Reg.#6298, Sergeant F. B. Pearson

C A N A D A

SERGEANT FRANK BUSCALL PEARSON

THE NEW F. B. PEARSON BUILDING

AT RCMP SURREY DETACHMENT

Reg.#6298, Sergeant Frank Buscall Pearson

Royal North West Mounted Police

and

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

'Friends Not Forgotten'

F. B. Pearson was born on September 4, 1888 at Oxford, England. He came to Canada and engaged in the RNWMP on September 24, 1914. After training, he was first posted to “F” Division (Saskatchewan).  On January 21, 1916  he had a slight brush with Service Court -- he was charged with 'Disobedience in Service Court' and fined $5.00.  

Then war. Pearson served during WWI with “A” Squadron (C.E.F.) at the rank of Private with Service #2684141. After the war, Frank Pearson returned to “F” Division and later, he was transferred to “E” Division (British Columbia). In 1920, the Force changed its name to the RCMP. Thus, Frank Pearson was first in the RNWMP, then the RCMP.

Then war again. Frank Pearson served Canada for a short time during WWII in Montreal as a Special Constable.

Early in his police career, Sergeant Pearson developed an interest in photography. His pictures of “Depot” in the mid-1900s and of members undertaking equitation training have been used many times over in books covering the history of the Force. His family have been kind enough to provide digital copies of his photo albums and they have been sent to the Heritage Centre at “Depot”.

Sergeant Pearson ended his career with the Force in a very unique way -- in the late 1930's, he worked as the lone member of Cloverdale (Surrey) Detachment and he was employed on Federal Enforcement duties -- Frank Pearson retired from the RCMP on September 23, 1939.

Frank Pearson decided he was too young to quit working. For years, after retirement from the Force, he drove the 'Bunny Bus' between Surrey and Vancouver conveying children with cerebral palsy for their hospital treatments. This was just one of the roles he played as a volunteer in Surrey. 

Sergeant Frank Pearson died on January 21, 1965 at seventy-six years of age. He is buried at the Sunnyside Cemetery, Surrey, BC.

In recent years, there was a need for additional space at the RCMP Surrey Detachment. The Detachment had outgrown itself.  As the RCMP began to  look for a special name for the new Annex, it had been decided that the name of the building had to be a significant and meaningful name to the RCMP and to the City of Surrey.

It wasn't long before Frank Pearson's name arose and the new Annex is now called the 'F.B. Pearson Building.' The new name is a wonderful reminder of Sergeant Pearson and his contributions -- his early connection to the RNWMP/RCMP, to Surrey and his service as a community volunteer.

On December 02, 2010, Mayor Diane Watts, City of Surrey, officially opened the  new 'F. B. Pearson Building.' Senior Officers of the Force, officials from City Hall, the Pearson family and members of the community were present for the dedication ceremony . The 'F' B. Pearson Building' now houses all the Detachment's plainclothes units. 

Contributor and Appreciation: Ric Hall, Reg.#24394 / O.1330

'Maintain Our Memories'

J. J. Healy,

Reg.#23685