Ottawa, ON – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that Baltej Dhillon, a retired RCMP officer and longtime advocate for diversity and inclusion, has been appointed as an independent senator for British Columbia. His Excellency, the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, officially confirmed Dhillon’s appointment alongside Martine Hèbert (Quebec) and Todd Lewis (Saskatchewan).
Dhillon made history in 1991 as the first RCMP officer to wear a turban, breaking barriers for Sikh representation in Canadian law enforcement. Over a 30-year career, he contributed to high-profile investigations and later worked with B.C.’s anti-gang agency while remaining active in youth mentorship.
His appointment to the Senate reflects his dedication to public service, diversity, and community leadership.
The Senate is the Upper House in Canada’s parliamentary democracy. With today’s announcement, there have been 93 independent appointments to the Senate made on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. All of them were recommended by the Independent Advisory Board.