Isobel Granger is the Staff Sergeant in charge of The Partner Assault Section of the Ottawa Police Service
Could you tell me about your childhood? Where were you born? Is there anything about your childhood that stands out for you? Helped form who you are today? Your parents, friends, school?
I was born in Bulawayo then Rhodesia now Zimbabwe during segregation. In hindsight there is a lot about my childhood that cannot be filed under “normal” although at the time it was all I knew. My parents were a mixed race couple so growing up in segregation meant that my community was marginalized. Worse still within my own community privilege was given according to complexion and degree of wealth. Being dark in complexion did not work in my favor in many ways. One of my first defining moments happened when I was only 8 years old. From the time I learned to talk I became very well known as a talented singer. I sang in the Church choir as well as community events some times for very large crowds. I became very comfortable on stage, primarily because I loved to sing and it did not seem to matter what was happening around me, just as long as I was singing. I also loved to read, I sometimes joke that I love reading so much that I would read a telephone directory if it was the only reading material available to me. When I sang, it did not seem to matter to anyone that I was dark in complexion and when I read, I could travel anywhere and no one could tell me I was not allowed to enter because of the colour of my skin.
At the end of every year the primary school I attended would put on a play, where the Mayor and other important guests from the city would attend. Rehearsals would begin in early September and as the big day drew closer those chosen to participate on stage would have daily rehearsals. These productions were of a very high caliber. Some of the important guests who were mainly white, would only come into our neighbor once a year for the big event, since we were segregated this was considered by members of my community as an honor. I was always chosen to participate, mainly to sing, and because I sang so well, I was one of the children who never had to audition. One year the director of the Play went away at the very beginning of the summer season, which is when we usually began to audition for the end of the year play. To my surprise I was chosen to take the stage as a princess with a very important solo part. It had escaped my notice that up until that time, that even though I was most often on the stage during these events, the roles assigned to me had always been an animal, a tree, a flower or some other inanimate object. What soon became evident was that in each of these roles my face was covered so people in the audience could not see my dark skin, they just heard my voice. Being chosen to play a princess was exciting and new but it did not matter that much anyway since I was singing, I would not have cared had I not been chosen for that role. After a few weeks of rehearsals the director returned from her time away. Immediately after realizing that I had been given a leading role, she removed me from the stage and placed a fair skinned, longhaired girl to play princess. I sang the song from behind the curtain while the fair skinned girl mimed on the stage. The teacher who had chosen me for the part was enraged, after the show she grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me and even though her anger scared me I realized that she was fighting for me, to this day I have never forgotten her words to me, she said “Isobel never let anyone put you behind the curtain again”. What I did not realize was that up until the final show she continued to express dissatisfaction that the director had humiliated me by placing me behind the curtain. I did not get to play the part, I sang behind the curtain for the main event, but the important lesson I learned on that day has stayed with me all these years.
When did you come to Canada, what made you decide on Canada, Ottawa?
I came to Canada in 1989, I left Zimbabwe in 1989 with three young children and a husband. We came to Canada because I had determined as did their father, that we did not want our children growing up in an oppressive environment, we wanted to give them the opportunity to be whatever they chose to be. We chose Ottawa because I liked the sound and meaning of the name, growing up we had never really belonged I wanted my children to experience being a part of a community which embraced them by not what they looked like but by their contribution.
What is your educational background?
I have a BA in Policing Studies and an MA in Leadership.
What can you tell us about your day job? I understand you have had some very specialized training in policing techniques which you are using in your supervisory role. Can you tell us more about this?
In 2006 I was selected as part of a group of seven Canadians who travelled to South Africa to assist South Africa Police Service to develop training so they could participate in International peace missions. Since then as part of Canada’s contribution to international peace I have participated on multi-national teams to design, develop and deliver pre-deployment and Gender Based Violence prevention training (GBV) for United Nations Peace Keepers. I have delivered strategic seminars, workshops and training in various countries in Africa and the Caribbean on topics such as Leadership, Ethics and Gender. In 2007 I mobilized OPS members and community partners to lead the first Habitat for Humanity Women Build in the National Capital Region, the number of volunteers and funds raised exceeded expectations. A low income family of six received a new home. In 2010 I was one of six Canadians selected to present recommendations to a non-partisan parliamentary committee on how Canada can contribute effectively in peacekeeping missions where Gender Based Violence is used as a strategy of war.I am an ongoing resource to the Child Soldier Initiative which is led by Retired General Romeo Dallaire in his effort to end child soldering worldwide. In 2012 I became the first Canadian to be certified as an investigator through the Justice Rapid Response for International Criminal Court investigations, where sexual violence is used as a strategy of war. The worldwide sub-roster is now at 100. I have applied the skills I have learned outside of OPS particularly my current role where I lead a team of men and women in an effort to eliminate and reduce violence against women. I also have a strong background in leadership, coaching and mentoring, I look for opportunities to mentor and coach “as I teach I learn”.
As a woman, you are very much a minority in a place that is predominantly male and Caucasian? How do the male officers respond to being led by a woman and a woman of colour in particular? Has that created problems for you and if so how have you handled them?
Being different is definitely a factor however in terms of the men and women at the frontline whether in my current role or as a supervisor on front line patrol I have been welcomed and accepted by my direct reports and peers especially when they come to me and my work ethic.
You have been a very prominent presence in the Ottawa Police Service for many years, and you are regarded as a role model, especially for minority women who do not normally consider careers in law enforcement. How did that come about and how do you feel about being seen as a hero within Ottawa’s black community?
I believe the reason is due to the fact that throughout my life, I have had defining people and defining moments sent to help through some of the most difficult times in my life. Looking back, I realized that occasionally someone would show up to help me through a challenge as well as help me learn a lesson that has not only stayed with me, it has helped me to use the experiences as opportunities to turn Adversity into Advantage. Any hardship or suffering I have endured has built my character and I have, and continuously strive to use the lessons from the challenges I have faced to help others work through their own hardships or challenges and navigate through various life trials
How do you find the time and the energy to stay engaged in all your work as well as your community engagement? How has that impacted on your personal social life?
I heard recently from a respected friend that “When you do what you love, everything else will fall in to place”. Also I have always had a strong sense of community that I learned from my parents and some of the mentors who have showed up along my path. The impact on my life is minimal due to my belief that we are all an integral part of the community therefore, for me community engagement is a strong and common thread of my existence.
What has been your biggest achievement and what was your biggest challenge? In your work, family life, volunteer work?
In 1997 following a needle stick injury while arresting an armed robbery suspect I discovered I could not compel a suspect to provide a blood sample, which meant I could not make an informed decision on treatment. I led a campaign to lobby the federal government to enact legislation to support frontline responders and good Samaritans. My story formed the nucleus for an entire debate in the House of Commons, resulting in legislation being passed in Ontario, other provinces. I was the catalyst for change nationally in the establishment of best practices to reduce risk of contamination to emergency service providers and Good Samaritans. In 2001 I was recognized in House of Commons Hansard, 37th Parliament Sitting for going above and beyond the call of duty.
How do you see the relationship between black men and women in Ottawa and in Canada in general? There are some black women who claim they are not respected by black men, that black men give more respect to white women than themselves? Do you support this point of view?
I have mixed feelings on this topic because I don’t believe in generalizing; we have some great black men who are great role models. There are men who do discriminate against black women however it would not be fair to generalize.
There appears to be a divide on one level between black francophone and Anglophone communities, and on another level between people from continental Africa and those from the Caribbean. These discrete groups often operate separately and rarely hold events together or collaborate in joint projects to their mutual benefit? Do you agree with this perception and if so what can be done to increase collaboration among our various community groups?
I believe all that is needed is a concerted effort to bridge the gap, which would require identifying gaps and strategizing on what can be done to achieve success. It is a wasted opportunity. If we are going to create critical mass in terms of addressing inequity we will need “all hands on deck”.
Looking at Ottawa’s black community, what do you see as our biggest challenges? Crime, unemployment, school drop outs, other? How do we overcome them?
Among other needs, we need men of courage to take on the task of addressing the gap, which is left by absentee fathers, one of the biggest challenges for young men particularly black youth. Young boys need a strong hand to guide them into the future, to teach them to dream, to vision and to see a more productive future.
In the years since you’ve been in Ottawa, have you seen the situation of Blacks as changed for the better: more access to jobs, social inclusion etc.?
I do see the tide changing, however real change sometimes seems slow. We are better represented in a lot of areas than we were when I arrived 25 years ago. There is work to be done still but “I believe a great future is in sight”
Finally, do you have a message for readers of Black Ottawa Scene?
The notion of “Ubuntu” which Nelson Mandela spoke about so much is integral to future success; “I am because we are, without you (the collective) there is no me (singular).
Also:
“When you arrive, turn around and reach out, give those behind you a hand up, not a hand out, and encourage them to pay it forward”.