First Mountie to wear a turban appointed to Canadian Senate

The first RCMP officer to wear a turban is now serving as a Canadian senator.

“I’m hopeful I can be the voice for all Canadians, all racialized minorities. Those people often times don’t have a voice, I’ve been there,” Baltej Dhillon said in an interview with OMNI News.

Dhillon made history in 1991 when he became the first Mountie to wear a turban, advocating for the right to practice his faith while serving Canada.

“I can tell you, it’s not easy when you imagine being somewhere and there’s nobody there before you,” Dhillon said.

“It’s critically important that Canadians get to see themselves in these institutions. It’s very difficult to imagine being somewhere if you cannot see a path there.”

Since vital expressions of faith were forbidden, a strict ban meant Dhillon couldn’t join the RCMP because of his turban and beard. Dhillon appealed to the RCMP Commissioner who urged the federal government to remove the ban. After months of debate in 1990, the government of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney announced several changes to the dress code, including the freedom to wear turbans and beards.

Dhillon went on to serve a 30-year career with the RCMP, playing a key role in several high-profile investigations, including the Air India bombing and Robert Pickton case.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Dhillon’s appointment to the Senate on Feb. 7, one of three appointments to fill some of the Senate’s remaining vacancies.

“The Prime Minister very graciously congratulated me for all of my work, all of my service and community work. He thanked me for putting my name forward and he was very honoured and very proud to be able to recommend my name for appointment to the Governor General,” Dhillon said.

Canadian senators scrutinize, study and provide suggestions for improving legislation passed by elected Members of Parliament in Ottawa’s House of Commons. A bill must pass the Senate before it becomes law.

While Dhillon said he has a lot to learn after just a few days in his new role, he’s looking forward to amplifying the voices of Canadians.

“We have many labels but there’s only one label that makes sense to me. We’re all Canadians, all of our voices should be heard, and there should be space for voices to be heard. I plan on making sure that I represent those voices there and I represent them with a lot of vigour.”

As Senator, Dhillon said he would provide his years of experience and interest in public safety and organized crime.

“Our nation has so much potential but there are these diseases that continue to plague us like cancer, the fentanyl crisis is one of them, organized crime is another, and gangs are another. These are areas that I would welcome an opportunity towards, support, and find ways, new innovative ways of reimagining how we address these issues in our country.”

Dhillon sees the importance of representation in Canada’s institutions.

“I want to be seen, and I want to be given responsibility on merit, nothing more. I don’t want to be a token, I don’t want to be given something because I wear a turban, I don’t want to be given something because my skin colour is different. Every job that I had in the RCMP, every promotion, I had to fight for.

“I’ve always said, I don’t want to be remembered just as the first Sikh, turban-wearing RCMP officer, but I would rather be remembered as a good police officer,” Dhillon said.

He is also keeping the same promise he did when he started with the police.

“Those laws that come in the Senate are laws that have to be fair. That is a promise and the oath that I took when I came into the RCMP, that is the promise and oath I make today as I move into this new role.”

– With files from Sarbraj Kahlon, OMNI News