Musical Ride arrival in Flin Flon three weeks away

The Flin Flon edition of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Musical Ride will take place August 1 at Centoba Park, barely three weeks away.

The national police force’s special horse manoeuvre team will perform at the ball diamond starting at 5 p.m. local time, taking in a show that will take approximately an hour and a half. Gates for the show will open at 4:30 p.m.

The City of Flin Flon officially announced the ride would be coming to Flin Flon July 8 - the planned event was first reported by The Reminder in May.

The City will plan the local side of the event, one of two stops for the ride in northern Manitoba communities during a Manitoba/Ontario tour this summer. The Pas will also host an exhibition for the ride, doing so on July 31, the day before Flin Flon’s event.

The Musical Ride troupe is made up of 32 riders and horses, plus an officer in charge, from all across Canada, taking part in an intricate 30-minute routine of equestrian techniques and formations set to music. The riders work and train with the horses year-round and act as ambassadors for Canada's national police force.

The Musical Ride last came to Flin Flon in 2004, during a different tour through the prairies. About 3,500 people came out to watch the event.

This year's visit will include a familiar face for Flin Flonners - former Flin Flon RCMP officer Andrew LeClair is a member of the group, joining them after accepting a transfer from Flin Flon to the unit in 2020. LeClair and his horse, Dancer, are part of the 33-piece group.

"A symbol of tradition, honour, and pride, the Musical Ride is a Canadian icon recognized at home and abroad. The Musical Ride supports front-line police operations by building positive relationships, supporting recruiting efforts and promoting the RCMP's image in communities in Canada and around the world," reads the RCMP website.

The event is also often used as a way to raise money for local community causes - the event is usually hosted by non-profit or charitable organizations, often with local entertainment as part of the show. Tickets are sold for the event at the proceeds go towards covering costs and raising money for projects. For the Flin Flon trip, no official community cause for the proceeds has yet been announced - costs to bring the riders and horses up north will be shared between both the City and the Town of The Pas, which is organizing their local event. Regional entertainers are also expected to perform during the event, but no entertainers or musicians have yet been announced for the event.

Tickets are priced at $5 each for children age three and over and $10 each for adults - individual tickets can be bought at Flin Flon City Hall.