Women occupy less than a quarter of front line positions in law enforcement.
That’s why the Young Women in Public Safety Internship Program was launched.
It gives young women a broader exposure and understanding of the variety of careers related to the sector.
Monik Beauregard, Assistant Deputy Minister, National and Cyber Security at Public Safety says it’s targeted at female grade 11 students.
“The women have to write an essay based on which we then make the selection on whether or not they get to be part of the program,” says Beauregard.
The program is offered once a year in a number of cities across Canada, including Moncton.
It is intended to expose young women to the various opportunities within the sector including the RCMP, Boarder Security and correctional services.
This is the third year the program was offered and Beauregard says the feedback from both the participants and the various agencies has been positive.
“They take great care in designing the activities in each of these agencies in each of the cities for the young women to really experience what it is to be part of that agencies and to get a good look at the rage of careers they have,” Beauregard says.
Beauregard says interest in the program is growing since its debut in 2017.
She says they received about two thousand applicants this year where as there had only been 400 in 2018.
