PERSONS DAY

In the early 1920's, when asked to define a women's legal status the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that women could not be appointed to the Canadian Senate because they were not deemed to be "persons". Five of the most courageous women in Canadian history challenged the decision in what is now commonly known as the "Persons Case".

On October 18, 1929 they won their case when the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ruled that women were in fact "persons". This ruling allows Canadian women to participate in all aspects of public life....including police work!

Every year in Canada this landmark decision is celebrated by The Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) who continue to fight for the status of women through litigation, law reform and public education. On Friday, October 15, 2010 I was honoured to attend the local LEAF breakfast here in Winnipeg along with (retired) Winnipeg Police Service Patrol Sergeant Barb Tobin who challenged our department many years back to fight for equality of female officers during pregnancy.

I have come across other remarkable Canadian women in policing who showed as much courage on our behalf as the "Famous Five".

Vancouver Police Department
Phyllis Mortimore began her groundbreaking career with the VPD in 1943. Up until 1957 women officers recieved only 2/3rd pay of their male counterparts. Sergeant Mortimore fought that injustice and is credited with achieving equal pay for all VPD officers.

Phyllis is also the first VPD female to rise to the rank of Sergeant. She died last November 8th but we continue to celebrate her spirit on this Persons Day.

Winnipeg Police Service
Helen Woolard became the first female officer to graduate from recruit class in 1959. She was also the first to wear a Winnipeg Police Uniform and serve an entire (20 plus years) career to retire with a full police pension.

Helen attended the second annual WPS Policewomen's Network conference where her achievements were celebrated by over 110 WPS policewomen. We celebrate her life and work on our behald this Persons Day.

Edmonton Police Service
Danielle Campbell, Superintendent in charge of the Criminal Investigations Division became the first female with the EPS to head this section. She has served 21 years and is featured on the WPS Women in Policing recruiting page at http://www.joineps.ca/home/abouteps/women%20in%20policing/femaleperspectives/danielle.aspx

For her hard work and dedication to service we celebrate Danielle's achievements this Persons Day.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police
In December 2006, Bev Busson became the first femal Commissioner of the RCMP. She has been awarded the Order of BC, The Queen's Jubilee Medal, the RCMP Long Service Medal, and is a Commander of the Order of Merit of Police Forces (just to name a few of her achievements).

Retired Commissioner Bev Busson was among the first 32 female officers hired by the RCMP (over 35 years last year). We celebrate all that she achieved in her career on this Persons Day.

Please remember and celebrate the achievements of these women today. Like the famous five, Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy, Irene Marryat Parlby, Henrietta Muir Edwards and Louise Crummy McKinney, they have quietly worked to achieve a status for women that allows us to enjoy a rich career in policing today.

The International Association of Women celebrates women in policing around the world who, in thier own way, show the remarkable courage of the Famous Five. Please join us in celebrating that today.

For more on the Persons Case please see Wikipedia files at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Famous_Five_(Canada)