The head of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) announced her retirement on Wednesday. Joanne Beausoleil, who has led the provincial police force for seven years, will step down on March 17, the SQ said in a press release. With a master’s degree in administration and a certificate in political science, Beausoleil began her career in law enforcement in 1988 as a supervisor of female offenders, subsequently rising through the ranks of the correctional system, according to the SQ’s website. Between 1999 and 2007, she notably headed the detention facilities in Hull and Saint-Jérôme, as well as the Outaouais correctional services. Beausoleil is the first woman to lead the SQ, a position she first held on an interim basis in 2019 and then officially from 2022. “After 40 years dedicated to public safety, I have decided that the time has come for me to pass the baton,” Beausoleil said in the press release. Until a person is appointed, Beausoleil intends to continue in her role “with the same commitment, the same integrity, and the same sense of duty,” while ensuring “a smooth transition.” “We still have work to do, and I will remain fully dedicated to the mission of the Sûreté du Québec and to serving the people of Quebec until my last day in office,” she said. A review of her tenure will be conducted in due course, the SQ stated. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 30, 2026.
