A former superintendent of the Prince George RCMP detachment has been appointed deputy commissioner and commanding officer for B.C.
Brenda Butterworth-Carr served as superintendent in Prince George from 2009 to 2011.
She was then promoted to chief superintendent as head of the National Aboriginal Police Services in Ottawa.
Butterworth-Carr is a member of the Tr'ondek Hwech'in Han First Nation near Dawson City, Yukon. She joined the RCMP as a native special constable in 1987.
She returned to the Yukon at the Whitehorse detachment and, in 1999, she became a corporal and the First Nations coordinator in Whitehorse.
In 2002 she was promoted to sergeant and became the aboriginal policing district coordinator.
In 2003 she became acting officer in charge of aboriginal policing services.
At the time of her appointment, she was one of only 100 to 120 aboriginal women in active service with the RCMP.
When she took command in Prince George, she was the first woman and the first aboriginal officer to hold the post. At the time, she was only the third aboriginal woman to attain the rank in the history of the RCMP and was the first to do so in the Pacific region (B.C. and Yukon).
"Policing is no ordinary career. It takes courage, determination and perseverance," said Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Morris in a press release Wednesday.
"Years ago, when I first met Brenda Butterworth-Carr, I was immediately struck by her professional and personal integrity and passion for public safety. I've observed her progression over the years as a leader in the RCMP and continue to be impressed.
"Her career has been diverse and has provided her with a strong understanding of the provincial, municipal and First Nations service agreements. Brenda also brings a wealth of experience working collaboratively with the many agencies and contract partners that support policing in B.C.," said Morris, a retired superintendent and the former head of North District RCMP.
"As someone who has worked closely with Brenda and followed her career over the last 29 years, I couldn't be more pleased by her appointment and we look forward to working with her."
