Ray Bernoties

In 2023, Ray was asked to assist the Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police, BC's only indigenous police service, so he returned to policing as their interim Deputy Chief until the spring of 2024. He also has worked on many projects throughout 2023 for numerous organizations in BC and the Northwest Territories, performing work related to leadership development, strategic HR/labour relations, training, investigations and conducting reviews. 

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Ray retired as the Chief of the Oak Bay Police Department in 2022. Prior to his five years with OBPD, he was an RCMP Chief Superintendent, responsible for the operations and administration of over 1000 employees across Vancouver Island. Before that, he was based at the BC RCMP headquarters in Surrey where he was the Chief Superintendent in charge of the Operation Strategy Branch, overseeing the BC RCMP's Media/Communications, Continuous Development Unit, Strategic Planning Unit, Review Services Section (including Directed Reviews, Managerial Reviews and the Quality Assurance Program), Diversity Coordinator, and large-scale initiatives such as organizational restructuring, efficiency reviews and the employee engagement initiative. 

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Ray has a passion for serving indigenous communities. He served as the Chief of the Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police in 2006. Prior to that, he oversaw policing in BC's remote coastal indigenous communities, only accessible by float plane or boat. He was also the Officer in Charge (Inspector) of Community, Contract and Indigenous Policing at the RCMP headquarters in Ottawa. He attended BC's public inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (2012) and he attended the National Apology in the House of Commons (2008). He was a member of the First Nations Police Chiefs Association of Canada in 2006 and attended the FNPCA AGM again in 2023. 

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Ray served in many roles during his 31 year career from operations such as a Surrey Duty Officer (Inspector) to being in Human Resources in Executive/Officer Development/Resourcing (Superintendent) at the RCMP's National Headquarters. He chaired numerous high level HR interviews throughout Canada such as Superintendent level Detachment Commander positions. He also presented at the Officer Development Course in Regina, SK and the Executive Development in Policing Program at the Canadian Police College in Ottawa and Supervisors Course at the Pacific Regional Training Centre and the Justice Institute of British Columbia. 

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Ray was the President of the BC Association of Chiefs of Police (BCACP), Chair of the BCACP Ethics Committee and BC's representative on the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Ethics Committee. He has been a member of numerous strategic committees such as BC's Structure & Funding Committee, presenting to BC's Blue Ribbon Panel on Crime Reduction, and contributing to police modernization.   

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While in Ottawa, Ray gained invaluable experience as the Executive Officer to the Commissioner of the RCMP, a unique position that involves accompanying the Commissioner at almost all times. Ray traveled with the RCMP Commissioner all over Canada and abroad, attending high level meetings with all levels of Government, Ambassadors, Interpol, Europol, and police leaders from across the world.  

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Ray spent most of his career in supervisor, management and executive level positions and completed countless courses including Negotiations training, Canadian Securities Course, Detachment Commanders Course, Incident Command Levels 100, 200, 300 and Evacuation Planning Course. He acquired the Gold Level Public Order Commander Certification at the College of Policing in England. He instructed on many RCMP Courses including the Media Relations Course, Public Speaking Course, and Supervisors Course.    

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Ray is passionate about pushing himself out of his comfort zone. He has traveled extensively including countries such as Haiti, Russia, Afghanistan, Guatemala, Cambodia, Turkey, Uganda, Tanzania, Vietnam, Panama and Nicaragua. He has a Kinesiology degree and was the BC RCMP's Fitness & Lifestyle Advisor. He has personally completed numerous marathons and events such as Ironman Triathlons. He has volunteered with many groups such as Rotary Club, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, coaching Special Olympics, and Cops for Cancer. He is currently heavily engaged with youth sports.