Rising to the top is nothing new to Beverley Busson.
On the day Okanagan College’s 2011 graduating class celebrates their accomplishments, Busson will be one of three community-minded leaders to be named honorary fellows of the college.
Kathy Butler, executive director of the Okanagan College Foundation, was “among the collaborators” who nominated Busson. Noting Busson’s rise through the ranks of the RCMP to the office of the B.C. provincial commissioner, to her appointment as the force’s first female national commissioner, Butler said the foundation sought her out when they heard she was retiring to the Shuswap.
“I think she’s a person that is very accomplished and she brings a lot of experience and wisdom to our foundation and to the college,” Butler says, describing Busson as a very giving person, who’s well-liked, not arrogant and incredibly down-to-earth. “She has been a leader in her field in a very difficult, male-dominated career, and for her to gain so much respect, credibility and admiration is amazing.”
Busson is the recipient of the RCMP Long Service Medal for 30 years of good conduct, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the Canadian Forces Vice Chief of Defence Staff Commendation for her support of the Canadian cadet movement. She has been awarded honorary doctorates of law from the University College of the Fraser Valley and Simon Fraser University.
To Busson, her career was the adventure that called to her when she was in Nova Scotia heading toward a career in teaching.
“When they announced they were taking women in the force, it was like a personal message,” she says, noting she had initially chosen teaching because she wanted to contribute to society in a meaningful way. But, at the age of 22, and a self-described “adrenalin junkie,” Busson was looking for adventure too, something with a bit more of an edge. “You look up meaningful and adventure and there’s an RCMP badge beside it.”
Busson laughs as she describes her January 1974 introduction to Regina and the previously male bastion in an all-female class, where women carried their guns in their purses.
“History books will tell you, this was more or less foisted on the RCMP, to phase women in,” she says.
Busson says she and her daughter, who is a current member of the force, have had the same experience in terms of acceptance – whether male or female – being prepared to do your best is the chief prerequisite.
“It is a dangerous job and people need to know their colleagues will step up… people need to be prepared and show up,” she says. “In my case, people were watching to see if I’d get out of the car in the middle of the night, or show up when there was a fight. Once they knew I was prepared to do that, there was no problem – honestly.”
Busson credits her two-year stint in Salmon Arm not only for providing her with a great career start, but the dream of retiring to the Shuswap.
“This area has the largest number of (RCMP) veterans I believe in B.C., and I think in Canada,” she says, pointing out that when she finished training she wanted the adventure to continue and asked to be posted to the West.
In terms of recent incidents involving “undue force,” Busson points out that police officers deal with hair-trigger situations, often fuelled by drugs and alcohol, and have to make split-second decisions.
Having said that, she is a strong voice for accountability on and off the force. She is also the voice of reason, noting that people can sometimes be quick to pass judgment on a situation without having all the relevant facts. Busson is also in favour of the B.C. government’s new, independent, civilian-led office that will conduct criminal investigations into incidents that involve B.C. police officers and result in death or serious harm.
“I think the RCMP is on record as being anxious to co-operate with the new agency,” she says, deeming it a huge step in a forward direction. “The force has amazing power and responsibility. There has to be a high level of accountability that goes along with that.”
And, while she says it will never be perfect, the force is anxious to do what it takes to earn the trust of Canadians.
“I know some people have some sad stories to tell, but it was not my experience,” she says, summing up her career. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”17:19:04