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Last week, the jurors impaneled on the Chan Inquest released their findings and recommendations - twelve in all, eight of those aimed at the VPD.  To be clear, I laud the jurors, respect the work they’ve done and agree unreservedly with their recommendations.  

But this one, this one made my blood boil:

“ensure respectful workplace training is mandatory, rigorous,
in-person, and on a regular basis for all ranks of police officers”

I, for one, am absolutely disgusted that such a recommendation is even, or still, necessary, particularly, on a regular basis for all ranks - because we’re expecting what?  That they’ll backslide, but still keep their jobs?  That they’ll forget their training, but still keep their jobs?  That they’ll ignore their orders, but still keep their jobs?  Listening to the recommendations being read, one thought kept churning through my brain - how on earth did we get here?  One short phrase, four simple words, on repeat in my mind:   Boys will be boys.  

Growing up, I remember that phrase being used to excuse the harmless antics of mischievous young boys, Dennis-the-Menace-styles. In that context, it was benign, but when applied to older teenagers, and men (young or older) it is highly objectionable and it seems to me that this is where we now find ourselves.  All the good ol’ boys, excusing and justifying unacceptable behaviour with that toss-away remark, boys will be boys.  But please, no more.  Let’s wipe that expression from our vernacular forevermore. 

Systemic misogyny.  Old boy networks.

Inappropriate behaviour by young men has been in the news too many times to count during the past few years.  Notably, within various police services; and at Toronto’s most prestigious private school; and within Canada’s junior men’s hockey organisation; and coaches of all sports but especially gymnastics; and within the ranks of high-value, elite scholarship athletics and their universities, colleges and alumni organisations.  Etc., etc., etc.  

Tales of cover-ups abound, the old boy networks closing ranks to defend themselves and their proteges from reprimand and criticism in their best-case scenarios and from prosecution in their worst.  Boys will be boys.  They make herculean efforts to protect their dirty secrets and their perpetrators, and to stay firmly united against the outside world.  Until whistle-blowers make that stance untenable.  Even then, every story seems to have sub-plots of bribery and bullying - last-ditch efforts to keep the tales of their hateful, corrupt, malicious and abusive behaviour under wraps.  It. Is. Sickening.  

Many of the men accused of misogyny and abuse are the sons of the mums of my generation - we’ve raised these men. We’ve wholly failed, and failed them.

Yes!  To ensuring respectful workplace training is mandatory!

Yes!  To ensuring respectful workplace training is rigorous!

Yes!  To To ensuring respectful workplace training is in-person!

Yes!  To ensuring respectful workplace training is on a regular basis!

Yes!  To ensuring respectful workplace training is for all ranks of police officers!

Rest in peace, Constable Nicole Chan.

’Til next time, y’all…