Ganley calls for women to go for police leadership jobs
As police chief positions open up in the province’s two biggest cities, Alberta Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley is encouraging women to push for those leadership roles.
Speaking at the International Association of Women Police conference in Calgary, Ganley said women are still a minority when it comes to policing in Canada.
“According to Statistics Canada, 30 years ago four per cent of police officers in Canada were women. Today, that number is 21 per cent. Certainly an improvement but an indication there is still a considerable amount to do,” said Ganley Monday as she opened the conference. “Only 13 per cent of senior officers across Canada are women. That’s a number I believe that we can, and hopefully will, improve.”
The IAWP conference demonstrates to women in policing that those leadership roles are available, said Ganley.
“One of the most important thing for women, particularly young women as they’re coming up, is they are able to see themselves reflected in positions of power,” said Ganley.
“We have delegates all over the world here, many who hold not just policing roles but more senior policing roles and so I think that’s really important to demonstrate to people that it is in fact possible.”
And she’s also hoping women will step forward into the police chief positions that will soon be available in Edmonton, Calgary and RCMP K Division.
“None of those decisions are made specifically by me so they’ll be made by different instances by different people. But certainly, I’m hoping to see more women to come into those roles,” said Ganley.
“It’s a demonstration to young women that they should go into these careers because they can obtain high-level positions.
“For another thing, it enables them to think about what would make a service more welcoming to women like themselves and so they’re able to put in place policies that improve that and it also enables their male colleagues to see that they’re just as capable as performing those jobs.”
She added there is “undoubtedly ” many women who are qualified for high-ranking leadership roles.
“One of the most important things we can do as we move forward, not just in policing but in all leadership roles, is to acknowledge that we don’t see women in those leadership roles not because there are no qualified women, it’s because we haven’t taken the steps to allow those women to advance,” said Ganley.
The Calgary police have faced backlash for their handling of bullying and harassment against women in the force, an issue that could potentially hinder women in advancing to roles of leadership.
However, Ganley said she knows the Calgary Police Service is “committed to making progress on the issue” and that it is “definitely a first step to solving anything.”
And in her speech, Ganley said women in leadership roles can help achieve a more diverse and equal workplace.
“Unfortunately diverse workforces do not happen on their own. It happens when an organization actively fosters and promotes inclusion and ensure they impart those same values to each and every one of their employees,” said Ganley.
“It happens when people like you, here in this room, stand up and acknowledge there is a problem and work constantly to create change and do not accept less than fair and equal treatment.”
Former Olympic speed skater turned policewoman Cindy Klassen said she could only speak to her own experience with Calgary police and said she hasn’t had any issues.
She added it would be great to see more women striving for leadership roles as well.
“We need men and women in positions of leadership,” said Klassen. “Whether it’s chief or maybe deputy chief or inspector, things like that, I hope that women do feel prepared and want to take that step and have the courage to do that.”