The St. Albert RCMP detachment on Bellerose Drive now bears the name of a local farmer and political activist.
On May 22, the police headquarters was officially named Maloney Place after one of the community's earliest settlers, Daniel Maloney.
Born in Ontario in 1847, Maloney moved west with the Second Battalion during the Red River Rebellion, finally settling in St. Albert in 1881 with his wife Hannah and three young children.
During the 1885 uprising when unrest between the Aboriginal Peoples and the white settlers in St. Albert was brewing, Maloney helped organize the St. Albert Mounted Riflemen. Maloney became the first lieutenant of the riflemen and turned his house into a temporary recruiting office and home for soldiers and their families.
He continued to take an active role in the community, having been a founding member of both the Edmonton Agricultural Society and the area's chamber of commerce. He was also appointed notary public by the lieutenant-governor Edgar Dewdney.
Maloney's community involvement rose to new heights when he was elected to the North West Territories Council, serving two terms until 1905 when Alberta became a province.
His descendants now stretch into the sixth generation. More than 30 members of his extended family were present at the detachment's naming ceremony.
"We're proud of the accomplishments and contributions he made to the community of St. Albert," said Kevin Maloney, Daniel's great-grandson.
Although none of Maloney's living relatives had a chance to meet him, they reminisced about the stories passed down through generations.
Grandson Jack Maloney and great-granddaughter Alice Turlock remember hearing about Maloney's trips to Ottawa to plead the Métis case before Sir John A. Macdonald before the 1885 uprising. They also heard how Maloney helped Father Lacombe build the first bridge across the Sturgeon River.
Names of honour
The city of St. Albert has a history of naming facilities, roads and buildings to honour those that have made significant contributions to the community.
"Anyone from outside St. Albert, you realize how difficult it is to find your way around because everything is named," noted Mayor Nolan Crouse. "That's not going to stop."
The city will host another naming ceremony on May 29 to formally christen the MIG building – also known as the police services annex building – to honour another aspect of St. Albert's heritage. The building houses RCMP members and two city departments.
