Savannah Deschênes, the wife of late New Brunswick Cst. Frank Deschênes, poses for a photo with RCMP members, after meeting the colt named after her husband on Sept. 9, 2018. (Jessie Anton/980 CJME)

Fallen RCMP officer has Musical Ride colt named in his honour

By Jessie Anton Sep 9, 2018 | 9:34 PM

The RCMP honoured its fallen members with a national parade and memorial service Sunday in Regina.

Among them was New Brunswick Cst. Frank Deschênes, who was hit and killed by a vehicle last September while helping change a flat tire on the side of the highway near Memramcook, N.B.

In addition to his name on the RCMP cenotaph, honour roll book and memorial wall, Deschênes also had a colt named after him because of his passion and involvement in the RCMP Musical Ride.

Deschênes’ friend and former colleague Cst. Jennifer Burgoyne, who’s raising the colt in Alberta, said this horse symbolizes a way to keep his legacy alive.

“He lived and breathed the RCMP and these horses,” she said. “They bring the entire community together, so our hope is that (the colt) will be doing ceremonial duties to represent Frank for many years to come.”

Meeting the horse for the first time Sunday afternoon, Deschênes’ wife, Savannah, said she felt both waves of happiness and sadness.

“He gave it his all in everything he did, and he had nothing but passion for the Musical Ride,” she said, adding it’s fitting her husband would have a colt named after him.

“This horse is a lot like Frank. He’s stubborn, he picks at you, he’s a jokester, he loves to eat and he’s loyal.”