35th Anniversary Celebrated in Regina, SK

On this day in history, in simultaneous “swearing in” ceremonies across the country, the 32 women of Troop 17 joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police before travelling to Regina Depot for the six month recruit training program. Just over a century after its inception, this group of women made RCMP history as the first female constables hired to the force. The year . . . 1974.

In a CBC radio broadcast on September 16, 1974, Bob Johnstone reports that, “at least on paper the women Mounties are the same as the men, they’ll wear roughly the same uniform except they’ll have their choice of slacks or skirts. They’ll get the same pay and be subject to the same regulations”. At the time – and for the next 14 years – the Red Serge uniform for females was a red blazer, white turtle neck and long skirt. Rather than a Stetson hat, women wore a pillbox variety, which was considered more feminine and instead of a gun belt, they were given a purse to hold their .38-calibre handgun and handcuffs. There were other differences, however, as the now retired RCMP officer Cheryl LaFosse of Troop 17 explains in an interview for the Placentia, NL Charter, "When we came out of training, we weren't allowed to go to anything less than a 20-man detachment and the commanders had to agree to take a female".

Ms. LaFosse says initially it took time for the male officers to feel comfortable policing along-side a female recruit. "I remember my first posting there was a call over the radio from a member asking for something. The staff-sergeant said, 'Everybody is busy but Const. LaFosse is here.' The response over the radio was, 'Oh great,'" Ms. LaFosse says her last word threaded with disappointment.

Several of Constable LaFosse’s classmates went on to other “firsts” in the force. In December 2006, Deputy Commissioner Beverley Busson was appointed to the RCMP’s highest rank – becoming the first female Commissioner. Corporal Beverly Karen Hosker was the first female member to be selected as the NCO in charge of an RCMP detachment. Jane Hall wrote the first book on women in the force entitled, The Red Wall: A Woman in the RCMP.

Today, women comprise roughly 20% of the 18,807 regular RCMP members. Their beginnings in the force will be celebrated this week with a Sergeant Major’s Parade at Depot in Regina. The parade will include two full troops of women and 13 of the original Troop 17 recruits.

Photo courtesy of Sgt. Joanne Fraser, RCMP