Bio:

At just five years old, Satwinder Singh Rai accepted a new name from a neighbor who couldn’t pronounce his own. That boy, now known as Chief Constable Steve Rai, would grow into the first South Asian leader of the Vancouver Police Department, breaking barriers while carrying both heritage and home with grace.

Born in rural Punjab and raised in Vancouver, Rai’s journey reflects resilience, humility, and quiet pride in identity. Inspired by his father, who once worked in VPD’s maintenance team, he joined the force in 1990 and built his reputation on reliability, empathy, and saying “yes” to challenges. From patrolling East Vancouver to serving as a hostage negotiator and leading during the 2011 Stanley Cup riot, Rai embodied calm strength under pressure.

Today, as the city’s 32nd Chief Constable, he leads nearly 2,500 staff with a vision for modern, community-rooted policing. For South Asian youth, he stands as proof that integrity and perseverance can carry you to the very top, without ever compromising who you are.