RCMP hosts special citizenship ceremony at Musical Ride Stables
By Patricia Vasylchuk
RCMP horse trainer Daniel Kehres takes his oath of citizenship at the Musical Ride Stables in May 2025.
Image by Serge Gouin, RCMP
November 20, 2025
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On a cloudy day in May, a crowd gathered at the RCMP Musical Ride Stables for a citizenship ceremony that honoured 35 new Canadians, including 2 RCMP employees. The ceremony marked the third time it's been held at the Stables since November 2023.
"It's fitting that the ceremony is here where we train our world-famous horses," said guest speaker Marie-Claude Dandenault, the Deputy Commissioner of RCMP Specialized Policing Services, to the crowd of new Canadians who sat under a display of lances and pennons suspended from the ceiling.
"The Musical Ride, the Red Serge; the RCMP is an iconic Canadian institution," says Alexandra Cotroneo, a communications officer with the RCMP's Strategic Partnerships and Outreach team, and who helped organize the ceremony. Hosting the ceremony at the Stables in 2023 was initially intended as a one-time event to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the RCMP. It was so well-received by guests and organizers that a new tradition was formed.
Partnerships at their best
In 2024, the RCMP, in partnership with Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), hosted another ceremony at the Stables during remembrance week in November. This year, the RCMP reached out to IRCC once again to organise the event in the spring and agreed on May 30, to coincide with Citizenship Week.
"IRCC was extremely pleased to be contacted with a view of continuing the partnership with the RCMP at the Musical Ride whenever they are available," said Isabelle Dubois, a media relations spokesperson at IRCC. "We look forward to growing this partnership to showcase milestones for both organizations."
The RCMP isn't the only organization IRCC has partnered with to host citizenship ceremonies. It's also worked with Parks Canada, Business Development Canada, Canadian Security Establishment Canada, Canadian Heritage, the National War Museum, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
According to Cotroneo, putting on the event means the RCMP coordinates the guest speaker, Elder, anthem singer, as well as the RCMP units that attend to represent the organization and provide additional information, such as RCMP National Youth Services and Recruitment. A tour of the stables and a meet-and-greet with the horses follows the ceremony.
"None of our ceremonies have been the same -especially given the different people and their stories," says Cotroneo. "It's a special day for them as new Canadians; everyone is always over the moon."
Horsing around
Daniel Kehres was one of the RCMP's own who received his citizenship at the ceremony in May. Kehres has been a horse trainer and auction rider with the RCMP on and off since 2015.
"The RCMP is a big part of my career and I'm grateful to have had the ceremony here," he says. "RCMP history is a part of Canadian history."
Kehres came to Canada from Germany in 2006 on a work permit as a dressage trainer- an equestrian sport where horse and rider perform a series of carefully choreographed movements highlighting the horse's athleticism in harmony with the rider. In May 2025 he represented Canada in the International Dressage Competition in Ottawa, placing 4th, 3rd, and 1st place in 3 classes.
In 2015, Kehres secured a casual contract with the RCMP to ride its horses during the annual equine auction. Two years later, he signed on as a full-time horse trainer. He left the Musical Ride in 2020 to run his own horse farm but continues to help out occasionally when he's needed.
Seeking a personal touch
Josef Hiemann, another German native, was also in the crowd that day. Hiemann has been a videographer with RCMP National Communications and Public Affairs since 2024, after arriving in Canada on a work visa 4 years earlier.
After being sworn in as a new Canadian in a virtual ceremony earlier this year, Hiemann wanted a more personal experience and attended the ceremony at the Stables to re-affirm his citizenship in person.
"I've been to see the Ride a number of times, and I've done video work for it as well," says Hiemann. "So, it's very special getting re-affirmed here today."