CBSA has officers, not guards

Re: Border guards’ questionnaire outrages union, by Dalson Chen, Oct. 3.

I feel the need to correct The Star reporters and their use of an incorrect term when referencing to a specific profession. It has been an “irritant” of mine for some time now whenever I read about them in The Star.

Whenever you reference CBSA and its border employees, you refer to them as “border guards.” This term is incorrect and somewhat dismissive of their positions.

They are Border Service officers. Not guards, officers.

Prior to the introduction of these men and women as part of the new Canada Border Services Agency, they were Customs or Immigration Officers, not Customs or Immigration Guards.

Their position titles are Border Service Officers so please refer to them as that. I don’t think you’d appreciate having your job titles referred to as anything but what they actually are, so why do that to another group of people?

After working many years myself at the border, I appreciate the dedication and hard work of these officers, so would just appreciate that they be called by the correct term when you write or talk about them.

Thanks very much.

BONNIE BROWN, Windsor