Frank Hadesbeck: The RCMP’s Secret Spy in Regina’s Communist Circles
Hadesbeck pictured in Regina, c 1950. Photo Courtesy of THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Phyllis Pederson via Between the Lines
Frank Hadesbeck's connection to Saskatchewan, particularly Regina, is deeply rooted in both his personal life and his clandestine activities as an informant for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Early Life and Settlement in Saskatchewan
Born on July 15, 1906, in Hungary, Hadesbeck's family emigrated to Canada before the First World War, settling in Saskatchewan. He faced a challenging upbringing, becoming orphaned at the age of 11. During the 1930s, he undertook various jobs in the Regina area, establishing early ties to the city.
Espionage Activities in Regina
In 1941, the RCMP recruited Hadesbeck as a paid informant, assigning him the codename "Agent 810." Initially, he infiltrated the Communist Party in Calgary, performing clerical tasks, printing leaflets, and selling books. His role involved covert activities such as snooping on mail, copying phone numbers, and rummaging through wastebaskets to gather intelligence for the RCMP.
By the early 1950s, Hadesbeck relocated to Regina, where he continued his espionage work. He secured employment at a local company specializing in salvaging old tractors, a position that provided a stable cover for his clandestine activities. In Regina, he expanded his surveillance beyond Communist Party members, monitoring labor activists, medical professionals, academics, journalists, Indigenous leaders, and human rights advocates. His reports contributed to the RCMP's extensive "Watch Out" lists, which included prominent figures such as Saskatchewan Premier Tommy Douglas.
Conclusion of Espionage Career in Regina
Hadesbeck's tenure as an informant concluded in September 1976 during a meeting at a Regina Holiday Inn, where RCMP officers informed him that his services were no longer required. Feeling discarded after decades of service, he became determined to share his story, aiming to shed light on the extensive surveillance operations conducted by the RCMP.
Legacy and Death
Despite strict instructions from his RCMP handlers to avoid keeping personal records, Hadesbeck defied these directives. He maintained detailed notes chronicling his recruitment, operations, interactions with handlers, and his evolving perspective on his clandestine role. These notes, handed over to a university professor in Regina in 1987, remained largely undisclosed until they became the foundation for Dennis Gruending's book, "A Communist for the RCMP."
After his dismissal, Hadesbeck meticulously documented his experiences, preserving detailed notes that would later become invaluable to researchers. He passed away on May 24, 2006, in Regina, Saskatchewan, leaving behind a complex legacy intertwined with the city's history.
Hadesbeck's journey offers a unique lens into the complexities of political surveillance in Canada during the mid-20th century. His activities in Regina underscore the city's role as a focal point for intelligence operations, reflecting broader national concerns about communism and social reform movements. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between safeguarding national security and upholding individual rights—a balance that continues to resonate in contemporary discussions about privacy and state surveillance.