Baltej Singh Dhillon, the first turbaned Sikh officer in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), has been appointed as the Chair of WorkSafeBC’s board of directors, making him the first South Asian to hold this prestigious position.
Dhillon, who has been a member of the Board since 2017, will serve a three-year term starting from June 30, following an announcement made by Minister of Labour, Harry Bains, last week.
In his announcement, Minister Bains highlighted Dhillon’s extensive experience in law enforcement and his six years of service as a director at WorkSafeBC. He expressed confidence in Dhillon’s commitment to WorkSafeBC’s mission of investigating serious workplace incidents and preventing their recurrence.
WorkSafeBC is a provincial agency dedicated to promoting safe and healthy workplaces across British Columbia. Dhillon’s appointment comes as a significant milestone, as he retired from the police force in 2019 after a distinguished three-decade-long career. Throughout his service, he worked in various roles, including intelligence, special enforcement, protection services, and investigations for notable cases such as the 1985 Air India bombing task force and the Pickton case.
Dhillon gained recognition for making history as the first RCMP member to wear a turban as part of the uniform. His contribution to the community also earned him the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals. Expressing his enthusiasm for his new role, Dhillon stated, “I am excited to begin working as chair with my fellow board members and WorkSafeBC staff to continue making progress in improving the workers’ compensation system to meet the needs of workers, employers, and others throughout the province.”
Originally from Malaysia, Dhillon immigrated to British Columbia in 1983 at the age of 16. He pursued studies in criminology and applied to join the RCMP in 1988, defying the dress code of that time, which prohibited turbans and required clean-shaven faces. Following months of protests, the Progressive Conservative government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney announced changes to the RCMP dress code in March 1990, granting Sikhs the freedom to wear turbans and keep beards.
The appointment of the WorkSafeBC board of directors is made by the British Columbia Minister of Labour. The board members play a crucial role as stewards of WorkSafeBC and the workers’ compensation system, ensuring the well-being of workers across the province. (Edited).