Vancouver’s Women in Blue

Born and raised in Vancouver, B.C., Carolyn served with the Vancouver Police Department from 1975 to 2003. During her career, she rose through the ranks from Constable to Deputy Chief Constable and holds the distinction of being the first woman to do so. She is the author of Vancouver’s Women in Blue and holds the women of the VPD in high esteem. This is her tribute to their service.

Vancouver’s Women in Blue is a ground-breaking account of the history of the women who served with the Vancouver Police Department between 1904 and 1975. Theirs is the story of women who first joined as matrons and the slow, rather twisting path their role in policing traveled as it evolved into assignments as fully operational police constables.

“For women in Canada, the long road to equality has taken countless turns. For many, the journey has been difficult, but the struggle has been worth it…The history of women in policing is one such saga. This book is a story of firsts within the Vancouver Police Department and chronicles not just the names, but the lives of the women who dared to challenge the gender barriers before the phrase ‘glass ceiling’ was even coined… Their stories are ones of courage and determination...”