Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
British Columbia Provincial Police Veterans’ Association
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1871-
History
Policing in British Columbia was first the responsibility of the Chief Inspector of Police (1858-1863), followed by the Superintendent of Police (1863-1871). The Colony of Vancouver Island was policed separately by the Commissioner of Police (1858-1866). Upon the amalgamation of the colonies into the province of British Columbia in 1871, the British Columbia Constabulary was created, and it was renamed the British Columbia Provincial Police force (BCPP) in 1895. The British Columbia Provincial Police’s administration is generally dated from 1858-1950. In 1950 the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were given the responsibility of policing BC, and many BCPP members were absorbed into the RCMP.
Some former members of the BC Provincial Police force met at a reunion dinner in 1964, and successive reunion dinners led to the formation of the British Columbia Provincial Police Veterans' Association in 1966. The Association continued to hold regular reunion dinners, in the 1980s published "Off-Patrol,” a newsletter directed at former BC Provincial Police members, and collects photographs and other memorabilia from former BCPP officers. The Association has also been responsible for remembering and celebrating BCPP officers through plaques, memorials, publications, and exhibits.