RCMP celebrates 35 years of women in uniform

REGINA - Some of the first women to become Mounties stood proudly side by side as the RCMP marked the 35 year anniversary of female police officers in the force.

Veteran officers and cadets marched today in the Sergeant Major's Parade at the RCMP's training academy in Regina, making it the first time in history that the parade has consisted entirely of women.

Among those on hand was retired RCMP commissioner Beverly Busson, who was in the first all-female troop in 1974.

Busson says there was a lot of pressure on the force to accept women and calls the change "an amazing undertaking."

The former commissioner remembers her first posting in Salmon Arm, B.C., where people would invite her home to meet their daughter or wife -- even as she was writing them a ticket.

Today, there are about 3,755 women serving as regular members of the RCMP.

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  Members of Troop 17, the first all female RCMP cadets, march at RCMP depot to celebrate 35 years of female uniformed members in the RCMP on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009, in Regina, Sask. (Troy Fleece / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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  Members of Troop 17, the first all female RCMP cadets, march at RCMP depot to celebrate 35 years of female uniformed members in the RCMP on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009, in Regina, Sask. (Troy Fleece / THE CANADIAN PRESS)