Andrea Elaine Lawrence

In 1987, there were 24 black members serving in the Force, when the RCMP went one step further by hiring its first Black female member, Andrea Elaine Lawrence.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Andrea was one of four children born to William James and Zitta May Lawrence. Andrea’s father had been a police officer in Jamaica, which may account for her interest in the legal system.

Her mother was trained as a nurse in the Caribbean and ultimately reached the position of nursing supervisor at Toronto’s Central Hospital. Zitta May Lawrence was also musically inclined and an accomplished singer.

Her parents exposed all of their children to music at a very young age. Andrea excelled with her musical talents, playing both piano and saxophone. She also tutored others on the piano.

Her brother, Bill, states that his sister was aware of the fact that she was the first black female to join the force and she was very proud of that fact.

He went on to say that the Force’s reputation the world over and the mystique that surrounds it, played a part in Andrea's decision to join the RCMP.

Andrea transferred to Burnaby Detachment in British Columbia, in 1987. Her trainer, Cpl. Phil Reid says that Andrea was always bright and bubbly. She had an outgoing personality and members used to congregate at her place. Andrea carried out general duty before moving on to traffic enforcement. In 1991, she applied to the RCMP famed Musical Ride.

This requires a member to travel to Ottawa and undergo an intense training regimen designed to assess if they are cut out for the rigours the ride. It may be that Andrea applied for the ride in an attempt to get closer to her family, who lived in the Toronto area.

On a rainy damp day, Andrea was sent out to train on a wet practice field that was unfamiliar to the horse she was riding. It was while Andrea was training for the ride that she was thrown from a horse and suffered what would be a career ending injury to her spine.

Andrea went back to Burnaby where she assumed desk duties but the injury had made it impossible for her to carry out the regular duties of a member.

After a brief return to work Andrea was unable to continue. To Cst. Lawrence’s credit, her trail blazing accomplishments have seen the number of African Canadian female members in the Force increase to over a dozen in 2004.

Finally, Andrea did take action against the force and one of the instructors for the Musical Ride. In speaking to her brother, Bill, he states that Andrea felt that her gender and the colour of her skin played a part in the way she was treated while trying out for the ride and her injury.

She settled for a medical discharge from the force. She then accepted a position with Sprint Canada in Toronto.

Sadly, in June 2003, Andrea E. Lawrence died at her home in Toronto. She was only 39 years old. Her passing marked the end of the life of Canada’s first Black female RCMP constable.