Bev Busson Explained

Honorific Prefix:The Honourable
Beverley Busson
Office:Canadian Senator
from British Columbia
Nominator:Justin Trudeau
Appointer:Julie Payette
Term Start:September 24, 2018
Order1:21st
Office1:Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Status1:Interim
Term Start1:December 16, 2006
Term End1:June 14, 2007
Predecessor1:Giuliano Zaccardelli
Successor1:William Elliott
Birth Name:Beverley Ann MacDonald
Birth Date:23 August 1951
Birth Place:Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Party:Independent Senators Group
Alma Mater:University of British Columbia
Occupation:Police officer
Known For:First female commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Beverley Ann Busson (MacDonald; born August 23, 1951) is a Canadian Senator and former police officer who served as the 21st commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) from December 2006 to June 2007. She was the first woman to hold this position[1] and was appointed on an interim basis in the wake of Giuliano Zaccardelli's resignation amid controversy.[2] [3] Busson's subsequent appointment as a member of the Senate of Canada representing British Columbia was announced on September 24, 2018.[4]

Early life and police career

Busson was born as Beverley Ann MacDonald[5] on August 23, 1951, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1974 after graduating with an education degree. She would later earn a law degree from the University of British Columbia.[6]

Rising up the ranks, Busson has worked for the RCMP in Salmon Arm, Vancouver, Ottawa and North Battleford, Saskatchewan (Assistant Commissioner and Commanding Officer in Saskatchewan). Prior to her appointment she was Deputy Commissioner for the Pacific Region (2000 - 2006) and took a leave from the force to head British Columbia's Organized Crime Agency (1999 - 2000).

Senate of Canada

During debate on use of the Emergencies Act, in relation to the Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa, Busson stated in Senate that Ottawa had become an "amusement park for anarchists." She urged the Act be kept in place, noting encampments near Ottawa, "so these people do not again overwhelm the people who are trying to protect us;"[7] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stopped use of the Act later that day.[8]

Awards

In 2004, she was made a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces. In 2006, she was made a Member of the Order of British Columbia.

On June 17, 2010, she was awarded the Doctor of Laws honorary degree by Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former RCMP Commissioners . rcmp-grc.gc.ca . Royal Canadian Mounted Police . February 27, 2022 . March 1, 2018 .
  2. Web site: History of the RCMP. RCMP. 2014-12-17. 2015-11-16.
  3. Web site: Beverley Busson to head RCMP. Vancouver Sun. 2006-12-16. 2015-11-16. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151117022614/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=da664160-5299-4ffa-9dbe-896df41024a6&k=33350. 2015-11-17.
  4. News: Tasker . John Paul . RCMP's first female commissioner one of Trudeau's two new picks for Senate . September 24, 2018 . CBC News . September 24, 2018.
  5. Web site: From start to finish, Bev Busson blazed the way for women . rcmp-grc.gc.ca . Royal Canadian Mounted Police . February 27, 2022 . March 3, 2015 .
  6. Web site: BEVERLEY BUSSON APPOINTED TO ADVISORY COUNCIL ON NATIONAL SECURITY. UBC. 2007. 2015-11-16.
  7. News: Tasker . John Paul . Conservative senator says 'friendly ... patriotic' Ottawa protesters have been demonized . 23 February 2022 . CBC News . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . 23 February 2022 . Toronto ON.
  8. News: Kristy Kirkup . Ian Bailey . Ottawa is ending the use of the Emergencies Act, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says . 23 February 2022 . The Globe and Mail . 23 February 2022 . Toronto ON.
  9. Web site: SFU 2010 Honorary Degree Recipients. SFU. 2010. 2015-11-16.