Mr. Speaker, this afternoon at the RCMP's Depot Division training academy in Regina, hundreds of people will gather to pay their final respects to the late William MacRae.
Retired Superintendent MacRae was an icon of Canada's national police force. He passed away last week at the age of 87.
Born in Manor, Saskatchewan, Bill served in the Royal Canadian Navy in World War II. He joined the RCMP in 1948, trained in Regina, and was assigned to J Division in New Brunswick before coming home to Depot in 1960.
He was a superlative trainer. He commanded respect. He inspired excellence. He was an innovator and helped bring police training into its modern era.
After his retirement in 1979, Bill remained active in public service and was involved in everything from working with disabled children to serving as aide-de-camp to the Lieutenant Governor. I got to know him working on the RCMP Heritage Centre.
Thank you, Bill MacRae. Our thoughts and prayers are with Muriel and the family.