Welcome

July 2011

RCMP Historical Collections Unit Curator, Jodi Ann Eskritt, shares the story of Sergeant Renfrew and Corporal Cuddles.

"In my lonely log cabin..." 

So began the many reports of the fictitious RCMP Sergeant Renfrew and usually what followed was an outlandish pursuit of the criminal in question. Renfrew always got his man usually due as much to the criminal's own incompetence as due to Renfrew's police skills.

The RCMP Historical Collections Unit is proud to announce that Sergeant Renfrew, or at least his uniform, has returned home to join his faithful sidekick, his dog Corporal Cuddles. Our thanks must go out to the man who brought Sergeant Renfrew to life, Canadian comedian Dave Broadfoot and his wife Diane Simard Broadfoot who have donated Renfrew's uniform to the collections.

Dave Broadfoot was born in North Vancouver, British Columbia on December 5, 1925.  He left school in 1943 and enlisted in the Merchant Navy. He achieved the status of marine engineer before leaving the Merchant Navy in 1943 to go into the clothing business in Vancouver. But it was not long before he was bit by the acting bug. At 21, Broadfoot joined the North Vancouver Community Players and as they say "a star was born."  Enthralled with comedy, he soon realized that he could make it into something more than simply a hobby.  In 1952, Broadfoot performed for the first time as a professional comedian and by 1955 he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. By 1973, he began his career with the Royal Canadian Air Farce on radio and television.

Renfrew's career has been somewhat less stellar. Sergeant Renfrew made his first appearance in 1956. It wasn't long before Renfrew found himself in front of his commanding officer being mysteriously addressed as "Corporal." In 1977, the Commissioner Simmons himself took the situation after Corporal Renfrew appeared at RCMP Headquarters in Ottawa.  "Men," Simmons is reported saying, "we don't have to take this crap from a Corporal. From now on it's Sergeant Renfrew." (Smile of the Day: Dave Broadfoot's Canada)


Sergeant Renfrew's career has continued to go strong as he pursued innumerable cases to a successful conclusion. Almost without fail Renfrew is knocked unconscious during the chase only to regain consciousness as the faithful Corporal Cuddles arrives to the rescue. He has made many appearances at RCMP conventions and events always with hilarious effect. His popularity always remained high with the Force and helped to insure his continued promotion up the honorary ranks from Sergeant to Sergeant Major.

Dave Broadfoot has been equally recognized for his contributions to the worlds of radio, television and theatre. Having performed in countless tours across Canada, he has also taken his comedy to Canada's armed forces in Korea, Gaza, Suez, the Golan Heights, Cyprus, Germany, Croatia, Bosnia and Afghanistan.

Over the course of his career he has received numerous ACTRA and Juno Awards, the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal, holds three honorary doctorates, and was inducted as an Officer in the Order of Canada in June l983.

The RCMP Historical Collections Unit is honored to accept Renfrew's uniform and will be displaying it, along with Corporal Cuddles, at the RCMP Heritage Centre through the summer months. We hope you'll have the chance to come out and say hello to these two illustrious Mounties.