As part of National Police Woman Day, the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service recognized Constable Lois Beckett who was the first woman officer in local police history.
Sworn in on Sept. 5, 1949, Beckett served more than 42 years as an officer locally.
At the time of her hiring, women in Canada were not given the rank of Constable, a policy that changed in 1962.
When she retired in 1991, Beckett did so having served the longest tenure of service by a woman officer in the country.
Some of the areas in which Beckett served as an officer included patrol, traffic, community safety, criminal investigations, forensic identification, quartermaster, switchboard operator and property and exhibits.
Beckett left the Sault force in 1961 to join the Tarentorus Police Force.
When the Sault, Tarentorus and Korah Township Police Force amalgamated in 1965, Beckett's contributions to policing took a step further.
After serving more than 16 years as an officer in a variety of roles, she was denied membership into the Sault Ste. Marie Police Association and reclassified as a clerk-typist, which meant working in the same capacity as civilian staff as opposed to fellow officers.
This decision led to lengthy court battles for equal rights, equal pay and equal status for women in the world of policing.
After filing multiple appeals to earlier decisions, an arbitration board ruled she was entitled to a constable’s salary and uniform in 1969.
Beckett regained status as a full member of the Association in 1976, but was required to continue working as a switchboard operator, which is a civilian position.
She filed a sex discrimination charge with the Ontario Human Rights Commission in 1977, a case she won, and in 1978, she returned to full duties as a Police Constable.
After retiring in 1991, Beckett ran for Mayor in 1996.
Following her death in 1998, then Mayor Steve Butland commended Beckett.
"Lois was best known as a pioneer," Butland said in an interview with the Sault Star at the time.