Abstract
This chapter discusses the diversity that exists within Canadian policing. While historically, police services have been comprised of Caucasian males; today police services are attempting to mirror the diverse landscape that represents Canada. Women, visible and cultural minorities, Indigenous people and LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender) individuals are represented at various levels within police services across the nation. Police recruiting initiatives are focused upon creating a workplace that proportionately reflects the community being served. Canadian policing services are responding to the challenges that come with ever changing cultural norms and values within society. This chapter also outlines the complexities associated with policing a diverse nation and how Canadian police services are attempting to address these issues. Indigenous peoples and their unique policing needs are discussed at length. It is suggested that the lessons learned from policing Indigenous peoples in Canada may serve as a valuable template in policing diverse communities.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ben-Porath, Y. (2007, October 25–27). Policing Multicultural States: Lessons from the Canadian Model Presented at Immigration, Minorities and Multiculturalism in Democracies Conference in Montreal.
Cotter, A. (2015). Spotlight on Canadians: Results from the general social survey public confidence in Canadian institutions. Statistics Canada, Cat. no. 89-652-X.http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-652-x/89-652-x2015007-eng.htm.
Correctional Investigator Canada. (2016). Annual report of the office of the correctional investigator, 2015–2016. Retrieved from: http://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/rpt/pdf/annrpt/annrpt20152016-eng.pdf.
Employment Equity Act. (1995). Retrieved from: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/e-5.401/FullText.html.
Ipperwash Inquiry Report. (2007). Commissioner Sidney B. Linden. Government of Ontario. Volume 2.
Ontario Provincial Police. (2013). Annual report on the framework approach 2007–2012. A framework for the police preparedness for aboriginal critical incidents. Retrieved from http://www.scribd.com/doc/199455930/OPP-Aboriginal-Critical-Incidents.
Jain, H. C., Agócs, C., & Singh, P. (1999). Recruitment, selection and promotion of visible minorities and aboriginals in selected Canadian police services.
Leavitt, S. (2016, March 24). Quebec’s police forces still overwhelmingly white. CBC News. Retrieved from: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-police-hiring-visible-minorities-1.3502667.
Marcoux, J., Nicholson, K., Kubinec, V., & Moore, H. (2016, July 14). Police diversity fails to keep pace with Canadian populations. CBC News. Retrieved from: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/police-diversity-canada-1.3677952.
Mazowita, B., & Greenland, J. (2015). Police resources in Canada, 2015. Juristat. Cat. no. 85- 002-X. Ottawa: Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. Retrieved from: www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2016001/article/14323-eng.htm.
Parent, R., & Parent, C. (2018). Ethics and Canadian law enforcement. Toronto: Canadian Scholars’ Press.
Prime Minister of Canada. (2018). Prime minister announces new commissioner designate of the royal Canadian mounted police. Retrieved from: https://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2018/03/09/prime-minister-announces-new-commissioner-designate-royal-canadian-mounted-police?fe.
Regina v. Gladue (1999) S.C.R. 688.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police. (2016). Employment equity. Towards a diverse workforce of excellence. Retrieved from: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ee-eme/index-eng.htm.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police. (2017a). Aboriginal Policing Services. Retrieved from: http://bc.rcmpg-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=2087&languageId=1&contentId=51216.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police. (2017b). Serving Canada’s Indigenous People. Retrieved from: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/aboriginal-autochtone/index-eng.htm
Statistics Canada. (2011). Police resources in Canada, 2011. Cat. no. 85–225-X. Ottawa.
Statistics Canada. (2016). Police resources in Canada, 2015. Cat. No. 85–002-X. Ottawa.
Statistics Canada. (2017a). Police resources in Canada, 2016. Cat. No. 85-002-X. Ottawa: Minister Responsible for Statistics Canada. Retrieved from: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2017001/article/14777-eng.htm.
Statistics Canada. (2017b). 2016 Census topic: Population and dwelling counts, November 15, 2017. Ottawa: Minister responsible for statistics Canada. Retrieved from: http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/rt-td/population-eng.cfm.
Szeto, J. K. (2014). Policing diversity with diversity: Exploring organizational rhetoric, myth, and minority police officers’ perceptions and experiences. Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive). 1674. Retrieved from: http://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/1674.
Toronto Police Service. (2017). Equal partners. Retrieved from: http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/publications/files/misc/history/4t.html.
Tyler, T. R., & Jackson, J. (2013). Future challenges in the study of legitimacy and criminal justice. In J. Tankebe & A. Liebling (Eds.), Legitimacy and criminal justice: An international exploration (pp. 83–104). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Vancouver Police Department. (2016). Service and policy complaint (2016–115) on handling of cultural or religious items. Vancouver Police Department Report to the Vancouver Police Board. Retrieved from: http://vancouver.ca/police/policeboard/agenda/2016/0616/1606C01-2016-115-SP-Handling-of-cultural-Items.pdf.
Whitelaw, B., & Parent, R. (2018). Community-based strategic policing in Canada. Toronto: Nelson.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Parent, R., Parent, C. (2019). Diversity and Policing in Canada. In: Albrecht, J.F., den Heyer, G., Stanislas, P. (eds) Policing and Minority Communities. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19182-5_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19182-5_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-19181-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-19182-5
eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)