Within RCMP circles, it‘s known as a “depot romance.” Two young recruits meet while attending the RCMP training academy in Regina. Their relationship quickly blossoms, only to come to an abrupt end as the lovers are posted to different detachments, often thousands of kilometres apart. Brian and France Burke are a notable exception. Somehow, by luck or fate, the two rookie cops both were posted to the Vernon RCMP detachment within three months of each other in 1988. Now, after 21 years together in the force and 16 years of marriage, their relationship remains as strong as ever. The couple, both corporals with the Penticton RCMP, were among those honoured with 20-year service awards at a recent ceremony in Kelowna. France grew up in Shawinigan, Que., while Brian was an admitted “military brat.” Although born in Halifax, with his father‘s career in the Canadian Forces, the family moved often – throughout Eastern Canada, as well as the United States and Europe. In 1988, their paths met. For Brian, at least, it was love at first sight.
His all-male, 32-member troop had been in Regina for three months when the new female recruits arrived in camp. It didn‘t take long before he spotted France. “She came out of the building and had to walk in front of all of the guys,” Brian recalled. “She had a long ponytail, and I looked up at her and said: ’Hey, there she is.‘ And here we are. So, it was one of those stories.” France said at the end of six months‘ training, she and Brian realized their romance was probably over. “We were OK with the goodbyes. There was kind of an agreement that we would remain friends and keep in touch,” she said. “At the time, they made sure if you were involved in a relationship and weren‘t married, you were going in opposite directions.” When France found out she was being posted to Vernon, three months after Brian, it came as a complete surprise. There were 720 detachments across Canada at the time. “It was a total shock. It was really surreal because we never approached anybody as far as our relationship was concerned,” she said. “We kept it really quiet.” A week before France graduated, another recruit was posted to Vernon as well, so she thought any chance of her being posted there was gone. Brian noted other members of the Vernon detachment were well aware of the new recruits‘ romantic links. Despite the rigours of police life, their relationship flourished. France said since they were both away from their families in Eastern Canada, they had to rely on each other for support in their new home and new careers.
Married couples within the RCMP are much more common these days, but are not without their stress. “Right now, this is pretty good for us,” she said. “But originally, when you‘re talking about shift work, you‘re looking at times where you don‘t see each for three days because one is working days while the other is working nights. “But they‘ve been really accommodating throughout our entire service.” After Vernon, the Burkes moved to Prince Rupert, before transferring to North Battleford, Sask. Brian got involved with police dogs in 1995 in Prince Rupert and then headed the dog team in North Battleford, where France received training in forensics, gleaning fingerprints, bloodstains and other details from crime scenes. As luck would have it, positions for both areas opened in Penticton four years ago, and the couple and their children moved back to the Okanagan. They live in Summerland, with a son in high school and a daughter in middle school. Brian heads the detachment‘s police dog service, while France continues her role with the forensic identification section. “We‘re at a totally different stage at this time, where work and career are great, but finally, we‘re at a stage where our family life and our social life have become important, too,” she said. France and Brian said the recent awards ceremony was special for them both. “That was the one thing we wanted to do together. It meant so much for us, as a couple and career-wise,” she said. “My accomplishment and his didn‘t come alone. It came with the support of the other.” People from the Vernon detachment were also in attendance, many of them receiving similar medals.
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Don Quixote Note: A full listing of all RCMP personnel who were recipients at this ceremony can be found at RCMP South East District (Kelowna) host Awards Presentation Ceremony on Wednesday April 8, 2009 and at the RCMP SITE HERE.
Local awards :
RCMP Long Service Awards 20 Years
Staff Sergeant Cam Percy (Vernon)
RCMP Silver Clasp 30 Years Service
Corporal Terry Johnson (Vernon)
Constable Gordon Lane (Vernon)
Constable Bob Lebarron (Vernon)
Corporal Henry Proce (Lumby)
Constable Mark Tremblay (Vernon)
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