RCMP Sunset Ceremonies

Their Excellencies the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond, along with their daughter, Marie-Éden, were attending the annual Sunset Ceremonies featuring the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride, at the RCMP stables of the Canadian Police College, in Ottawa, on June 29, 2009.

The Governor General is the honorary commanding officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride.

Along with their daughter, Marie-Éden, Their Excellencies toured the grounds in a landau accompanied by Commissioner William J.S. Elliott and his wife.

Since 1988, the Canadian Sunset Ceremonies are an annual event offering the RCMP a way of thanking the community for its support, as well as means of providing the public with an opportunity to see the Musical Ride.

It was also the occasion to celebrate the RCMP Foundation and the 20th Anniversary of International Police Peace Operations.

The Musical Ride was developed from a desire by early members of the North-West Mounted Police to display their riding ability and entertain both themselves and the local community. Considering the original Mounted Police members had a British military background, it was inevitable that the series of figures they performed were traditional cavalry drill movements. These movements formed the basis of the Musical Ride.

Although legend has it that the first Musical Ride was performed as early as 1876, the first officially recorded Musical Ride was performed in Regina under Inspector William George Matthews in1887. Over the years the popularity of the Musical Ride has grown - today it is one of the most popular Canadian symbols around the world.

Today, in keeping with tradition, the Musical Ride is performed by a full troop of 32 riders and horses, plus the member in charge. The Musical Ride consists of the execution of a variety of intricate figures and cavalry drill choreographed to music. Demanding utmost control, timing and coordination, these movements are formed by individual horses and riders, in two's, four's and eight's at the trot and at the canter.

The 2009 Ceremonies’ theme was “Helping Children and Youth Realize their Full Potential”.