We are excited to announce and introduce the Assessment Board for our inaugural Women Veterans Council. We are pleased to share with you the biographies of each of these incredible women.
Our Assessment Board members will review anonymized applications and meet with candidates for virtual coffee chats, after which the Board will recommend candidates to the inaugural Women Veterans Council.
We thank the members of our Assessment Board for volunteering and their willingness to be involved in this important process. We also thank all our incredible candidates for their enthusiasm and interest, and for the time they took to submit an application.
For inquiries regarding the Women Veterans Council, please contact us by email.
Women Veterans Council Assessment Board
The Hon. Senator Bev Busson, CM COM OBC (Commissioner)
Bev Busson was sworn into the Senate on September 27th 2018. She is a proud trailblazer for women in the workforce.
She was born in Nova Scotia and after graduating from Nova Scotia Teachers’ College, she joined the first class of women to enter the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). With a law degree from the University of British Columbia, her career as a police officer was a career of firsts. She has worked in various positions from uniform policework to other duties including investigating frauds, drugs and serious crimes as one of the first women to work in plain clothes.
Bev rose steadily through the ranks becoming the first female commissioned officer, the first female Criminal Operations Officer, the first female Commanding Officer of a Province and the first female Deputy Commissioner of a Region. Her challenging of gender-based barriers, and her increasing expertise in security, resulted in her being named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network in 2006 and later that year was the first woman named to lead the RCMP as the 21st Commissioner.
Following her retirement from the Force, Bev served as a member of the RCMP Reform Implementation Council, and as an advisor to the Government on National Security, among other ventures. She has also volunteered on a number of endeavours including serving as a director of the Justice Institute of British Columbia, and the Okanagan College Foundation, and participating in the Women's Executive Network Mentorship Program.
For her contributions to Canadian law enforcement and security, Bev Busson was named Commander of the Order of Merit of Police Forces by the Governor General, awarded the Vice Chief of Defence Staff Commendation, the Order of British Columbia and was ultimately recognized as a Member of the Order of Canada.
Nicole Crevier
Nicole was born and raised in Winnipeg. She enlisted with the military in 1988 at the age of 23. On Remembrance Day 1988, she was sent to Cornwallis. It was there that she met her lifelong friend and fellow purge survivor, Trudi Fontaine.
Nicole graduated from Cornwallis in February 1989 and moved on to CFB Kingston to begin her Performance Oriented Electronics Training (POET). During that year, Trudi and Nicole were both suspected of being gay. They were both interrogated, suspended from training and at the end of the year sent home, under clause 5D of CFAO 19-20, not suited for military life.
Nicole met her spouse Céline in 1994. The first few years of their relationship was very stressful because Céline was a serving member. The laws were beginning to change but they still had to be careful around her work colleagues.
Ten years after her release she went back to college and study drafting and is now a Senior BIM modeler with WSP Canada.
Cpl. (Ret’d) Jane Hall
Jane Hall (nee Greenwood) served 21 years in the RCMP (1977-98). Her last post was as Training NCO (Cpl.) for Surrey Detachment. Post-service she authored “The Redwall; a Woman in the RCMP” (2007 General Store Publishing House). She also served as Chair of the Women in Leadership: Public Safety Leadership Development Consortium 2009-2013, Chair of the RCMP Veteran Women’s Council 2013-present, past president of Police Futurists International (PFI) 20118-19, and as a member of Women Veterans Research Network (WREN) 2019-present. She lectures at the Law Enforcement Institute of Texas (LEMIT) program on Police Organizational Culture, Organizational Change and Ethical Dilemmas, and has had success in writing magazine articles and white papers.
Jane was born on Wolfe Island, Ontario, and prior to joining the RCMP she was a graduate of Queens, B.A. (76), B. Ed (77). Post-RCMP service, Jane devoted years of study and research to develop an analytical understanding of police/military/government culture and how to make positive change. She coordinated a research project in partnership with Stephen Hennessy PhD., Cloud State University and Myers Briggs-Police Leadership, Culture, Personality and Promotion, in addition to working with senior management of the RCMP and the CAF on the development of strategies to deal with abuse of authority.
Jane is a recipient of the RCMP Long Service Medal (1997), Paul Harris Fellow for Humanitarian work with Rotary International, and was shortlisted for the Edna Stabler Award for Creative Non-Fiction, Sir Wilfrid Laurier University.
Captain Navy (Ret’d) Sandra Jalonen, CD1, BSc, MBA, CHE
Sandra is the Director of Operations at Bayshore Medical Personnel.
She has 31 years of experience in the Canadian Armed Forces, the majority of which was dedicated to the Canadian Forces Health Services.
Her dedication to healthcare administration within the military eventually led to senior leadership roles focused on operational planning, command and institutional improvements. Some of Sandra’s most memorable experiences are being in challenging situations alongside her peers.
At Bayshore, Sandra’s role involves helping support federal institutions such as the military, police, Veterans Affairs Canada, correctional facilities and more with recruiting healthcare professionals, as well as retention and human resources support. This role extends beyond just providing healthcare as Sandra explains it includes the well-being and career development of healthcare professionals within Bayshore.
Petty Officer Second Class Rachel McCarthy
While studying for her Bachelor of Science (Hons) and Education degrees from the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), Rachel also played on the UPEI Women’s Soccer Team. During University she joined the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve (RCN) as a Naval Communicator. This led her to serve on the East Coast of Canada and the States along with traveling the world playing on the Canadian Women’s Military Soccer Team.
