Pride displayed by Service

Chief Blair & Enza Anderson

The Service’s active participation in Pride celebrations represents a growth and maturity that has developed over years, says Chief Bill Blair.

“I have been on this job for 35 years and I have a long memory of the relationships between the Toronto Police and members of the Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgendered (LBGT) community in Toronto,” Blair said, at the Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB) and Chief’s Pride reception at headquarters on June 27.

“I am very proud of what we have accomplished together and where we have come as an organization.”

Recognizing the need to enhance its relationships with the LBGT community, the Service started celebrating Pride Week 12 years ago.

“It’s no secret that Pride is one of Toronto’s best celebrations,” said TPSB Chair Alok Mukherjee.

“We celebrate a spirit in this city that is inspiring and invigorating. It is a celebration of love and harmony, of partnerships and unity and it’s a celebration of acceptance of all peoples, of diversity and of our commitment to the fundamental principles of democracy.

TPSB Chair Alok Mukherjee

“In celebrating Pride, we honour and cherish these principles and remind ourselves of their importance to all of us. There is currently tremendous goodwill and a spirit of cooperation between the police and the community. A great deal of hard work on the part of the community and the police has gone into achieving these. We should be very proud of this success and commit ourselves to building upon it in the years to come.”

Mukherjee said he was happy that the service was hosting the event at headquarters.

“To me, this speaks to the fact that we as an organization have great pride in our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members,” he said.

“We must recognize the challenges that some of these members may encounter. It is important that all of us stand behind them and make sure that they know that their fight is our fight.”

Former Toronto acting Deputy Chief Jeff McGuire, who is now the Niagara Police Chief of Police, former Community Mobilization LBGT liaison officer Tom Decker, Eagle Canada Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere executive director Helen Kennedy and Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays president Irene Miller attended the event.

LGBT liaison officer Const. Danielle Bottineau was the Master of Ceremony.

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