The work behind maintaining public safety often happens out of sight. Staff handle difficult conversations and complex situations, and rely on training, experience and teamwork to ensure their calm judgment leads to positive outcomes. Increasingly, women are shaping how this work is done, bringing perspectives and skills that strengthen both enforcement and community relationships.
For City of Edmonton Municipal Enforcement Officer (MEO), Cheryl Gauvin, the path into a career in public safety wasn’t linear, but it has become one defined by purpose and connection.
Gauvin began her career in enforcement with the Edmonton Transit Service 17 years ago. Since then, she has moved through several roles before stepping into her current position. Throughout that time, one perspective has remained constant for Gauvin: people come first.
“As officers, we’re often meeting someone on one of the worst days of their life,” she says. “If you can understand what they’re going through and connect with them, you can usually de-escalate the situation and find a better outcome.”
As an MEO, Gauvin investigates community standards concerns, handling everything from property maintenance issues to neighbourhood complaints.
While her work involves legislative and enforcement processes and occasionally managing tense situations during community patrols, she sees strong communication and people skills as essential to her success.
“I feel like it’s a gift to be a woman in this role because we have so much empathy and understanding. When I’m speaking with somebody, I try to put myself in their position. I am a mom, so I know it’s not always as simple as saying, ‘you have a bunch of garbage’ or ‘you didn’t shovel your walks.’ I try to understand what they’re going through.”
The enforcement philosophy Gauvin and other City officers follow is an escalating process known as the “4Es”: Engage, Educate, Encourage and Enforce. Officers prioritize positive behaviour change through conversations, public education and informal resolutions before resorting to enforcement.
This ability to lead with empathy while enforcing bylaws or on patrol, Gauvin believes, is one of the strengths she and many other women bring to public safety.
“I’ve talked down 6’8″ guys that are pushing 300 pounds and acting aggressively. That empathy and emotional intellect that so many of us bring to the job is incredibly valuable. We look at the bigger picture,” she says. “There’s usually more going on than what you see on the surface.”
Connection and support are also central to sustaining a career in the profession. Gauvin has been actively involved with Alberta Women in Public Safety (AWIPS), a provincial organization that provides mentorship, leadership development, networking and training opportunities for women across public safety agencies.
The City has 36 active AWIPS members within the Community Standards Branch alone, making it one of the most highly represented organizations in Alberta. Current membership includes Peace Officers, Municipal Enforcement Officers, dispatch staff and leadership, with City employees also contributing to the broader organization through AWIPS board seats across multiple terms.
For Gauvin, the organization’s impact is both professional and personal.
“You walk into a room full of women who understand the challenges you’ve faced, and you immediately feel supported,” she says. “You leave feeling stronger and like you’ve got a whole team behind you.”
AWIPS programs include a growing mentorship initiative that pairs members with experienced leaders, as well as training opportunities on topics ranging from leadership skills to mental wellness, career development and operational challenges, which is vital for workers balancing the mental and physical challenges that come with the long hours and often difficult challenges of the job.
The organization also hosts conferences, networking events and annual awards that recognize excellence across the sector. Gauvin says that while those opportunities matter, leadership support is what makes participation possible for her and her teammates.
She points to Chief Bylaw Officer and Community Standards Branch manager, Chief David Jones, as a strong advocate for professional development, noting his commitment to ensuring staff can attend AWIPS events and training opportunities.
“That support makes a huge difference,” she says. “When leadership prioritizes development and says, ‘yes, go because this matters,’ it shows they’re invested in you.”
This commitment is also reflected in the recognition of Deputy Chief Brooke Hilborn, Community Standards Branch, who received the 2025 Deb Jolly Leadership Award from AWIPS. Named in honour of a respected leader in Alberta’s public safety community, the award recognizes exceptional leadership, integrity and contributions to advancing women in the field.
Hilborn was selected from nominees across the province, a recognition that speaks not only to her strategic leadership but also to her commitment to creating opportunities for women to grow.
“To have been nominated was an honour in itself, but to win and to be recognized with an award bearing the name of a leader as respected as Deb Jolly is a true privilege,” Hilborn says. “To know that my leadership was measured against the high standard she set is humbling.”
Colleagues describe Hilborn as a leader who brings both compassion and clarity to complex challenges, while consistently championing inclusion and professional development. Prior to joining the City, Hilborn also co-founded the Women in Leadership Committee for the Alberta Sheriffs Branch, further demonstrating her long-standing commitment to advancing women in public safety.
For Gauvin, who helped build the AWIPS awards program during her time as a board member, seeing women succeed in their roles reinforces what is possible.
“It makes me proud to learn about other women in this job. They’re just unreal, and I’ve met so many cool people. Working in law enforcement as a woman can feel really siloed, and sometimes you don’t get to engage with people outside your team. Being able to hear those stories and the incredible things these women are doing is so important,” she says.
While progress has been made, she acknowledges that building confidence can still take time, particularly in fields that have historically been male-dominated.
“I spent years doubting whether I was strong enough or good enough,” she says. “Now I know if you can learn to trust your instincts, you get better and more confident. You’re capable of more than you think.”
She also emphasizes that success in public safety doesn’t come from doing everything alone.
“The camaraderie among other women in this work is what’s so empowering to me, and it’s nice to have that support with one another.”
Across public safety roles, from frontline officers to leadership, women continue to shape the profession through empathy, communication, collaboration and compassion. Their contributions not only strengthen enforcement outcomes but also help build safer, more connected communities for everyone.For women considering a career in law enforcement, Gauvin shares one piece of advice. “Know your worth. Trust yourself, trust your instincts and trust that you’re not alone.” To learn more about a career as an Enforcement Officer with the City of Edmonton, visit our website.
Editor’s note: the pic at the top of the post shows a Transit Peace Officer (TPO) having a conversation with a rider at the NAIT/Blatchford Market LRT station.