Thunder Bay Police Services Board has a new civilian member.

During City Council, Denise Baxter was appointed to the board by the city.

Baxter is currently the Vice Provost of Indigenous Initiatives and Senior Lecturer with the Faculties of Education, Social Sciences and Humanities at Lakehead University. She has been an educator in Northwestern Ontario for more than 30 years and is a Member of the Marten Falls First Nation. Baxter also holds several undergraduate degrees, a Master of Education and is in the process of obtaining a Ph.D. Education: Language, Culture and Teaching.

Denise Baxter’s term on the Board will run until November 14, 2026, or as soon as a replacement has been appointed.

There are five seats in total on the board, and currently four are occupied with the last seat needing to be filled by a provincial appointee.

Currently, the board has no decision-making power since the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) appointed a special administrator, Malcolm Mercer, who oversees the board and has sole the vote.