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December 2009 – Nancy Banks
Supervisor-Communications Training, Peel Regional Police Service
 Nancy Banks is currently the Supervisor – Communications Training and has been with Peel Regional Police since 1980. At the time she applied to Peel Police, she was only looking for clerical work and was asked if she wanted to be a dispatcher. Not really knowing much about the position, but looking for a new job, she readily said yes. Who knew that this was the beginning of an adventure which still provides challenges and opportunities almost 30 years later?
Starting as a civilian dispatcher way back then, was considerably different than it is today. Nancy was one of a handful of civilians in Communications, the rest being police officers, cadets and sergeants. Civilianization was in its early stages in this area of the Police Service.
As a platoon trainer for several years, and filling in for trainers while she was part time, Nancy gained valuable experience through her interactions with many different trainees. Becoming the Training Coordinator in 1993 was another beginning for Nancy. Early on in her new capacity, a colleague recommended that she join APCO; the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials. Through that association and the network it provided, Nancy found opportunities to gain knowledge, training and experiences to continue with her own professional development. Nancy completed a number of the APCO courses and began to develop relationships with her training counterparts around the GTA and the country. Through this network, the Communications Learning Network was founded. Working with the trainers from Police Services across Southern Ontario, the Learning Network was able to assist all of its members in delivering the ongoing training for Communicators mandated by the Policing Standards. In 2003 this group was recognized by the Toronto Police Service with an Excellence Award.
Through her involvement in APCO training, Nancy began to also focus on APCO as an Association. In 2004 she was elected to the APCO Canada Board of Directors where she was the last person to move through all the positions on the Board. Nancy became President for the 2006 / 2007 term. During her five years on the Board, Nancy saw through the completion of the changes to the Board structure, the development and update of a strategic plan, the creation of structured committees and was actively involved in the planning and delivery of the annual conferences. She currently chairs the Conference Resource Committee and the Telematics Committee.
In 1996, Nancy had also become a member of NENA; the National Emergency Number Association. In 2001 Nancy became an ENP (Emergency Number Professional), a professional designation for those in the 9-1-1 field. As one of very few Canadian ENPs, and because of her training background and involvement in different aspects of training, Nancy was invited to be the Canadian representative on the NENA Education Advisory Board in 2006. Here Nancy found herself surrounded by those like her who had dedicated themselves to training and providing learning opportunities to others in the industry. As part of that role, Nancy also began to instruct for NENA, a role that allows her to continue to develop her training skills, while meeting people across the country and North America.
Nancy was elected to the NENA Executive Board as the Canadian Regional Director in June 2009. In this capacity she represents the needs of the Canadian members and promotes the NENA mission. Nancy is also a member of the CRTC Emergency Services Working Group and has become very involved in the deployment of Phase II Wireless, the location information for cell calls to 9-1-1. She is also a member of the Ontario 9-1-1 Advisory Board. Involvements such as these allow Nancy to not only remain current in 9-1-1 issues and provide up to date training in Peel, but be part of the 9-1-1 community ensuring that 9-1-1 is available and works when it’s needed. This continued involvement lead to her becoming a member of the Advisory Committee for the Seneca College School of Public Safety and Police Studies.
Nancy was honoured to be nominated for the OWLE Civilian Achievement Award in 2007, and again was proud to receive her 25 Year recognition in 2008. Being so impressed by the recognition provided to members in Ontario, Nancy became a new member of OWLE in 2009.
Nancy is also very proud of her son Christopher, who is with the Canadian Military Reserves and has served in Bosnia and Afghanistan, and her daughter Amanda who is a Communicator at Peel Regional Police.
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Ontario Women in Law Enforcement
1020 Kennedy Circle
PO box 30004
Milton, Ontario
L9T 0L8
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Phone: (905) 869-3107
Fax: 905 836-5980
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President: Jo-Ann Savoie - Hamilton Police Service
president@owle.org
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