Sometimes dubbed the "Sherlock Holmes of Saskatchewan," Dr. Frances Gertrude McGill, is a pioneer in many ways. Graduated in medicine at a time when few women ventured into this area, she devotes most of his career in forensic pathology, a discipline then emerging in Canada. She works officially for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) From 1943 and is considered as the "first police horse" of the police force. Renowned for its professionalism and for his unfailing unfailing availability, she built a solid reputation in a world of men. Its success is embodied in the motto probably endorsed it: "Think like a man, act like a lady and work like a dog."
Frances G. McGill was born in 1877 in Minnedosa, Manitoba. She grew up on a farm and a family of Irish origin, where the medical vocation is everywhere: one of his brothers is a doctor and his sister is a nurse. Frances G. McGill is no exception: she obtained her medical degree in 1915 from the University of Manitoba. She abandons her brief teaching career she began after her training at the Winnipeg Normal School to pay for college. Gifted student, she succeeded with flying colors and received his education, including the gold medal Hutchison for its excellent academic results.
After a year of internship at Winnipeg General Hospital, she began a postgraduate course to provincial laboratories in Manitoba, under the supervision of the Director of the institution, the renowned Gordon Bell, Ph.D. In 1918, the Dr. McGill is appointed by the bacteriologist provincial Ministry of Health in Saskatchewan. She works diligently, especially during the serious epidemic of Spanish influenza. In 1920, she accepted the post of provincial pathologist, and two years later, the director of the laboratory of the province where she is working primarily to resolve cases of suspicious deaths. She works closely with various police forces, including the RCMP and a reputation as a great criminologist. His testimony in court and are deemed by his painstaking work it helps to convict the guilty and exonerate the innocent. His investigations led him to crisscross the province in difficult conditions; travel are many, in all climates and by all means of transportation: dog sledding, snowmobiling, seaplane ...
When in 1937 the RCMP opens its own forensic laboratory in Regina, the workload of Dr. McGill decreases considerably. She nevertheless continued her work with the local police until his retirement from the position of provincial pathologist in 1942. For Ms. McGill, this retreat does not mean inaction. In addition to his private practice, she engages in effect at many recreation including hunting, fishing, horse riding and bridge. She even finds time to support the war effort by knitting wool socks for soldiers involved in various associations including the Business and Professional Women's Club and Regina Women's Canadian Club.
In 1943, Dr. McGill became head of the Forensic Laboratory RCMP. It then starts its investigations throughout the province. Alongside this work, it gives future police and detectives in the country during the medical jurisprudence, pathology and toxicology. Communicative and with a proverbial sense of humor, she said that humor prevented a morbid depression. She knows to convey her valuable expertise. She teaches them how to collect and preserve evidence, how to study a crime scene, how to distinguish human blood from animal blood, etc..
After officially ended its work with the RCMP Dr. McGill remains a consultant to the Force as honorary surgeon, as it receives 16 January 1946. Between his appointment and her death, January 21, 1959, Dr. McGill remains active. This includes furthering her private practice specializing in the treatment of allergies and skin diseases. We can summarize her career at what she said: "It was a lot of hard work and lots of fun ... and when the work is fun, it's never really hard ". McGill Lake located north of Lake Athabasca, Saskatchewan, bears her name.
Resources
Fund of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, clippings from the personal file of Frances McGill, RG18-G, File G455-198, Volume 3573.
Bannerman, John MacKay. Leading Ladies Canada Belleville, Mika Pub, 1977.
Churchman, Jim. "Initio" R.C.M.P. Quarterly, Vol. 38, No.o3 (July 1972), pp. 20-25.
Hacker, Carlotta. The Indomitable Lady Doctors, Halifax: Formac Publishing Company Limited, 2001.
Holmlund, Mona and GAIL Youngberg, ed. Inspiring Women: A Celebration of Her StoryRegina, Coteau Books, 2003.
Petersen, Myrna. "McGill, Frances (1882-1959)." The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan: http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/mcgill_frances_1882-1959.html%20(Accessed 3 June 2008, link in English only).
Salterio, Joe L. "McGill, Frances G., M.D.. R.C.M.P. Quarterly, Vol. 12, No.o1 (January 1946), pp. 25-32.
"MI Frances Gertrude McGill, (1877-1959). " University of Manitoba: www.umanitoba.ca / libraries / units / health / resources / womhist / fgmcgillf.html (Accessed June 3, 2008).
"Frances Gertrude McGill 1877-1959. Museum of Science and Technology Museum: http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/francais/about/hallfame/u_i23_f.cfm%20(Accessed June 3, 2008).
"Historical Notes - Women in the RCMP", Site of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/hist/hnud-nhut/women-femmes-fra.htm (Accessed March 26, 2009).
Burgun, Isabelle. "Frances McGill, working for justice"
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