Ceremony officially gives Nunavut RCMP a new commander

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Nunavut division made the ceremonial transition of power in Iqaluit on Thursday with its change of command ceremony.

Chief Supt. Andrew Blackadar is the new commanding officer in Nunavut, with Chief Supt. Amanda Jones being the outgoing commanding officer.

While the formal ceremony was held Thursday, Blackadar has been on the job for nearly a year.

The ceremony was an opportunity for RCMP members to say goodbye to their previous commanding officer and welcome their new one.

The ceremony started with approximately 25 ceremonial troops wearing the Mounties’ traditional red serge uniforms. There were approximately 60 people in attendance at the RCMP’s hangar.

There was a qulliq lighting, and RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme arrived with Jones soon after.

The ceremonial troops marched past Jones to pay respect to her.

Blackadar then arrived.

“I came to Nunavut ignorant,” Jones said when she had the chance to address the crowd.

“But [I’m] leaving with a better understanding of Inuit societal values, culture and history.”

She thanked the division’s Inuit employees for educating her and providing guidance throughout her tenure. She added their presence helped ensure Inuit voices were heard in her decision-making.

Jones also brought up the RCMP’s darker history in Nunavut, including the killing of qimmiit, Inuit sled dogs.

Ceremonial troops march in the Nunavut RCMP division’s change of command ceremony on Thursday in Iqaluit. (Photo by David Lochead)

She mentioned being involved in helping plan for the statue of an Inuit special constable harnessing their qimmiit, which is now placed in front of the division’s headquarters.

Blackadar spoke next.

“I’m humbled to be here,” he said, emphasizing reconciliation and getting involved in the community.

“Our performance is not measured by the rise and fall of the crime rate in the community,” Blackadar said. “But it’s measured by the amount of time that we take part in community events.”

Following the speeches, the Inuksuk High School Drum Dancers performed a traditional drum dance. The ceremonial troops marched off for the final time, concluding the ceremony.

Speaking to Nunatsiaq News afterward, both Blackadar and Jones stressed the importance of recruiting Inuit members to the RCMP.

When speaking about learning on the job, Blackadar talked about the importance of listening.

“We have so much to learn … we have to take that pause [and] meet with the community and listen and understand what they want from the RCMP,” he said.