As the first-ever female police chief to be sworn in in the Victoria Police Department's 167 years, Fiona Wilson did not take the moment for granted.
"That milestone matters, because representation matters," Wilson said in her eloquent and articulate speech, calling the occasion "long overdue".
Not only does it matter to the young girls who can see policing as a path open to them and to communities who expect institutions to be inclusive, she added. "It matters to all of our members who want to see leadership reflect the diversity and strength of those we serve.
"I am not here because I am a woman. I am here despite being a woman, and that is both a celebration and a challenge, and I hold both truths as I take on this position."
Wilson, who officially took the reins from Del Manak at a Government House ceremony on Aug. 28, transitions from the Vancouver Police Department, where she spent 26 years.
In her career, Wilson was an advocate for mental health, authoring the influential 2007 report Lost in Transition that detailed the deficiencies in the mental health-care system and impacts on vulnerable individuals and policing resources. She went on to serve in various leadership positions, such as deputy chief, overseeing the investigation division.
Meeting with the press before the ceremony, she described Victoria as a small microcosm of many of the challenges Vancouver faced.
Wilson will now oversee a jurisdiction with a downtown facing concerns with issues such as vandalism andshoplifting, as well as the multifaceted challenge of homelessness on Pandora Avenue.
"For anyone who knows me, you know that I take a very compassionate approach to social challenges in our communities. But, I also think it's really important that everyone in the community can enjoy public spaces. So through that lens, I will be tackling these challenges head on," she said.
In terms of her leadership style, she noted that it's about more than technical skills and command; "it's about conviction, compassion and courage."
During her speech, Wilson paid an emotional tribute to her father, who was killed in a Barcelona terrorist attack in 2017, and to her 83-year-old mother, Valerie, who was in the crowd.
Her mother was one of the first female air traffic controllers at Heathrow Airport. When she came to Canada for a job at YVR, she was let go when they discovered she was a woman.
"She didn't rage or retreat. She simply carried on with resolve and relentless dignity. After 54 years of marriage, she lost her husband and in the same horrific act of violence was badly injured herself. Watching her recover physically, emotionally and mentally from that experience was the greatest display of grace and resilience I have ever witnessed. She taught me everything I needed to know about how to carry pain without letting it define me."
Also in the crowd was Wilson's husband of 10 years and three children.
The media had numerous questons on the challenges Wilson faces going forward, but she said there was lots of time over the weeks ahead to dig into plans for the future. She emphasized her desire to focus the day on honouring the legacy that Chief Manak left behind.
During the ceremony, Manak was praised for his accomplishments, which included the creation of a co-response team that pairs plainclothes officers with mental health professionals to provide better, more positive outcomes, and building long-lasting relationships between officers and the Indigenous street family by partnering with the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness.
"You have led this department with distinction, humour and heart for so many years," Wilson said in her speech. "You've been an incredible mentor and friend to me."
Manak, who was the first South Asian police chief in VPD's history, said what he'll miss most about the role – which he held for the last decade – is the people.
"It's about memories. It's about moments," he said. "I've grown up at VicPD; I'm born and raised in this town."
And as for the woman stepping into his role, after introducing Wilson to the community and having at-length discussions on tough issues such as Pandora, he expressed confidence in her leadership.
"It feels right. I can't wipe the smile from my face, knowing that the department's in good hands."
