No police force does pomp and ceremony better than the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. That was on full display Wednesday afternoon at the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly in Yellowknife for a change of command ceremony.
Officers from across the territory as well as RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme (DOO-hem) were decked out in their red serge dress uniforms as Chief Superintendent Dyson Smith was sworn-in as the new commanding officer for “G” Division, encompassing the entire Northwest Territories.
Politicians, Indigenous leaders, at least one territorial court judge and the Yellowknives Dene drummers who performed, were among those who also took in the ceremony.
Also in attendance was outgoing “G” Division commanding officer Syd Lecky. He left last year to become the chief of police for the city of Timmins Ontario.
Dyson has 24 years of policing experience including several years as RCMP superintendent in the NWT where he oversaw major events including flooding in Hay River and the evacuation of Yellowknife during the wildfires of 2023.
Duheme congratulated Smith and told the dozens of assembled dignitaries and guests that he was confident the best Mountie possible had taken over the head position in the territory.
