RAINY RIVER — Constable Kristina Bombay said she was completely surprised to learn that she had won the IODE Community Policing Award for 2026.
The Rainy River OPP officer had been nominated for the award by Staff Sgt. Dereck McLean and said she was caught off guard by the nomination.
“I’ve never received an award before, so I was very grateful for a senior member to recognize and acknowledge the work that I do within the community,” she said.
McLean said there were many reasons he nominated Bombay for the award.
“In addition to her primary role as the mobile crisis worker for the detachment, Kristina has been a strong advocate for raising the profile of both women and Indigenous people in policing. She is a proud member of the Rainy River, Ojibway First Nation and routinely takes part in community events, including career fairs, cultural events, as well as support for Truth and Reconciliation, murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls,” he said. “She’s a very deserving candidate.”
Bombay said she was awed by the positive response to a Rainy River First Nations social media post that recognized her as the first officer in the Rainy River OPP District, and the first Indigenous person to win this prestigious award.
Bombay said she has been in policing for over 10 years, and for her, this award acknowledges the long road to get to the place where she is now.
“Now I get to do all the amazing things that I get to do, and my command and my detachment are just so amazing with me, and they let me do my thing,” she said. “They know that community relationships are so important to me, and obviously they see that and recognize that.”
Bombay said there weren’t a lot of positive role models she saw as a girl.
“All of the police that were in my home were white males, and I had never seen anybody like me in this uniform or in policing,” she said.
She said she was about 12 years old when she finally saw a female officer.
“Her name was Kathy Kowal, and for the longest time, I thought she was a non-native, but I learned that she is an Indigenous woman. She was that positive role model in my life, and I always remember how kind she was to my family and me when she was in and out of our home, and I just remember thinking, I want to be like her when I grow up.”
Bombay said that advocating for Indigenous people is a priority, “whether that’s people who have been affected by crime, victims of crime, the homeless population, and people who suffer from mental health and addiction.”
“She’s always been really community-minded and helps out wherever she can,” said Rainy River First Nations Chief Jim Leonard, who is also Bombay’s uncle.
Leonard said she is a role model to others in their community, especially when they see her at events. Bombay said these events include the Moose Hide Campaign, a campaign to raise awareness for violence against women and children.
And, when she’s not attending events, she’s hosting them. “I hosted multiple hockey fundraisers in partnership with Bell Mental Health Day.”
She acknowledged the work of other female role models who have inspired her in her work, including Insp. Brooke McRoberts, Insp. Dana Wellock, Sgt. Brittney Bembeneck, Deputy Chief Leanne O’Brien and Deputy Chief Julie Craddock.
