UMVA has learned that the head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is “deeply concerned” after a CBC‑produced prank documentary targeted RCMP veterans.
The backlash began when a member of the RCMP Veterans’ Association revealed she was recruited for a March shoot in Vancouver, only to discover she had become the subject of a staged prank on the set of the show titled Northland Tales.
Commissioner Mike Duheme said the force immediately reached out to the veterans’ association and voiced its worries to the broadcaster, noting that production has reportedly been halted.
“I am deeply concerned for the mental health and well‑being of the veterans affected by this experience,” Duheme added, pledging that the RCMP will work with the association to provide needed resources.
The National Police Federation, representing thousands of current and retired Mounties, echoed those concerns, warning that a satirical program mocking mental‑health struggles could exacerbate trauma for veterans already coping with PTSD and related injuries.
A former officer recounted in a YouTube video how he was approached for what he believed was a serious series about the transition to civilian life, only to be confronted with a spoof that even featured a fabricated clip of King Charles announcing the dissolution of the Mounties.
Glen Siegersma, chief administrative officer of the veterans’ group, expressed disbelief that anyone would target retired officers, emphasizing that such antics could trigger severe psychological distress.
In response, the broadcasters defended the format as a long‑standing tradition of social experiments and satire, claiming the Indigenous creators intended the show to foster better understanding of historical injustices and support truth‑and‑reconciliation efforts.
Critics, however, argue the execution missed its mark, turning a sensitive subject into a cheap joke that may have deepened wounds rather than healed them.
