- Gwen Boniface
Gwen M. Boniface, COM, OOnt, is a Canadian police officer, former lawyer, and the former Commissioner of the
Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P.) ending in 2006. She is the first female to hold this position. She is also the first female President of theCanadian Association of Chiefs of Police , and the first Canadian to hold the Vice Chair of the Division of State and Provincial Police of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.Boniface stepped down as Commissioner in October 2006 to accept an advisory position with
Ireland 'sGarda Siochana Inspectorate (National Police Force).Education
Commissioner Boniface earned a Certificate in Law & Security Administration from
Humber College in 1977. She earned aBachelor of Arts degree fromYork University in 1982 and aBachelor of Laws degree atOsgoode Hall Law School in 1988.Professional career
She joined the Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P.) in 1977 as a Provincial
Constable before being called to the bar in 1990. She was Superintendent-Director of the O.P.P. in the First Nations and Contract Policing Branch from 1993 to 1995.She served in the
Law Commission of Canada from 1997 to 2002. She was theChief Superintendent Regional Commander for the O.P.P. in Western Ontario from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, she was named Commissioner of the O.P.P.She was criticised by the residents of Caledonia by how she and the O.P.P. handled the
Caledonia land dispute . They argued that the O.P.P. treated natives differently during the dispute, and failed to protect residents and the town's power station, bridges, roads and homes during the protest.She announced her departure as Commissioner of the O.P.P. in September, 2006 to join
Ireland 'sGarda Siochana Inspectorate (National Police Force).Canadian Broadcasting Corporation , [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2006/07/28/boniface.html Controversial OPP commissioner stepping down] ,28 July ,2006 ]Awards
Commissioner Boniface was invested into the
Order of Ontario in 2001 for her work with the First Nations communities. She is a Commander of theOrder of Merit of the Police Forces , theOrder of St. John [http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2007/20070428/pdf/g1-14117.pdf] , and has theHumber College Alumnus of Distinction Award.References
* [http://www.opp.ca/Organization/Commissioner/index.htm Official O.P.P. biography]
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