When Ed Hill was young and looking for a career, he had two strong interests: policing and art. When it came time to graduate, Hill sent off applications to an art college and the RCMP.
"The college never even responded, but the RCMP did," the well-known Gibsons man said.
So at the age of 20 Hill left his home in Peterborough, Ont. and went to Regina to learn policing. And, along with every second troop at the time, Hill went to Penvold, Alta. for training too. "I was lucky, because every morning on parade I would face west and see the mountains on the horizon. I said 'that's where I want to be,' and that's how I came to B.C.," Hill explained.
Hill policed in Vernon, Bella Bella, Ottawa, Tofino, Gibsons, Hope and then back to Gibsons where he retired after 34 years in the force.
Hill's life took a different turn when he was stationed in Bella Bella. The primarily Native community was a "difficult place to police."
"[The Natives] have issues with sicknesses of alcohol, drugs, isolation - sicknesses we've imposed on them," Hill said.
While he was there, Hill was given an opportunity to become more than an observer in the community. "The late Maggie Windsor adopted me. I was given a name and became a family member," Hill said.
Thus began a new respect and understanding of the Native culture. "We have so much to learn from First Nations people," Hill said. The Native knowledge of holistic medicine amazes him. He credits natural medicines with healing stubborn infections in his hands. Another Native Hill met in Tofino became a driving force in his life. Renowned artist Roy Vickers became a friend and mentor to the artist in the cop.
Hill was in awe of his new friend's talent. "I liked the look of [his paintings], the feel of them, the brilliant colour and the sharp line. And there was a story to go with each piece. The whole package attracted me," Hill said. Hill laughs that his artistic career came about as the result of a practical joke.
"Roy has a big ego. I thought I would do a painting in his style and hang it on my wall and wait for him to notice and ask who had the nerve to copy him," Hill said.
The plan backfired when Vickers saw the incomplete painting on Hill's easel and tore the art in two.
Vickers told the jokester, "If you're going to imitate my style, you're going to do it right!"
And so Hill learned from the master. A month after Hill had produced his first painting, Vickers urged him to reproduce the art and sell the prints.
"I didn't have the money or time to do it. Roy invested $3,000 to $5,000 of his own money and had a limited silk screen of 100 prints produced," Hill explained.
Vickers hung the pieces in his gallery, and the prints sold out to buyers from around the world.
"I started in 1984, and I've been going ever since," Hill said.
His success is evident in the price Hill's paintings now command. And while originals are valued in the thousands, his prints and art cards are within the reach of anyone valuing his unique art.
One of Hill's most satisfying endeavours began in 1997 with a short canoe trip of two nights around Bowen Island. Word spread about Hill's venture, and in 2000 the town of Hope asked Hill to bring the RCMP canoe to Hope to take part in a parade.
Hill was determined the big canoe would arrive by water in the proper Native way.
He planned the trip to go from Yale to Hope. Hill contacted the Native communities along the way months ahead of time to ask their permission to come ashore on their land. Hill researched the "culturally sensitive" way to come ashore. "You come in stern first, that's the non-confrontational way," Hill explained.
At the Chawathil Reserve, the chief and a number of the elders met the canoeists on shore. Hill noticed many of the elders were in tears. When he asked why they were crying, the chief explained most of the elders were small children the last time such a canoe had arrived. The people, many in their 80s, had never hoped to see an event like it again in their lives.
The tears of the elders profoundly moved the retired policeman. He thought if that made them happy he would launch another such journey the following year.
And he did. Originally the journeys were called Vision Quest. Since then they have evolved into the present Pulling Together. No small venture, the trips now involve upwards to 200 people.
This year 160 paddlers begin the trip June 25 part way up Harrison Lake. The paddlers and the 40 support crew members will come to the Chehalis Reserve the next day. There the Pulling Together group and the Natives will celebrate a postponed Aboriginal Day. Next the canoes head to the Xaytem Reserve at Mission for two days of cultural teaching.
The highlight of the trip will be, as always, July 1. Each year Pulling Together celebrates Canada Day in a different community. This year the group comes ashore in Fort Langley, where Hill expects a crowd of up to 5,000 people to greet the paddlers. There will be ceremonies complete with pipers and speeches. Afterwards the group will paddle across to the land of the Kwantlen people and mark the end of another epic journey with a feast Hill is eagerly anticipating. The Kwantlens are well known for their welcoming ways.
Artist, canoeist, law enforcer - our community has certainly been enhanced by the man whose respect for all people has enriched his life.
"Anytime I can do anything for the benefit of the community that's when I get joy from it." Words to live by.
