Corporal Joanne Spacek
Kwe! Joanne Spacek is from the Apitipi Anicinapek Nation in Northeastern Ontario. Joanne comes from a Nation and family with a history of residential school and the sixties scoop era and has seen and lived the detrimental impacts it has had on her family and Nation. She also has witnessed the perseverance and strength to overcome barriers to live a healthy and vibrant life for herself, her family and her Nation. Joanne is an accomplished member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for 13 years where she worked in several sections including the Street Crime Unit, Major Crimes Unit, Special Projects Unit and she is currently assigned to the Indigenous Policing Services team. Strengthening respectful relationships with members of First Nations communities throughout New Brunswick is among some of her most important responsibilities.
Since 2006, she has been an active member of the Crisis and Hostage Negotiator team and is currently serving as the Coordinator of the Community Engagement Liaison Team (CELT) in New Brunswick. CELT’s primary focus is strengthening relationships within the province by employing measures to maintain peace and foster mutual understanding and to effectively respond to events that could arise. Joanne holds a Human Justice degree from the University of Regina as well as a Social Work degree with a specialization in First Nations child welfare from the University of Victoria. She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Counselling in Psychology at the Yorkville University. Joanne is a lifelong learner and believes that hard work and commitment will create the healthy change that is required in the Truth and Reconciliation movement in Canada.