Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
Speech on the Occasion of the Investiture Ceremony of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces
Rideau Hall, Friday, May 19, 2006
As Chancellor of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, it is a distinct pleasure for me to invest 43 members of Canada’s Police Services as Officers and Members of this Order.
This illustrious Order is a reflection of the great respect that Canadians have for the women and men who serve in the various police forces throughout our country.
Much more than “keepers of the peace”—although I recognize that is your fundamental duty—police officers are required to be social workers, psychologists, Emergency Medical Service providers, diplomats, parental figures, teachers, and so much more.
Canadians are blessed with so many riches that we tend to take things for granted—our water, our democratic institutions, our natural resources… and how efficiently our society functions.
In my former career as a journalist, I had many opportunities to witness the unique contribution that police officers make every day to the smooth functioning of our society. Various structures and a code of conduct have been put in place to ensure that you do your job well.
Think of it—we are 32 million people, the great majority (79.6%) living in cities. Virtually every nationality in the world can be found in Canada, with over 100 languages spoken in Toronto alone.
We have rich and poor, urban and rural, all stretched out over six time zones and millions of square kilometres.
Although we are certainly not immune to violence, our strength lies in a vigilant system and police forces that are sensitive to the needs of an increasingly diverse population. The work you do to counter ethnic profiling is proof of this. I myself have witnessed your openness when I worked to raise awareness among police officers of the violence committed against women. You are willing to adjust your training to suit the issues of today’s society, and I must congratulate you for that.
You, in this room and your colleagues across the country, are one of the reasons why we feel safe. In Canada, far from being something to fear, the sight of a police car or a police officer is comforting—it reassures us.
I grew up under the yoke of a merciless dictatorship, where the police came to symbolize the brutal repression of the citizens. Many immigrants and refugees tremble at the mere sight of a police officer, as images of violence quickly spring to mind. We can all be proud that this is not the case in Canada.
We have succeeded in recruiting police officers that reflect our national character—respectful, diligent, strong-willed, resourceful, and fair-minded.
Those are the attributes that I found in our police members working in Haiti in order to create a more secure environment for its people who have been afflicted by so many miseries throughout their history.
Those are also the attributes that I found in the cadets training at the RCMP depot that I visited last week.
I was also thinking of these attributes as I read about the funeral of Constable John Atkinson, of the Windsor Police Service.
In reading the tributes paid to this brave young man, who as you know died tragically while on duty, I was struck by something said by his friend and colleague, Sergeant Ron LeClair.
He said that for John Atkinson, “being a member of the Windsor Police Service was not a job or a career—it was his calling.”
I think that could be said about the vast majority of police officers. The ones that I have had the honour of knowing went into that field for one simple reason: to make their community a better place to live.
All of you gathered here today personify that selfless commitment.
You are being inducted into this Order because throughout your careers, you have demonstrated exceptional merit, and have made remarkable contributions to policing and community development.
On this day, I am mindful of Constable John Atkinson, and his fellow officers who have made the supreme sacrifice on behalf of all of us.
It is a terrible burden, and one that all of you carry willingly in order to protect your fellow citizens. On behalf of all your fellow Canadians, I salute you, and I thank you.
