Biography

François BIDAL

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

François was born and educated in Sudbury, Ontario. He joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in 1986 and has served in several provinces in operational duties including patrol, general investigations and drug enforcement. From 1995 to 1998 François instructed law and applied police sciences at the RCMP’s Training Academy. In 1999 he was seconded to the Swiss Air flight 111 disaster before then taking on duties as a detachment commander in Nova Scotia and subsequently as Operations NCO in northern New Brunswick, where he managed the operations of five detachments. This particular position provided him with significant experience associated to the oversight of policing services for a large region composed of a diverse population including Aboriginal, French-Acadian and Anglophone communities.

In 2001, François was presented with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal for his contribution to the successful conclusion of the Burnt Church fishing dispute.

In 2002, François was commissioned to the rank of Inspector in the Commercial Crime Section of the National Capital Region (Ottawa). This position eventually led to an opportunity to lead the Investigative Training Program at the Canadian Police College (CPC). In June of 2004, François was promoted to the rank of Superintendent, as Director of the Police Sciences School (CPC) where his responsibilities included the oversight of national training programs including Investigative Training, Forensic Identification, Computer Crime and Explosives Training.

François is a graduate of the University of Ottawa, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree with a double major: Criminology & Psychology. He is a graduate of the Queen’s University Public Executive Management Program and has also successfully completed the certificate program in Police Leadership/Management Development from Dalhousie University.

François has a particular interest in the professional development of others which has included his teaching at the College/University level in police sciences, the development of a mentoring program for potential commissioned officer cadre personnel and his providing guidance as a guest monitor on the CPC’s Senior Police Administrator’s Course. He has also recently completed the RCMP’s Coaching for High Performance training. In July of 2005, François attended the Australian Institute of Police Management where he provided executive coaching on the Australian Police Management Development Program.

On May 24 2006, François was promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent and the position of Director General - Canada Firearms Centre.