True and Fascinating Canadian History
Fortieth Anniversary of Women in the RCMP
1974 - 2014
A Very Special Chairperson
and
The First for the RCMP
Chair, Jennifer F. Lynch Q. C.
RCMP External Review Committee
by J. J. Healy
and
The First for the RCMP
RCMP External Review Committee
Death steals friends away. I was very sad this week to hear from Commissioner Phil Murray (R'td) that Ms Jennifer Lynch had passed away in Ottawa, ON on November 13, 2013.
Jennifer was the first woman appointed to the position of Chair of the RCMP External Review Committee. She brought an air of warmth, understanding and unlimited fairness to her role. Her position provided her opportunities to attend meetings at every level of the Force and to meet members of every rank all across Canada.
Jennifer also enjoyed being a guest at the Annual Officer's Mess Dinner on Parliament Hill. Although she loved her work, she was happy too in these relaxed social settings. I recall watching her mingle with friends and she had many.
Jennifer was a very special friend of the Force and she was also a very special person in my life for many, many years. I recall that her life was filled with generousity and kindness. Her presence will be missed.
I met Jennifer in 1992. At the time, she was learning about the Force, its structures and organization, its variousranks and its promotion systems. Our offices in the RCMP complex were in close proximity and Jennifer often dropped in to ask a question or two. She was a person whom one could easily share time and an exchange of ideas. Conversation was easy with Jennifer.
Jennifer will be remembered as a person who sought fairness on behalf of each person in every instance. She was a remarkable womanwho was filled with reasonable ways to solve problems without diminishing a persons feelings. She would attest, 'A case is not finished until every party sincerely felt they had presented their circumstances and expressed their sentiments of having been treated with fairness'. Her style of meetings was based on non-confrontational principles. Her conduct, sincerity, generousity of time and professionalism won prestige for the Force.
My wife Cathy and I last saw Jennifer about a year ago. I knew that her cancer had returned. She was tired. Yet, Jennifer's warmth and smile raised hope that her health would again improve.
Jennifer was very proud to be included in the RCMP family. I will always remember her generousity to me. R. I. P.
Jennifer's obituary appeared in The Ottawa Citizen. Saturday. November 16. 2013