Next month will mark the 60th year that Gloria Isadora Bartley broke barriers and tradition by becoming the first Black woman to be sworn in and serve with the then Metropolitan Toronto Police Force.
Bartley was quiet and reserved and served the City of Toronto from November 1960 to 1967, when she was mandated to retire after giving birth.
Prior to 1972, female Toronto officers had to resign after giving birth.
Bartley arrived in Toronto from Trinidad and Tobago in 1958 and worked hard and long hours to realize her dream.
“There was a buzz in the Service when Bartley broke the female colour line,” Larry McLarty, the force’s first Black male cop said then.
Insp. Sonia Thomas, who is now retired, said Bartley ‘was an inspiration to those who would follow.’
“I can only imagine how difficult it was for her joining at that time in a predominantly white male organization,” said Thomas.
Bartley died in April 2018 at the age of 84. A funeral service was held without much fanfare.
Her funeral was attended by several retired and active officers, including Thomas who was at one time the highest ranking Black female Toronto police officer.
The mother of one was remembered as a humble trailblazer whose legacy lives on today.
“She broke barriers so future generations don’t have to worry about those things,” her son Alonzo, recalled after his mom’s death.
She was “very quiet and reserved, even though she was a trailblazer,” Alonzo said. “She didn’t go out of her way to tell people. That wasn’t her style. She was very humble.”
He said his mom lived a full life and was always willing to give sound advice.
Her death is not forgotten by Toronto and other police and her anniversary on the force was Tweeted out by Ontario Women in Law Enforcement (OWLE).
“Being the first is often the toughest and most challenging. This lady paved the way,” wrote OWLE Canada officials. “Her light has shone brightly. Well done Madam.”