A Communist For The RCMP : The Uncovered Story Of A Social Movement Informant

An account of covert surveillance in Canada centered on the activities of Frank Hadesbeck, a Spanish Civil War veteran recruited in 1941 as an informant by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Operating within the Communist Party and associated organizations for several decades, Hadesbeck reported on a wide range of individuals and groups, including labour activists, academics, journalists, and participants in social and political movements.

Drawing on Hadesbeck’s privately kept notes alongside archival sources, the author reconstructs the methods and scope of RCMP intelligence work during the mid-twentieth century, particularly in the context of wartime and Cold War concerns. The narrative follows Hadesbeck’s background, recruitment, and activities in western Canada.

Notes adapted from the publisher's description.