Nicholas retires from Peacekeepers
Isabelle Nicholas (far left) with one of her early teams at the Kahnawake Peacekeepers. Courtesy Isabelle Nicholas
When Isabelle Nicholas took a job at the Kahnawake Peacekeepers in 2005, she joined the force with a clear goal in mind.
“I didn’t want to sit and give out a million tickets and charge people, I wanted to have a trauma-informed response to policing,” she said. “I wanted to sit down in the home, to talk with families, and try to resolve situations so they don’t happen again. I wanted to help people and guide them through the journey of getting better.”
That has shaped Nicholas’ identity as a Peacekeeper, with much of her work centering around her role supporting survivors of domestic violence in the community. When her retirement from the organization was announced at the end of last month, she was touched by the community members who reached out to express their thanks for how she helped them throughout the years.
“They told me how much a difference I’ve made in their journey, and it just made me feel really good, I’m really glad I was able to help them,” she said. “People don’t call the police station when things are good. It can be a thankless job, so when you do get thanked, it goes a long way.”
Since 2022, Nicholas has been more formally supporting domestic violence survivors in the community, serving as the Peacekeeper’s domestic violence and sexual assault resource officer.
She describes that role as one of the biggest honours of her career - though it wasn’t always easy. She often gave a lot to her clients, especially because she related to what they went through as a survivor of domestic violence herself.
“I understood where they were coming from and how they were feeling and why they were staying, that really helped in my role, but it’s hard to shut off at the end of the shift and go home or continue your day, because you’re worrying about them at night and on the weekends,” she said.
“I really care. And for some of them they might only trust you, and that can be hard. It doesn’t matter how many years of training you have or how many certificates or schooling you have; nothing prepares you for what you see and do on a daily basis.”
As she steps away from the role, Nicholas said the words of a survivor that she recently supported echo in her ears.
“She was crying and hugging me, and she said ‘You heard me. You validated me. You cared and supported me, and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you,’” she said. “To hear that from the victims, I didn’t realize how much that would affect me. It’s not an easy process for women to get help and be strong, and they should be proud of themselves for sticking through it and getting to where they are today.”
The Peacekeepers organized a send-off for Nicholas on her last day, lining up to salute her as she left the station.
One of those that will feel Nicholas’ absence is Peacekeeper Tara Jacobs.
“She loved her job, she took her role to heart, she gave everything to her position,” Jacobs said. “We’re all going to miss her, and she deserves her retirement.”
Nicholas left her mark at the Peacekeepers, said Shannon Cross, a former dispatcher at the station who worked with Nicholas for 14 years.
“Izzy is the most honest person I know. Her career at the station was definitely community policing, and her work was something meaningful to her. She was there for the people, regardless of their situation,” Cross said.
She said that Nicholas was a guiding light for the community but also for her coworkers, being someone she could turn to for advice or to cheer her up after a hard day at work.
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“My favourite memory of her is one night shift we worked together during an eclipse. We took our break together and sat in her patrol car at 5 a.m. watching it together. Now every full moon I think of her and remember that night,” Cross said. “She became a sister to me, and someone who will remain in my life forever.”
Nicholas is stepping away from the Peacekeepers for now but intends to continue working with survivors in the future, in whatever way that may be.
“I’m still in the grieving process about my career now, it wasn’t an easy decision for me to make, but I just have so much gratitude,” she said. “I didn’t realize how much of an effect I had. It means a lot.”
