
Catherine Galliford, who challenged RCMP sexual harassment, dies at 58
Cpl. Catherine Galliford represented the RCMP on its largest files, including the Air India bombing and the investigation into serial killer Robert Pickton.
She also sued the force, for sexual harassment.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
On Friday, she died from liver cancer at age 58.
Galliford's lawsuit prompted a class action suit and more than $100 million was paid to sexual harassment victims in the RCMP.
Among them was MLA Elenore Sturko, a former RCMP officer, who recalls the attacks on Galliford.
'I can remember that people characterized her as being crazy and disparaging her and that was deeply disturbing and sad because the Catherine Galliford that I had always admired was one that was one of the best in her field,' Sturko said.
Story continues below advertisement
Even as she battled post-traumatic stress disorder and agoraphobia, Galliford continued to support the families of Pickton's victims, speaking at an inquiry into the killings.
'I think Catherine Galliford was a very courageous police officer, one of the best spokespersons that the RCMP has ever had,' Sturko said.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Global News
10 minutes ago
- Global News
Man who tried to stab pastor had earlier said he wanted to kill a priest, court told
A man who tried to stab a Catholic pastor in the middle of a Sunday religious service last winter had previously gone to hospital and said he planned to kill a priest, a court has been told. Pawel Olownia has been found not criminally responsible for the Feb. 9 incident at Holy Ghost Parish, which saw him unsuccessfully attempt to attack a pastor with a knife bearing a 10-centimetre blade. The cleric escaped and, in a move captured on livestream video, Olownia stuck the knife into the altar and was arrested with the help of parishioners including an off-duty police officer who attended the service. Olownia, who was 50 at the time, was charged with possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, assault with a weapon and disturbing a religious assembly. Olownia underwent a psychiatric assessment that found he suffered from delusions that he was being persecuted by authorities. Story continues below advertisement The report found that Olownia held 'a long-standing belief he was continuously being video recorded by the church and the Canadian government,' provincial court Judge Lisa Labossiere said during the June 23 court hearing. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Olownia also believed he was a celebrity who had inspired popular songs and wanted privacy, she added, and was experiencing symptoms of psychosis at the time of the attack. A Crown attorney and Olownia, who represented himself at the hearing, both asked the judge for a finding of not criminally responsible, and Labossiere agreed. 'Jail is not (an) ideal place for me to be, especially if I'm having mental issues,' Olownia told court. The ruling means Olownia, who had been kept in custody, will avoid jail time and either be released or sent to a psychiatric hospital unit following a hearing before the Criminal Code Review Board. Labossiere ordered that he been transferred to a hospital pending the board hearing. The board did not return a request for information about Olownia's hearing, and the Archdiocese of Winnipeg did not respond to an interview request. Olownia had previously been hospitalized and had been diagnosed with mental health issues, court was told. At some point before the attack, he went to a hospital for help, saying that he was going to kill a priest, and was hospitalized, court was told. Story continues below advertisement There were no details at the hearing about how Olownia left the hospital. An official with the Canadian Mental Health Association said the case raises questions about what services were made available. 'This gentleman sought help … and the system was not able to, or didn't have the right protocols in place to, build a prevention strategy,' Marion Cooper, executive director of the association for Manitoba, said Wednesday. 'Having the hospital begin to reflect on what has happened, what might have been the breakdown, would be a really responsible part of our system's response in this situation.' Shared Health, the province's central health planning agency, which is also responsible for the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, said it would not comment on the case due to privacy requirements under the province's Public Health Information Act.


CBC
11 minutes ago
- CBC
West Kelowna acupuncturist charged with sexual assault
Social Sharing RCMP say an acupuncturist in West Kelowna, B.C., has been charged with sexual assault, and they're appealing for more witnesses to come forward. Police say 65-year-old Dong Lin was arrested in late January over allegations received earlier that month. RCMP say Lin has been released from custody under conditions ordering him not to treat female clients in a one-on-one setting. Devon Gerrits, a spokesperson with West Kelowna RCMP, says allegations of sexual assault against someone providing massage services are "extremely concerning." Gerrits says that, although a charge has been laid, a photo of the man has been released to the public as investigators urge more people with information to contact them. The College of Complementary Health Professionals of B.C. says in a notice dated Feb. 21 that a man with the same name has been banned from treating female patients. According to the notice, Lin was ordered to provide the college electronic access to his calendar of patients due to allegations of misconduct. The college says the order was made after a complaint from a female patient.


Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
New semi-permanent memorial in place for victims of Lapu Lapu Day attack in Vancouver
A temporary memorial honouring 11 people killed and dozens injured at the Lapu Lapu Day festival in April has been moved. Countless flowers, stuffed toys and notes were placed near Fraser Street and East 43rd Avenue after Kai-Ji Adam Lo allegedly drove his SUV into a crowd on April 26. One month after the tragedy, the city faced pushback when announcing the memorial would be moved. 0:44 City of Vancouver to relocate temporary Lapu Lapu festival memorial Deputy City Manager Sandra Singh told Global News, 'We're really trying to strike a balance between wanting to ensure that families and loved ones of those impacted and those who lost their lives continue to have respectful and well maintained places to memorialize and remember those who were lost while also enabling the community to both remember but also start to heal as well.' Story continues below advertisement Now, following consultation with victims and families through the Vancouver Police Department's Victim Services, the memorial has been consolidated and moved to a semi-permanent location at Mountain View Cemetery. 3:33 Vancouver to move memorial of Lapu Lapu festival tragedy 'We know that temporary memorials, by nature of them they are temporary and so we're glad to see that this was done with care and consideration of those that were affected,' said Kristina Corpin-Moser, executive director of Filipino BC. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Discussions continue about establishing a permanent memorial. Meanwhile, accused killer Kai-Ji Adam Lo is due back in court Friday.