Gwen M. Boniface
Encyclopedia
Gwen M. Boniface, COM
, OOnt
, is a Canadian
police officer, lawyer, and the former Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police
(O.P.P.) ending in 2006. She is the first female to hold this position. She is also the first female President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
, and the first Canadian to hold the Vice Chair of the Division of State and Provincial Police of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Boniface stepped down as Commissioner in October 2006 to accept an advisory position with Ireland
's Garda Síochána
Inspectorate (National Police Force).
in 1977. She earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree from York University
in 1982 and a Bachelor of Laws
degree at Osgoode Hall Law School
in 1988.
before being called to the bar
in 1990. She was Superintendent-Director of the O.P.P. in the First Nations and Contract Policing Branch from 1993 to 1995.
She served in the Law Commission of Canada from 1997 to 2002. She was the Chief Superintendent
Regional Commander for the O.P.P. in Western Ontario from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, she was named Commissioner of the O.P.P.
She was criticised by the residents of Caledonia
by how she and the O.P.P. handled the Caledonia land dispute
. They argued that the O.P.P. treated natives differently during the dispute, and failed to protect residents and the town's power station, bridges, roads and homes during the protest.
She announced her departure as Commissioner of the O.P.P. in September, 2006 to join Ireland
's Garda Síochána
Inspectorate (National Police Force).
in 2001 for her work with the First Nations communities. She is a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces
, the Order of St. John
, and has the Humber College
Alumnus of Distinction Award.
Order of Merit of the Police Forces
The Order of Merit of the Police Forces is an honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the only such fellowship reserved only for members of Canada's various police forces...
, OOnt
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
, is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
police officer, lawyer, and the former Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police
Ontario Provincial Police
The Ontario Provincial Police is the Provincial Police service for the province of Ontario, Canada.-Overview:The OPP is the the largest deployed police force in Ontario, and the second largest in Canada. The service is responsible for providing policing services throughout the province in areas...
(O.P.P.) ending in 2006. She is the first female to hold this position. She is also the first female President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police
The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police is a national political lobby organization for police executives in Canada. It was founded in 1905 as the Chief Constables Association of Canada and adopted the current name in the early 1950s....
, and the first Canadian to hold the Vice Chair of the Division of State and Provincial Police of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Boniface stepped down as Commissioner in October 2006 to accept an advisory position with Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
's Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
Inspectorate (National Police Force).
Education
Commissioner Boniface earned a Certificate in Law & Security Administration from Humber CollegeHumber College
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning is a polytechnic college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Humber offers more than 150 programs including: bachelor’s degree, diploma, certificate, post-graduate certificate and apprenticeship programs, across 40 fields of study. Humber serves...
in 1977. She earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
in 1982 and a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree at Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
in 1988.
Professional career
She joined the Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P.) in 1977 as a Provincial ConstableConstable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
before being called to the bar
Law Society of Upper Canada
The Law Society of Upper Canada is responsible for the self-regulation of lawyers and paralegals in the Canadian province of Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1797, it is known in French as "Le Barreau du Haut-Canada"...
in 1990. She was Superintendent-Director of the O.P.P. in the First Nations and Contract Policing Branch from 1993 to 1995.
She served in the Law Commission of Canada from 1997 to 2002. She was the Chief Superintendent
Chief Superintendent
Chief superintendent is a senior rank in police forces organised on the British model.- United Kingdom :In the British police, a chief superintendent is senior to a superintendent and junior to an assistant chief constable .The highest rank below Chief Officer level, chief...
Regional Commander for the O.P.P. in Western Ontario from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, she was named Commissioner of the O.P.P.
She was criticised by the residents of Caledonia
Caledonia, Ontario
Caledonia is a small riverside community and former town located on the Grand River in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada. Haldimand County is in the western part of the Niagara Peninsula, and had a population of 43,280 in 2001. The current mayor of Haldimand County is Ken Hewitt; Caledonia is...
by how she and the O.P.P. handled the Caledonia land dispute
Caledonia land dispute
The current Grand River land dispute came to wide attention in Canada on February 28, 2006. On that date, protesters from the Six Nations of the Grand River began a demonstration to raise awareness about First Nation land claims in Ontario, Canada...
. They argued that the O.P.P. treated natives differently during the dispute, and failed to protect residents and the town's power station, bridges, roads and homes during the protest.
She announced her departure as Commissioner of the O.P.P. in September, 2006 to join Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
's Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
Inspectorate (National Police Force).
Awards
Commissioner Boniface was invested into the Order of OntarioOrder of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
in 2001 for her work with the First Nations communities. She is a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces
Order of Merit of the Police Forces
The Order of Merit of the Police Forces is an honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the only such fellowship reserved only for members of Canada's various police forces...
, the Order of St. John
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
, and has the Humber College
Humber College
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning is a polytechnic college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Humber offers more than 150 programs including: bachelor’s degree, diploma, certificate, post-graduate certificate and apprenticeship programs, across 40 fields of study. Humber serves...
Alumnus of Distinction Award.