When Tom O’Neill was approached about becoming McGill’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), he hadn’t been looking for a change. He was enjoying his work handling security issues for Hydro-Québec, an assignment he had accepted after a long RCMP career that had begun in costal Nova Scotia.
Still, he proved open to taking on a new challenge.
“I saw it as an opportunity to contribute, to use my experience both in community relations and in dealing with sensitive or political issues. And I’ll freely admit that being able to stay in Montreal and work for a world-renowned university like McGill was a big draw for me,” O’Neill said.
“McGill est vraiment un fleuron québécois… et canadien!” he added, in perfect French.
Wisdom from the field
In any context, from international conflict zones to small Maritime villages, getting to know people and their concerns is key, he said.
“It’s been over 30 years since I started my career in Cape Breton, but I’d like to think that, because I engaged with the community, they might still remember me. I was the RCMP officer who coached the basketball team and took seriously their concerns about stolen laundry and barking dogs.”
Even on assignments where police might have seemed like opponents, O’Neill said he found dialogue yielded the best outcomes.
“One example is the 2007 North American leaders’ summit, in Montebello. It attracted a lot of people, with a lot of different agendas. We reached out in advance to as many groups as possible to see how we could balance their advocacy goals with general safety requirements. That led to some very constructive exchanges.”
He said free expression is a value he’s long defended.
“I have been in situations where I had to explain to powerful foreign officials that, on Canadian soil, protestors have every right to peaceful, free expression. I politely indicated to the officials if they could not tolerate lawful protest, we could drive them back to the airport.”
A new environment
Despite his breadth of experience, O’Neill said he knows universities are a different world, and that McGill is particularly diverse and complex.
“I’m very pleased that Tom has accepted to join McGill. His appointment follows a period of reflection and dialogue at McGill. Some called for stronger security measures, while others expressed concern about the visibility of security personnel. The point on which all seemed to agree is the need for change,” said McGill President Deep Saini.
“Tom’s experience will benefit McGill and help us strike a balance between protecting academic life and community well-being – ensuring that teaching, learning and research can take place in a climate that is open, respectful and conducive to the free exchange of ideas,” added Saini.
O’Neill said he looks forward to assuming the CSO position in mid-September.
“It’s a privilege to take on this role at McGill. I intend to work closely with students, faculty, and staff to ensure that they have the safety supports they need to teach, research and learn,” O’Neill said.
“I’ll be on campus from Day 1 listening, engaging, and working to earn the community’s trust and help build a safer McGill.”