Two women, two careers in law enforcement, two autobiographies chronicling their experiences, two life stories that could not be more different.
I must admit that when I was approached to review these two books, I made an assumption that both authors would explore the experiences of women breaking ground in a traditional male profession. I hoped to read about their challenges, their resolve, their victories and their lessons learned. I now feel a bit chastened. My assumption was an example of the type of stereotyping that I have fought against for years.
In my own defence, let me say that the editor who approached me for this assignment suggested that I might be a good choice to do this because of my own background as one of the first three women in the province of Ontario to work as a correctional officer (jail guard...
Frances Lankin is a former member of Ontario’s legislature and Cabinet minister. Lankin spent more than a decade as CEO of the United Way of Toronto. She was recently commissioned by the Ontario government to co-lead a review of the province’s social assistance program.
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