OPP officials say: The Ontario Provincial Police is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Women in OPP Uniform.
On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, the OPP unveiled a new mural at an event for members to honour this anniversary at its General Headquarters.
On May 27, 1974, 15 women reported for training to the OPP Academy and one month later, they were counted among the OPP’s provincial constable graduates on June 21, 1974.
By the end of that year, 39 women had been selected to serve as the organization’s first female officers. Over the last 50 years, close to 2,500 female recruits have been sworn in as OPP officers.
“The Ontario Provincial Police is proud to celebrate and honour the 50th Anniversary of Women in OPP Uniform,” stated Deputy Commissioner Kari Dart, Culture and Strategy Services.
“By acknowledging the pioneering women who first joined the OPP 50 years ago, and the women who followed in their footsteps, we build pride within our organization, help to remove barriers to enter the service and inspire women to join. We benefit from the lessons learned from the women of the past. Taking the time to document and share their experiences is essential to the success of our collective future. It is the goal of the OPP to create equitable opportunities for people of all gender identities and to reflect the diversity of the society that we serve.”
Inspector Irena Lawrenson, who is now retired, added: “I joined the OPP in 1974 as one of the first 39 women who were hired as part of the ‘policewoman program.’ By 1989, I had been promoted three times – from corporal to sergeant to staff sergeant – and the number of women had risen to two per cent. By the time I retired as an inspector in 2005, the number of women was at 15 per cent. Today it’s increased to 21.5 per cent, but far more women are needed in this profession. In order to be effective and progressive in this increasingly diverse world, police services must reflect the communities they serve. Someday I hope to see women make up 50 per cent of uniform officers.”
