'Anything for Matty': RCMP make man with intellectual disabilities honorary cadet

MatthewBrandon, 25, may have the cognitive skillsof a three-year old and is unable to speak, but his adoration for the RCMPis clear.

Their devotion to "Matty" is just as obvious.

Every Tuesday for the past four and a halfyears, Brandon's guardians have taken him to watch the Sergeant Major's Parade at the RCMP training academyin Regina, known as the Depot.

The young Indigenous man has autism, cerebral palsyand fetal alcohol syndrome. He smiles, grunts and stomps his feet as cadets march in military-like formation for roll call and inspection.

Most of all, he loves the brass band. He clutches his iPadand records the band, then watches the videos over and over.

"It's on repeat. He wakes up to it and goes to bed pretty much watching RCMP parade," said his caregiver, Shannon Gardiner.

'Mattysmiles and he grabs my hand... he's like my little brother.'- Sgt. Pierre Gosselin, RCMP Depot division

Brandonproudly sports his own grey and navy cadet uniform with the name tag "Matty" on it. It was given to him on his 25th birthday, when he was named an "honorary drill member."

"He's part of the family," Cpl. Nathan Olsonsaid. "It's hard to have a bad day when Matty is around he's so full of joy and happiness when he's here."

Bending the rules

The SergeantMajor's Parade dates back to 1874 and remains a strictly regimented training exercise for RCMPcadets. Yeton Tuesdays, if you watch closely, you can see officers bend the rules for just a moment as they sneak Brandonsmiles and waves. Then, at the end, the drill commander takes Brandon's handand escortshim inthe parade.

He's the only member of the public to be allowed to accompany the band following parade.

"Sometimes, you might have to twist out of the rigid rules of drill and just make him happy. That's what we want to do, is make him happy," said Sgt. Pierre Gosselin, a former drill unit commander.

Brandon's caregivers, Chris and Shannon Gardiner, are grateful and a little amazed that the RCMP leadership has shown such flexibility within their rigorous protocols.

"This being one of the most rule-based places in Canada, Matty's just allowed to kind of break all those rules," Chris Gardinersaid, shaking his head.

A bright spot in darktimes

It all began in 2012.

At 21, Matty was aging out of the foster system. The Gardiners, who had cared for him since he was six, were reluctant to place him in a government-funded care home.

Brandon's future was uncertain. At 220 lbs., but with the cognitive skills of a three-year-old, Brandon would become aggravatedand at timesviolent.

The Gardiners insisted on keeping him at home and began the difficult process of negotiating funding from social services. To pinch pennies, they were looking for free entertainment to keep himbusy and sought it out at the RCMP heritage centre and drill parade.

After just one visit, Brandonwas obsessed. He loved it so much, the Gardinerstook him back the next week. And the next. And the next.

His caregivers say that as long as he maintains a consistent routine, he doesn't have violent episodes or hysterics.

A beautiful friendship

Over time, a friendship evolved with senior officers Brandon's enthusiasm is too contagious to resist.

Cpl. Olson looks forward to Tuesday as "Matty's Day" and waits for that moment when Brandonwill rush to his side.

"It took a long time. Matty would just go to the females, most of the time, in uniform, and there was [distrust] with the men," Olson explained, "But eventually he did come to me after about six months, so that was a huge day for me when he eventually came and grabbed for my hand."

Sgt. Pierre Gosselin has been a RCMP officer for 35 years. He spent the first 22 policing in the communitybefore moving into training roles at Depot. He said he misses interacting with people.

Every Tuesday, he takes time to find Brandonand sit on the sidelines with him.

"Matty smiles and he grabs my hand," Gosselin said, with his own smile. "He's like my little brother."

As a trainer, Gosselin understands that for some cadets, meeting Matty is their first opportunity to interact with a person with an intellectual disability. Gosselin expects it will help them become better police officers in the future.

'Mr. Smiles'

A thousand cadets go through the training academyevery year, so Brandon'sstory has trickled through the ranks.

So much so, that when the RCMP Musical Ride announced it would launch its 2017 season in Regina, Brandon received a special invitation from Ottawa to attend. His caregivers decided that the night-time event would be too overwhelming for Brandonbut were eager for Sgt. Scott Williamson to give hima private tour with the horses.

The Gardiners try to strike abalance between sticking to Brandon's strict routine and introducing him to new experiences, a struggle they describe in a Facebook page dedicated to his life.

But "Mr. Smiles" his nickname seemed impressed and tentatively petted a horse.

Even when things go awry,the Gardiners are comforted by the fact that Brandonwill be welcomed back at his "happy place," as Shannon Gardiner calls the Sergeant Major's Parade, the next Tuesday.

And the next Tuesday.

And the one after that.