Tara – BCWLE member since 2022 – Secretary 2023-2025
As the Secretary for BC Women in Law Enforcement, I have had the privilege of contributing to the empowerment and unification of women in policing while also growing both within the organization and my career in tandem. In this role, I have honed my leadership, organization, and communication skills while taking on key responsibilities such as maintaining meeting records, managing correspondence, and ensuring effective board operations. I have had the opportunity to work alongside strong role models who have inspired and challenged me, further shaping my professional development. Through mentoring, conference coordination, and event planning, I have played a crucial role in fostering professional development opportunities and facilitating networking events. My position has strengthened my ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, advocate for gender equity in law enforcement, and support strategic initiatives that inspire and uplift the next generation of women in policing. In the spirit of empowering the next generation of Women leaders, I am thrilled to pass on the Secretary “torch” and support new members interested in becoming more involved with the BCWLE.
Juliette – BCWLE member since 2021 – IT Director 2021-2023, Vice President 2023-2025
I first joined BCWLE in January 2021. The opportunity to network, find mentorship, and meet like minded women caught my attention. Shortly thereafter, a call for board nominations went out. I decided to submit my own nomination for IT Director. I thought that being a board member would give me a better chance at getting to know other BCWLE members. It proved to be that and much more!
The IT Director is in charge of managing and updating BCWLE’s website. While it’s helpful to have some technical skills, none are required – previous or current board members can show you how to use the tools. The IT Director also helps by sending out emails to members and sets up online meetings as needed. It was a great position for getting involved in BCWLE, and learning about behind the scenes, without requiring too much of a time commitment. Board meetings happen once a month for about an hour. The remaining time commitment varies from an hour here and there for website updates and emails, to more involvement leading up to big events like our annual conference. It was a great way to make great friends and give back. I also appreciated the chance to earn increments along the way (BCWLE board members can get increments for volunteer hours for VPD).
In 2023, I accepted the opportunity to become BCWLE’s Vice President and help set the direction for BCWLE for the next couple years. As the VP, I worked with the President to determine BCWLE’s priorities each year. I helped lead our monthly board meetings and delegated tasks to other board members and volunteers, making sure that BCWLE’s priorities were met while keeping the time commitment to what board members and volunteers were willing to make. It was an honour to work with so many dedicated women for BCWLE’s annual awards, socials, conference and student outreach.
I would highly recommend getting involved with BCWLE as a board member. If you have any questions about what’s involved, please send me an email at vicepresident@bcwle.ca.