Building Bridges of Trust: Kathleen Lanoue’s Role Supporting Indigenous Women

When Kathleen Lanoue joined the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) as the Senior Advisor on Violence Against Indigenous Women (VAIW), she brought with her more than three decades of experience supporting and advocating for marginalized and high-risk populations.

A registered social worker and psychotherapist, Kathleen’s career has spanned community mental health, human trafficking response, and trauma-informed care. Her journey has taken her from Ottawa to Nunavut — where she helped develop a territorial mental health strategy and trained health professionals — and back again, always guided by one principle: relationships rooted in trust and understanding.

“I understand the difficult and delicate dynamics associated with managing complex interactions with a population whose historical experiences may have been negative or challenging,” Kathleen says. “My role is to help bridge those interactions — to make space for healing, trust, and collaboration.”

Kathleen began her time at OPS in the Victim Support Unit (VSU), where she provided crisis and trauma support to individuals and families following distressing events. Now, as Senior Advisor, she works at the intersection of community and law enforcement, helping OPS strengthen its partnerships with Indigenous organizations and leaders.

Reporting to the Superintendent of Investigations, her role supports OPS in addressing incidents of violence against Indigenous women and in fostering prevention efforts.
“This role has been under joint consideration by OPS and some members of the Indigenous community for several years,” she explains. “Superintendent Heather Lachine has been instrumental in highlighting the need for this role, and has championed change and growth in this critical area of policing.”

Kathleen serves as a link between police and Indigenous community partners, working alongside groups such as the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition and the Indigenous Women’s Safety Table to improve communication, coordination, and culturally informed responses.

“It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” she says about settling into her new role. “The most important part is building internal and external trust — building a solid foundation for this position to grow upon.”

Through this position, Kathleen aims to help identify systemic barriers and opportunities to enhance policy, training, and victim-support practices within the Service. “It’s about supporting both OPS members and Indigenous communities toward a shared goal of safety and respect,” she explains.

Her extensive experience in ethics, clinical supervision, and trauma-responsive practice informs her day-to-day work. She also mentors practitioners in the field, drawing from her past roles as Director of Professional Practice for the Ontario College of Social Workers and as Executive Director of both the Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa and the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health — where she helped operationalize a community vision for Indigenous health and wellness.

Kathleen’s new role is both facilitative and transformative. By creating space for dialogue and accountability, she aims to help OPS evolve its approach to serving Indigenous women with compassion, transparency, and partnership.

“Building trust takes time and understanding,” she says. “But every conversation, every act of collaboration, is a step toward safety and healing.”