During her early teaching career on Prince Edward Island (PEI), Rachel taught and coached at Island Junior and Senior High Schools. Deciding to step away from the classroom to balance raising her young family, she continued serving part-time for the RCN in the Reserves.
Currently, in her 20th year with the Forces, she is the Operations Chief and Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Command Advisory Team at HMCS Queen Charlotte in Charlottetown, PEI. She also enjoys training for and competing with the Canadian Armed Forces Running Team.
Residing in Kensington, PEI, with her husband and 5 children, Rachel sits as an elected Trustee on the PEI Public School Branch Board of Trustees, is involved with youth soccer as a volunteer coach, and is the overall leader for the Kensington 4H Club.
The Hon. Senator Rebecca Patterson
Rear-Admiral (Ret’d) The Honourable Rebecca Patterson, OMM MSM CD is a 34-year Veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces.
A registered nurse by training, Senator Patterson enjoyed a rewarding career with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). As a health care provider and executive health leader, she worked in military healthcare delivery, education, training, and operational and strategic planning, both at home and on international deployments. On promotion to Flag (General) Officer, she was the first person with a military nursing background ever lead at that rank.
With a passion for service, Senator Patterson has lead in many different domains in CAF. From serving as the Defence Champion for Women, addressing sexual misconduct and leading culture change efforts in the CAF, to commanding Canada’s 14th health system, the Canadian Forces Health Service at the height of the COVID 19 pandemic, she has always been focused on creating healthy work environments and uplifting others. She has been a strong advocate to transform the culture, and eliminate harmful behaviour,
Senator Patterson was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada in 2014, and inducted as an Officer in the Order of Military Merit in 2018. She is also the recipient of numerous other honours and awards, including the Ontario Premier’s Award for Excellence in Health Sciences for Ontario College Graduates, and the Niagara College Canada Distinguished Alumni Award. She remains an active member of the College of Nurses of Ontario, the Canadian College of Health Leaders, and the Royal Canadian Medical Service Association.
Senator Patterson is now the first CAF woman veteran to be appointed to the Senate of Canada, where she remains committed to serving Canadians and ensuring CAF members, their families, and veterans have their voice represented. She lives in Ottawa with her family.
Martine Roy, CM
Martine Roy is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the LGBT Purge Fund.
Martine Roy is the Regional Director for 2SLGBTQ+ Business Development in Québec & Eastern Canada for TD Bank and is committed to bridging the gap between the 2SLGBTQ+ community and the workplace. Having worked for 20 years at IBM, she held positions like Critical Incident Resolution Coordinator and Account Manager. At IBM, she set up resource groups to support 2SLGBTQ+ employees and was deeply committed to raising staff and management awareness of the realities of 2SLGBTQ+ employees and promoting an inclusive workplace.
Dismissed from the Canadian Armed Forces for her homosexuality at age 19, Martine led the class action suit that concluded with an apology from the federal government in 2017. Martine served as a member of the Board of Directors of Pride at Work Canada for 10 years, a Toronto-based organization she founded with seven other individuals. She was also President of Fondation Émergence until 2015.
Over the years, as a leader in workplace inclusion, Martine has received numerous awards and distinctions. In 2017, she was awarded the Medal of the National Assembly of Quebec. In 2023, Martine Roy was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for her tireless efforts as a leader, activist, and advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equity in Canada’s 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
Captain Navy (Ret’d) Andrea Siew
Andrea served 28 years in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as a Naval Intelligence Officer. Throughout her career in the CAF, she held a wide variety of challenging positions in various operational and strategic headquarters’ staff. This included Wing Intelligence Officer, Naval Intelligence Analyst, Command Intelligence Officer, Intelligence Requirements Manager, Deputy Director of Strategic Analysis, and Intelligence Branch Advisor. As Intelligence Branch Advisor she had the privilege to meet the extraordinary women and men serving in the Intelligence Branch. In this capacity she was also engaged in addressing complex intelligence issues impacting the future of the Intelligence Branch and the defence intelligence function.
She retired from the Regular Force in December 2003 and re-enrolled as a Reservist in October 2005. She was promoted to Commodore and appointed Director General Military Signals Intelligence at the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) until her retirement in 2008. During this appointment, she provided mission-critical advice and strategic support to CSE and the defence intelligence enterprise focused on Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) for both conventional and special operations including SIGINT support to the Afghanistan mission.
Since 2008, she continues to be a passionate advocate for ill and injured CAF members, Veterans and their families, having led the Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Command Service Bureau network, and provided policy advice to the National Association of Federal Retirees. She has also worked as a senior policy advisor with the Office of the Veterans Ombud (OVO) where she led strategic research teams. Areas of work included transition to civilian life, analysis of financial benefits, support to families, mental health and women’s health.
She was one of the first in Canada to speak out about the challenges and needs of women Veterans, and the need for sex and gender based research to inform policy. In 2014, she spoke on these very issues in front of the Senate as part of their study on transitioning from the military.
As a volunteer, she engages on key issues related to the defence and security of Canada as the Chair of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Defence and Security Committee, a Director on the Legion National Foundation, and member of the Women Veterans Research and Engagement Network (WREN) and the Women Peace and Security Network – Canada.
She also proudly supports and advocates on behalf of members of the defence intelligence enterprise as a Past-President of the Canadian Military Intelligence Association and was appointed the Intelligence Branch Colonel Commandant in June 2020.