Halifax, NS, Canada
Maureen Levy
Current Location: Surrey, BC, Canada
I am originally from Halifax, NS. Although I did not come from an affluent family, I fondly remember just how generous people were with their time when I was growing up. This remains a huge influence on me to this day. I am an introvert. My mom, knowing this, told me to remain authentic and be kind to others. She taught me to reach for the stars and challenge myself. Never give up on my dreams, no matter the obstacles that may present themselves along the way.
One of the ways my mom helped me with my introversion was by finding a basketball team for me to play on when I was 14 years old. This wasn’t easy for her, as I was truly apprehensive to venture out on my own. She understood this and was with me every step of the way. A few months later, I was on a plane heading to an International Basketball Tournament in Regina. The day before our flight home, we had a tour of the RCMP Training Academy in Regina (Depot). We spent the entire day there and I was in awe. I decided right then and there that I was going to be a “Mountie” when I grew up. I never wavered in this regard despite several challenges/obstacles along the way. My mom always told me to go around the “obstacles” and never give up. She said if you challenge yourself, then you will grow as a person no matter the outcome. She used to tell me that adversity builds character, and this continues to resonate with me to this day. It is my humble belief that I would not be where I am today, helping others to the best of my ability if my mom was not the remarkable and formidable person that she was.
I have had numerous postings throughout my career. However, the pinnacle of my career was having the privilege to represent both the RCMP and Canada as a Canadian Peacekeeper in Baghdad, Iraq for a one-year period. This was truly a humbling experience for me. The highlight of my deployment was traveling to Rome, Italy where I was invited to speak at an International Women, Peace and Security Conference celebrating International Women’s Day on March 6th, 2019. It was absolutely surreal, and I wouldn’t have been able to get there if it weren’t for the support of my mom for all those years. She paved the way for me so that I could chase and realize my dream of helping others. My mom was one of the focal points of my speech. She epitomized the inherent good. When you give your time and energy in the service of others, then there is nothing that is insurmountable.
As luck would have it, I met another formidable and incredible woman at that conference. Ms. Lamiya Haji Bashar was the keynote speaker. She was born in Iraq and is a Yezidi survivor of ISIS slavery. She is a women’s rights activist, and the recipient of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought for 2016. As a survivor of ISIS slavery, she was held for 20 months in the captivity of ISIS. She survived the ISIS captivity and a land mine explosion during her escape. Hearing her story was a profound moment for me. It was humbling to hear Lamiya talk candidly about her captivity. The fact that she had no malice in her heart and all that she wanted was justice versus revenge was inspiring. I was privileged to spend two days with both Lamiya and Mr. Mirza Dinnayi. Mr. Dinnayi is a Yezidi human rights activist and the Director of the German NGO Air Bridge Iraq. I remain in touch with both of them to this day.
All too often we get caught up in things that have little consequence. We all need to remind ourselves that if we truly care about what we do and how we should treat people, then there is nothing that we cannot achieve together. Kindness and generosity of spirit goes a long way! My mom, Lamiya and Mirza have all left indelible fingerprints on my heart and the world is a better place because of them.
Biography
Originating from Halifax, NS, Assistant Commissioner Maureen Levy has been a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for over 33 years and is currently the District Commander for “E” Division’s Lower Mainland District.
Assistant Commissioner Levy began her career in law enforcement in 1988 after graduating from Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS, with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree. The first seven years of her service were in Alberta, where Assistant Commissioner Levy carried out a variety of general duty policing functions. Assistant Commissioner Levy then went on to spend five years in the Canadian Arctic. There, she continued to perform general duty policing functions in Rankin Inlet and Pangnirtung in Nunavut Territory and Aklavik in the Northwest Territories.
In June of 2000, Assistant Commissioner Levy transferred back to Alberta, carrying out plainclothes duties in Commercial Crime. During this timeframe, Assistant Commissioner Levy worked with international partners, gaining valuable skills and experience related to ongoing commercial crime investigations.
While in Alberta, Assistant Commissioner Levy also carried out the role of Senior Career Development and Resourcing Advisor in the Human Resources Sector. In 2003, she obtained her Chartered Professional Human Resources Designation (CPHR). She also holds a Diploma, with Distinction, in Human Resources from Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, AB. In 2005, she was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal as formal recognition of her significant contributions and outstanding achievements for her service to others in Alberta.
Assistant Commissioner Levy then transferred to Saskatchewan where she performed a variety of duties including human resources and detachment command. In 2008, Assistant Commissioner Levy was Commissioned to the rank of Inspector and assigned to the position of Staffing Support Officer for British Columbia. Assistant Commissioner Levy then took on the role of Officer in Charge of Occupational Health and Safety for both British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. Also, 2008 marked Assistant Commissioner Levy’s 20-year anniversary in the RCMP and she was awarded the RCMP Long Service Medal for irreproachable character in her service with the RCMP. In 2010, she became the Career Development and Resourcing Officer for British Columbia.
On promotion to the rank of Superintendent in 2013, Assistant Commissioner Levy was appointed as the Officer in Charge of Criminal Operations for Nunavut Territory also acting as the Commanding Officer for the RCMP in Nunavut for a period of seven months. During this timeframe, Assistant Commissioner Levy also completed the RCMP International Executive Development Program, offered by both the Canadian Police College and the Hong Kong Police College. Promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent in 2016, she became the Officer in Charge of Criminal Operations for the RCMP in Saskatchewan.
On September 28th, 2018, Assistant Commissioner Levy was deployed to Iraq for a one-year period as part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR). This international Coalition was U.S.-led and was comprised of seventy-four member states and five international partners with the goal to defeat Daesh.
Assistant Commissioner Levy performed in a dual capacity as both the Canadian Police Contingent Commander and was also the inaugural Chief Gender Advisor for CJTF-OIR. One of her roles was to focus on an inclusive approach with the ultimate goal of improving safety and security for all Iraqi communities through gender mainstreaming. She routinely interfaced with the Senior Command Structure of the Coalition, the United Nations, the European Union, numerous international embassies, NGO’s, NATO, the Ministry of Interior (MOI) for the Government of Iraq which oversees all policing services, and numerous civil society stakeholders.
As a result of her dedication and service in Iraq, Assistant Commissioner Levy was awarded three medals: the Canadian Armed Forces General Service Medal; the French National Defence Medal and U.S. Legion of Merit Medal.
Upon return from Iraq in 2019, Assistant Commissioner Levy was awarded the Silver Clasp to add to her Long Service medal for 30 years of service of good conduct in the RCMP. During this timeframe, Assistant Commissioner Levy took on the role of Assistant District Commander and Operations Officer for the Lower Mainland District. In 2021, she was promoted to Assistant Commissioner as the Lower Mainland District Commander.
Assistant Commissioner Levy has had the privilege to sit on several national and international committees on behalf of the RCMP. Examples include the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police International Policing Committee, and she was also sought out and subsequently selected to become the RCMP Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security and has held this role since 2020.
Maureen Levy with three Iraqi female police officers at the Women's Learning Institute at the Iraqi government's Ministry of Interior in 2019.
Maureen Levy speaking at a medal presentation ceremony in Iraq.