Remembering our roots ~ John and Berniece Bland

John Godsman
Times Contributor

 

The Bland surname originates from England. John’s grandfather – John Bland – was a career soldier, first serving in India, where his son Stephen was born in Bangalore in 1907. Grandfather Bland fought in the First World War, and following the armistice, moved to Saskatchewan with his family in 1920 where he worked as a labourer for a farmer before purchasing his own land in Meskanaw.
John Bland was born on June 3, 1945 in Kinistino, Sask., and had two sisters. He attended school through Grade 7 at a one room country school called McCloy Creek, then went to Kinistino School for Grades 8 to 12.
He attended the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon for a year, before joining the RCMP on July 4, 1964. He spent 14 years in the RCMP serving in Cloverdale, B.C., before going to Ottawa where he served with the Musical Ride for two years. In 1966, the horse he rode in the Musical Ride was called Burmese, and in 1968, the RCMP presented this horse to Her Majesty the Queen.
Of interest to my readers: the 1970s-1980s Canadian $50 bill features the RCMP Musical Ride on the reverse side, and John is the Mountie in the 5 o’clock position! Following Ottawa, John served in Banff and Hanna, and as a livestock investigator throughout the province of Alberta.
Berniece (nee Mitchell) thinks her family originated in Scotland; her grandparents originally came to Ontario, before moving to Regina, Sask.
Berniece was born in Regina, and has seven brothers and two sisters. She attended school there, before going to Herchmer Scott Collegiate High School through Grade 12. She then became a barber, before taking the necessary training to become a soft tissue therapist, and is also a colour psychologist and graphologist.
John and Berniece met at a dance in Regina during the summer of 1964 while John was attending the RCMP Depot. They were married on Nov. 19, 1966 and have four children and seven grandchildren.
Following John’s service as a livestock investigator with the RCMP, it was only natural that he and Berniece continue in this industry: Barbeejay Supplies Ltd., purveyors of farm equipment and feed, is well respected in the farming and ranching industry.
The Blands’ community activities have revolved around their family. John was a 4-H leader for 10 years, and Berniece currently serves as a Wheatland County councillor. They have both spent many early mornings at hockey arenas as their family grew.
Their grandchildren have shone in show jumping activities at Spruce Meadows, and granddaughter Taylor was the winner of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Children’s International Jumping Competition in 2006. To date, she is the only Canadian to have ever won this award.