Dr. Frances Gertrude McGill played a leading role in the advancement of public health and forensic science in Saskatchewan and contributed to the development of both fields.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the designation of Dr. Frances Gertrude McGill (1882-1959) as a person of national historic significance under Parks Canada's National Program of Historical Commemoration.
Dr. McGill was born to a farming family in the Fairmount district of Manitoba in 1882. In 1915, she graduated with a medical degree from the University of Manitoba as one of only three women in her class, receiving several awards for academic achievement. In 1918, Dr. McGill became provincial bacteriologist for Saskatchewan, contributing to vaccine development. In 1922, she was promoted to director of the Provincial Laboratories.
As there were no dedicated forensic laboratory services in Saskatchewan at the time, police often turned to Dr. McGill for guidance. She began to build a reputation for herself after determining that a gunshot wound was self-inflicted and not evidence of murder, as the local doctor had concluded. Following this case, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) began to regularly consult her in cases of sudden, unnatural, and suspicious deaths. She became widely known for her expert testimony, travelling great distances to provide skilful analysis which proved critical to many cases.
In 1943, Dr. McGill came out of retirement to lead the RCMP forensic laboratory in Regina. She was the first woman to hold this position and to serve as honorary surgeon and consultant to the force after 1946. Dr. McGill raised the profile of forensic pathology in Canada through the press coverage she attracted and served as an important example of female leadership in the decades before women gained entry into the RCMP as police officers.
The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and Parks Canada, recognizes significant persons, places, and events that have shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians connect with their past. By sharing these stories with Canadians, we hope to foster understanding and reflection on the diverse histories, cultures, legacies, and realities of Canada's past and present.
