From scientist to the RCMP – Supt. Nav Hothi loves her career

B.C.

2023-11-22 08:07 PST

The then Corporal Nav Hothi pictured with members of the Italian police. She was part of the contingent for the Canada Pavilion during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

It is said that everyone will have their 15 minutes of fame. For RCMP Superintendent Nav Hothi her celebrity moment came in 2006 as a newly-minted corporal in Turin, Italy during the Winter Olympics.

A few months after the event, a Canadian Senator noted her star quality, writing that Canada’s first star of the Winter Games in Turin turned out to be RCMP Corporal Nav Hothi.

Newspaper photos showed her with members of the Polizia Municipale di Torino. The Italians loved her, the senator wrote, and for good reason. Cpl. Hothi looked stunning in her red serge, glossy high brown boots polished to perfection with her camel-coloured Stetson surrounded by five Italian police officers in navy blue uniforms. The Italian officers had a love of Canada—specifically Niagara Falls, and the Mountie Giubba Rossa (red serge).

The photo was published in the local press. From then on, she found herself being stopped on the street and asked to pose for photos, everywhere she went for three weeks as part of the Canada Pavilion contingent. People walking by the pavilion would peer in to see if the famous Mountie was there, then take photos of her through the window whether she was sipping a coffee in the kitchen or at an official event.

It was my one-time celebrity moment, laughs Supt. Hothi. That was one of my first experiences when I understood just what the RCMP represented around the world. It showed me that I was part of something that was recognized worldwide.

Profile photo of then Inspector Nav Hothi when she was a Divisional Duty Officer for E-Division.

The reaction and experience she had in Italy, was astonishing for Supt. Hothi, especially for someone who actually started out her adult life as a Geneticist who never once considered a career in policing, let alone the RCMP.

Supt. Hothi graduated from the University of British Columbia with a BA in Science. I’m a geneticist by education but I didn’t like the work I was in. I was at a crossroads, she recalls.

That prompted her to go to a career counsellor who tested her and suggested she go into the services….the armed services. She was dumbstruck. First of all, they said, army. I said, noooo, I’m a scientist. Then it was, join the Navy. I said the same thing. The third suggestion was to join a police force and specifically, forensics.

I said, are you kidding me? Is this what you tell everyone, she remembers. Then they asked her to think about the work she did leading up to and during school, most of which leaned toward public safety. She was a security guard. She worked at Riverview. She volunteered for the walk home safe program while at UBC. The career counsellor’s suggestion started to make sense.

Supt. Nav Hothi on duty with the Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

The senior police officer is also an Aide de Camp for the Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia—an honour says Supt. Hothi, thanks to her career in policing. Her office will reach out to various agencies around B.C. whenever more aides are needed. Supt. Hothi’s name was put forward by now retired Assistant Commissioner Stephen Thatcher, who she worked with at the time.

It’s a volunteer position, and one that Supt. Hothi cherishes. I’ve learned so much from her, says Supt. Hothi. In the RCMP I’ve had some wonderful male mentors, but have never had a female mentor in my career, until I met her Honour. I see her as a mentor. Through her Honour, I have met so many different British Columbians from all walks of life who are giving back to the community and have inspired me to contribute more.

When Supt. Hothi joined the RCMP 27 years ago, she knew nothing about policing. Unlike some of her colleagues, she never grew up with police officers in her family. My only contact with policing was (the TV show) Hill Street Blues, she laughs.

Supt. Nav Hothi on duty when she was the Divisional Duty Officer for the RCMP.

She entered Depot in Regina in March 1996. Throughout her training, she thought, there’s no way I’m going to make it through. Then she did.

Once out of Depot, and at her first posting in Surrey she walked into her first briefing and there were about 30 people sitting in the room. They were ribbing each other and laughing, and at the front of the room there were three NCOs (non-commissioned officers), old grizzled guys, and I looked around me and thought, this is just like Hill Street Blues. I loved it, she recalls.

She had a fantastic first day as an RCMP constable in Surrey and in the last 27 years, Supt. Hothi has made the most of her career, fulfilling the career counsellor’s recommendation ending up as the senior Officer-in-Charge of the BC RCMP Forensic Identification units across the province.

Supt. Hothi has never looked back.

Superintendent Nav Hothi is making a difference in her community. You can too. Apply now. Learn more about police officer and civilian career opportunities by visiting RCMP careers.

Released by:
BC RCMP Communication Services
778-290-2929

Follow Us: