September 28th Webinar - 12pm EST - Governing The Algorithm The Role of Police Boards in AI Governance with Stephanie Johanssen
Stephanie Johanssen is the Chief Governance Officer of the London Police Service Board, where she leads the Board’s governance function and supports effective civilian oversight, statutory compliance, strategic planning, and public accountability. She supports the Board in fulfilling its obligations under the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 and works to strengthen the policies, systems, and processes that support informed decision-making.
Stephanie brings more than a decade of cross-jurisdictional experience in civilian police governance and public safety. Before joining the London Police Service Board, she served as Executive Director of the Vancouver Police Board. Earlier in her career, she worked in the Vancouver Police Department’s Professional Standards Section, gaining experience in civilian oversight, conflict management, and alternative dispute resolution. Her work has included governance modernization, community engagement, strategic communications, stakeholder relations, and collaboration with police governance organizations across Canada.
Stephanie holds an MBA from Queen’s University Smith School of Business. Her capstone research, completed for Police Governance Ontario, examined the structural and practical challenges police service boards face in collective bargaining and proposed recommendations to strengthen board effectiveness. She has also completed executive education in police governance through the Institute of Corporate Directors and the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.
November 12th Webinar - 12pm EST - Modernizing Police Resourcing: Demand, Capacity and Organizational Performance with Madison Charman, John Fast, and Hector Perez. Moderator Lisa Darling
Modernizing Police Resourcing: Demand, Capacity and Organizational Performance with Madison Charman, John Fast, and Hector Perez. Moderator Lisa Darling
Madison Charman is an Organizational Researcher for the Barrie Police Service and a PhD student in Criminology and Social Justice at Ontario Tech University. Wearing hats in both policing operations and academia, she possesses a unique expertise in conducting and implementing practical law enforcement research. Driven by a commitment to evidence-based policy and public safety, she has led and supported research across a diverse portfolio, including youth prevention programming, police legitimacy, intimate partner violence, trauma-informed policing, and the integration of AI and technology. Ultimately, Madison uses her unique position to advocate for data-driven practices that strengthen both law enforcement operations and the communities they serve.
John Fast is a Strategic Planner with the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS). Prior to joining WRPS, he earned a PhD in Strategic Management from McGill University, with a focus on technology management. His current portfolio includes overtime optimization and staffing initiatives, and his broader interests span applied econometrics, organizational learning, and social network theory.
Hector Perez holds a PhD in Strategy and Technology Management and is a former Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Waterloo. He has more than a decade of experience in project management, evaluation, strategic planning, and corporate analysis. He currently serves as Corporate Analyst with the Niagara Regional Police Service and previously worked with the Hamilton Police Service. His work focuses on strategy development and evaluation, demand analysis, resource allocation, workload studies, and evidence-based policing. Hector serves on the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Research Advisory Committee and is an active member of several professional and evidence-based policing organizations in Canada and internationally.
November 24th Webinar - 12pm EST - Building a National Police Service: Ensuring Accountability with Capability with Blair Gibbs
Building a National Police Service: Ensuring Accountability with Capability with Blair Gibbs
Blair Gibbs – Director – The Police Foundation
Blair is a leading policy advisor and consultant with expertise in public policy and government relations. For 20 years he has researched and advised on criminal justice, policing and drugs policy in the UK and more recently, in Canada.
He is the founder of The Policy Works, where he supports a range of clients on policy, strategy and public affairs. He was special advisor to the Prime Minister in the No.10 Policy Unit from July 2019 to October 2020 and before that he was senior advisor to the Justice Secretary from 2015 to 2016. Blair was also principal advisor at the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime in London from 2012 until 2015.
His work in North America has involved research on the opioids crisis in Canada, and alcohol and public safety policies for the Stanford Network for Addiction Policy, along with public attitudes research for a variety of clients, and most recently, providing support to the Government of Alberta in Canada to study the impacts of drug policy and to deliver their ‘Recovery Oriented System of Care’ across the province.
Join us for the Building Bridges: Evidence-Based Policing Conference, presented by the Canadian Society of Evidence-Based Policing (Can-SEBP).
Join us for the Building Bridges: Evidence-Based Policing Conference, presented by the Canadian Society of Evidence-Based Policing (Can-SEBP).
This national event brings together police professionals, researchers, and partners to explore how research, data, and innovation are shaping modern policing.
Gain practical insights you can apply in your work and connect with forward-thinking leaders from across Canada and beyond.
British Columbia
Vancouver police say they made largest-ever cocaine seizure
Police in Vancouver say they’ve made the largest single seizure of cocaine in the history of the force, totalling more than 328 kilograms.
Victoria police officer facing dismissal for misconduct granted independent review
A Victoria police officer facing dismissal after admitting to various forms of misconduct, including neglect, deceit and abuse of authority, has been granted an independent review of the proposed disciplinary measures.
Vancouver politics: Police union, ABC cite dated crime stat
When the Vancouver Police Union launched its Vote Public safety campaign last week, the website prominently featured the claim that violent crime is “now at its lowest point since tracking began in 2002.”
Woman wins $25K against Vancouver Police Board in human rights racial discrimination case | CBC News
Esquimalt councillor resigns to sit on police board - Victoria Times Colonist
Ken Armour’s resignation was formally accepted by Esquimalt council this week, and won’t prompt a byelection.
Alberta
Man found dead in Edmonton police custody, ASIRT investigating
Alberta’s police watchdog is investigating after a man was found dead in Edmonton police custody.
Former Calgary police officer appealing dismissal over sexual misconduct
A former Calgary police officer who was fired from the force over sexual misconduct is appealing his dismissal that came after a disciplinary hearing’s decision earlier this year.
Saskatchewan
Sask. Marshals have arrested over 100 fugitives in P.A. this year | paNOW
The Saskatchewan Marshals Service (SMS) is continuing to execute warrants and put away fugitives in the Prince...
From Colonial Force to Treaty Partner? The RCMP and a changing relationship with Treaty 6 Nations - Prince Albert Daily Herald
Chevi Rabbit Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Alberta Native News (ANNews) – For 150 years, the relationship between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Indigenous peoples has been intertwined with the history of Canada itself. That history is complicated. The institution now known as the RCMP began in 1873 as the North-West Mounted Police, created by
Manitoba
Lac Seul Police Service invited to United Arab Emirates - NWONewsWatch.com
In a historic first for Canadian First Nation policing, an officer from the Lac Seul Police Service has been invited to the United Arab Emirates.
Ontario
Employee database misuse exposed in Toronto police corruption probe | Canadian HR Reporter
Nearly 30 people charged, including seven Toronto officers and one retired constable
York Region police in schools
Trustees at York Region District School Board (YRDSB) passed a motion this week to potentially bring police officers back to schools after similar programs were paused five years ago.
Project South: Toronto Police chief issues warning to officers
Toronto’s police chief is issuing a stern warning against any officer that might be getting any ideas from the explosive revelations about the behaviour of officers accused in the Project South corruption case.
Project South: New details about corruption probe in court docs
Newly unsealed court documents in the Project South investigation were released to the public Wednesday, shedding more light on the explosive allegations made against several GTA police officers charged in the corruption probe.
Cop charged in Project South planned illegal dispensaries, massage parlours: docs
One of the officers at the heart of a sweeping anti-corruption probe in the GTA was recorded as he discussed feeding information from police databases to criminals while in his cruiser, according to newly unsealed documents related to the Project South investigation.
Icy white north: York police arrests suspects in online drug trafficking network
Five people allegedly linked to a dark web drug trafficking network called the “icy white north” are facing more than 80 charges following a months-long investigation by York Regional Police.
Sudbury police board gets summer enforcement report
Greater Sudbury's police chief reported summer enforcement numbers to the police board, citing 1,279 downtown patrols and ongoing recruitment, while the board received an update on its letter to the province.
Windsor police chief questioned about election reference in city hall bug sweep letter – CTVNews
Windsor police chief Jason Crowley says a reference to the mayoral election in a letter requesting a search for hidden listening devices at city hall was simply meant to provide context to the OPP.
Will investigating Toronto for Project South police be fair?
Questions remain regarding the independence of the inspection.
Canada parole system: Murder victims' families call for reform
Victims' families are calling for parole reforms, urging changes to Canada's justice system.
Dilkens, Gignac bid farewell to Windsor police board
New provincial law prevents Dilkens from serving another term due to past auxiliary officer role
Sizer commended for the ‘quality and dedication’ of his police board work - Sudbury News
Although he received the commendation, Sizer was quick to point out, ‘It was a team effort, it’s not Al Sizer, it’s the Greater Sudbury Police Service Board’
Quebec
Montreal police spend $20,000 on Axon bots over 5 months - Narcity
Montreal police are expanding their use of products from the American tech and weapons company Axon with the purchase of tactical robots, according to an analysis of the city's recent procurement data. The news follows an IJF investigation into how police departments across the country are contracti...
Nova Scotia
Three Nova Scotia communities to launch crime prevention projects
The Nova Scotia government has announced it will use federal money to establish public safety projects aimed at preventing crime in three municipalities. Provincial Justice Minister Scott Armstrong says the three communities will share $500,000 from Public Safety Canada to develop individual plans tailored to their local needs. The mayor of one of these towns […]
Nova Scotia to write strategy on community safety as communities grapple with ‘complex’ social issues | CBC News
New Brunswick
Saint John keeps council seat on police board pending governance review - Your Saint John
Saint John council voted to keep a council representative on the Board of Police Commissioners as it prepares to introduce a new governance model.
National
bishnoi: Lawrence Bishnoi gang threatens Canada police: ‘No guts to stop us’, claims 5,000 members, says shootings can be done for $1,000 - The Economic Times
A threat letter from the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi Gang to Canada police in 2025 has now emerged online which reads "We are Indian gang Canada has no guts to stop us is that clear — we will rule in CANADA now no one can stop us we are very powerful." The Bishnoi gang also claimed that they have more than 5000 gang member in Canada.
Rise in antisemitic violence in Canada has police on guard - Belleville Intelligencer
Belleville synagogue shooting is the latest of several disturbing cases nationally
International
Mark Carney promises $100M in Canadian aid for Palestinians
Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is pledging $100 million in new aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.


