Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Yellowknife RCMP hosted its first women's career fair at the Multiplex gym Saturday.

Angie Paquin, left, tries out the RCMP push-pull machine at the women's career fair, Saturday. RCMP officer Amanda McGillvary, right, looks on.

The event featured members of the local detachment and various partnering organizations in the law enforcement profession, including Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, the NWT Sheriff's Office, the city's Municipal Enforcement Division, the Canadian Forces, Fisheries and Oceans, the Department of Justice, NWT Corrections Services and the Correctional Service of Canada.

"It was the first women in law enforcement career fair that we have held in Yellowknife," said organizer RCMP Cpl. Tammy McKenzie.

McKenzie is the project recruiter for RCMP G Division and said the event was part of the police organization's focus on an important employment equity group - women.

"We were just telling women that the RCMP is actively recruiting," she said.

She noted there are sometimes misconceptions among women interested in applying and it was good to clarify some misconceptions, among them that hiring is slowing down or that one must be bilingual or have a university degree.

While there was not a high turnout of people, largely due to other events going on, McKenzie said it was a good opportunity to network with women in the law enforcement profession.

"We didn't have high numbers," she said, noting there were only about 35 people who showed up, but that it was still a great chance to meet others who are recruiting. "We very likely will be doing this again, although it may not be on such an employment equity group drive. It will be for law enforcement again and open it further to the general public. It would be nice to do this annually."

Lea Martin, a Citizenship and Immigration Canada officer, was at one of the featured kiosks. She says her role is exciting, has its own challenges for women and is truly a fulfilling career.

"Absolutely," she replied when asked if it was a great job for women. "There are a few challenges and things about the job that are different from a male in the role, but if you are looking to work abroad or if you are a people person and have a love to learn, it is an awesome experience."

Martin says her job is diverse and includes screening applicants wanting to come to the country, as well as security screening people who are here and want to become permanent residents. The biggest appeal, however, seems to be the chance to work overseas, she says. She noted that this can have a particular impact on women because some cultures react differently to female officers.

"There are so many different cultures and women have to be cognizant that sometimes some cultures have a shyness of talking to women," she said, pointing to her own experience as an immigration officer in West Africa, where many societies are made up of francophone Muslims.

"It often means you have to integrate into the country that you want to work in and know what their religious laws and customs are," Martin said.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.