100 Mile House in 1952.
Const. Duncan joined the RCMP in 1947 and his first posting was to Kindersley Sask. He was transferred from Saskatchewan to British Columbia in 1950 when they disbanded the B.C. Provincial Police. Then he had postings in Kamloops, Merritt, Lillooet and Clinton.
While he was waiting for the 100 Mile House detachment construction to be completed, he worked for a short time at the Clinton detachment with the lone Mountie Const. Jules “Cally” Callens, grandfather of the present D/Comm. Craig Callens, Commanding Officer E Division.
After the opening of the 100 Mile Detachment, Duncan returned to Saskatchewan to marry and to bring his new bride, Doreen, back to 100 Mile House.
During the time the Duncan’s were here, they developed a lifelong friendship with Jules and Madge Callens.
After a year of being the only member in 100 Mile House, Const. Duncan spent the next three years as the supervisor of four Constables.
Duncan was then transferred to Natal, B.C. in 1956, and was then promoted to Corporal in 1960 and posted in Hope.
From there, he was promoted to Sergeant in 1965 and sent to Quesnel.
In 1969, he was promoted to Staff/Sgt. and moved to Vernon, where he stayed until his retirement as Staff/Sgt in Charge in 1971.
In 2013, D/Comm. Craig Callens honoured his grandmother, Madge Callens, and Const. Duncan’s wife, Doreen, posthumously, with “The Unpaid Second Man” award in recognition of the role played by the spouses of RCMP officers posted as the lone Mountie in small communities.
Duncan, now 88 years old, still lives in Vernon. His family has carried on the RCMP tradition and he has had the privilege of presenting graduating badges to his two sons: Kyle in 1981 and Kirk in 2001, as well as his grandson Jordan Norstrom in 2011.
