Special Correspondent, Ontario.
When Sharon Olver joined the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) on August 29, 1977, she was one of only four women in her class. The OPP had only begun recruiting women three years earlier, so Olver knew she was part of a movement challenging old stereotypes about the suitability of women in policing. In total, 12 women joined the OPP that year, bringing the overall number of women on the force to just under 70. Olver was initially posted to the Sudbury Detachment and was there for a little more than a year before transferring to the OPP’s Downsview Detachment in December 1978.
Olver as a new recruit in 1977 (Image Credit: OPP)
While in Downsview, Olver was selected to serve in the Royal Motorcade for Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. She recalls the training for this elite detail as challenging, requiring impeccable timing and calm nerves, including maintaining an even speed of 100 miles per hour while staying four feet off the bumper in front of her. It was also in Downsview where Olver developed an interest in detailed crime scene investigation. After a decade on the road, she pursued an opportunity to serve as an identification officer.
Olver with her classmates Janice Corriveau, Sylvia Regan and Sandra Boehner.
In March 1988, The OPP Review profiled Olver, highlighting her achievement as the first female officer to serve with Ident when she joined the Number 5 District Headquarters Technical Identification Services Unit. As part of her work with Ident, Olver took training in explosives disposal and conducted detailed examinations, such as investigating cigarette cartons in 1987. After four years, Olver explored other career opportunities. After earning a promotion to Sergeant, she transferred to the Criminal Investigation Branch.
Carefully saved in her scrapbook is a vehicle licence plate from the 1984 visit of Queen Elizabeth II
As part of her work with Ident, Olver was required to take training in explosives disposal.
Olver examining cigarette cartons in 1987.
Olver shortly after her promotion to Sergeant in 1991
In 1993, Olver transferred to the Ontario Casino Project with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). In 2008, she was promoted to Staff Sergeant, and in 2014, she retired after an impressive 37 years with the OPP. In the 1970s, policing was considered a controversial career path for women. Those who chose it were subjected to scrutiny about their motives and commitment. Women like Sharon Olver took on the challenge and helped change society’s attitudes about women in this profession and in specialized roles within the OPP.
Thirty-six years after Sharon Olver first put on her OPP uniform, Kaitlin Rodak swore an oath to the people of Ontario as a Provincial Constable. Rodak began her policing career in 2013, just as Olver was wrapping hers up. While they never met during their brief overlap at the OPP, they are connected through time. Rodak began her career at the Norfolk County Detachment. In 2017, she pursued her interest in forensic identification and transferred to the Forensic Identification Services Unit in Tillsonburg. There, she found a kindred spirit in Sharon Olver, the pioneer who first pursued this specialty and opened the door for women like Rodak to follow.
Provincial Constable Kaitlin Rodak
Kaitlin Rodak shares her perspective on her work and the value of pursuing one’s interests, noting that the bravery and resilience of the women before her paved the way for her to contribute her skillset and have a rewarding career. The legacy of women like Sharon Olver continues to inspire and shape the future of women in uniform, ensuring that doors remain open for others to follow.
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