Edmonton Corn Maze holds RCMP Day, months after backlash

The Edmonton Corn Maze welcomed members of the RCMP Saturday in a celebration of the national police force’s 150 years of service.

The design of the corn maze – a saluting Mountie – received backlash earlier this summer after Edmontonians took to social media to voice their concerns.

“It was a bit more than we were expecting,” admitted Corn Maze owner Jesse Kraay. “We’re here to celebrate the work the RCMP are doing now and acknowledge the history they had. And we like the good work they’re doing for people and the future that policing is going to be in Canada.”

Over the years the popular attraction southwest of Edmonton has featured a variety of themes, from the Edmonton Food Bank to the Stollery Children’s Hospital.

In July, officials at the Edmonton Corn Maze apologized for this year’s theme choice, with many in the community voicing concerns over the treatment of Indigenous People and people of colour through the years – and the resulting distress to those communities.

Later, that apology was also met with mixed reaction from commenters online and was eventually taken down.

“What was missing from that response was our support for the men and women who are serving and have served in the RCMP and law enforcement in general,” organizers told CityNews at the time.

Kraay said Saturday the theme was only chosen to commemorate all the good RCMP members do on a daily basis.

“We’re just celebrating the work they do across the province and the country and celebrating the 150 years they’ve been in Canada,” he said.

The Mounties say the design was met with more positive reaction than negative.

“We’ve had a very positive summer and lots of great comments about the design and the community involvement,” said RCMP Sgt. Maj. Leilani Collins.

Collins recognizes the organization has its history, but says it is now a modern police force.

“It is a very historic organization over many years,” Collins said. “But really, it’s a modern police force throughout the province with all kinds of policing operational opportunities. So that’s why we’re here today to showcase those things.”

The Edmonton Corn Maze is open until Oct. 22.

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