
So grateful to our incredible sponsors for their generous support. Thank you for empowering this year’s conference to reach even greater heights!
Very Limited Tickets Remaining - Agenda Now Available! (Subject to Change)
Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board – Host Sponsorship – $20,000
York Regional Police Services Board – Champion Sponsor – $10,000
Halton Police Board – Advocate Sponsor – $5,000
Toronto Police Services Board – Advocate Sponsor – $5,000
Kennebecasis Regional Joint Board of Police Commissioners – Cultivator & Friend Sponsor – $3,500
CARFAX For Police – Cultivator & Exhibitor Sponsor – $3,100
Guelph Police Services Board – Friend Sponsor – $1,000
Regional Municipality of Niagara Police Service Board – Friend Sponsor – $1,000
Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners – Friend Sponsor – $1,000
Alberta Association of Police Governance – Friend Sponsor – $1,000
Durham Regional Police Service Board – Friend Sponsor – $1,000
Ottawa Police Services Board – Friend Sponsor – $1,000
Port Moody Police Board – Coffee Break Sponsor – $850
Greater Sudbury Police Services Board – Peer Sponsor – $500

June 10th Webinar - Police culture and identity and the critical role of police service boards/commissions in supporting police members and affecting culture change for more inclusive police workplaces with Dr. Joe Couto - Director of Government Relations and Communications Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police
Dr. José Luís (Joe) Couto is a veteran public policy and communications professional who brings 36 years of proven government relations and communication experience. He is currently in his 20 th year as Director of Government Relations and Communications for the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.
Prior to serving with OACP, he was Senior Consultant with Enterprise Canada Consultants Inc., one of Ontario’s leading government relations and communications firms, where he developed expertise in several important areas of public policy, including municipal affairs, housing, energy, taxation, and fiscal policies.
In addition to his professional work, Dr. Couto is also an Associate Faculty member in Royal Roads University’s School of Humanitarian Studies and School of Communication and Culture and a part-time Professor at the University of Guelph-Humber and Humber Polytechnic in Toronto. His area of research is identity building in law enforcement, with a focus on 2SLGBTQI+ police officers and intersectionality in gender, sexual orientation, and organizational culture. Dr. Couto is the author of Covered in Blue: Police Culture and LGBT Police Officers in the Province of Ontario and Female (2014) and Gay. Cop: The Intersectionality of Gender and Sexual Orientation in Police Culture (2018), both landmark academic studies of gay police officers in Canada. His doctoral work, The Constructing of Canadian Police Officers’ Identity (2023), was published by and made available to senior Canadian police leaders by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.
A native of Brazil, Dr. Couto holds a Doctor of Social Sciences from Royal Roads University. He also has a Master of Arts in Professional Communications degree from Royal Roads University and a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) degree from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). Dr. Couto was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his contributions to policing and public safety in Canada in 2013 and the Serving With Pride Ally Award in 2016.

Join us June 19th for our webinar: No More Shelfware: The Boards Role in a Police Strategic Plan That Actually Works with Neil Dubord – Dubord Consulting
For organizations navigating complex challenges in governance, leadership, and strategic direction, Neil Dubord offers unparalleled expertise forged over thirty-five years in high-stakes public safety leadership. His experience at the executive level – including roles as Chief of the Delta Police Department, Chief of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, and Deputy Chief of the Edmonton Police Service – demanded exceptional skill in strategic planning, crisis management, stakeholder engagement, and fostering organizational resilience. These are the same skills he now leverages directly to benefit his consulting clients across various sectors. Leading large, multifaceted organizations through intense public scrutiny and periods of significant change provides Neil with a unique perspective on the pressures faced by modern leaders. Clients gain access to insights from a recognized thought leader who contributes to national and international discussions on effective governance, incident command, crisis management, and building public trust. Neil’s keynotes at major conferences and publications in prominent journals translate complex leadership principles into actionable strategies. This practical experience is underpinned by rigorous academic knowledge, including a Doctor of Business Management (Ph.D.) and a master’s in leadership and training, complemented by specialized certifications from prestigious institutions like the FBI National Academy and the University of Virginia, covering areas such as human resources, cybersecurity, and financial crime. This unique blend ensures solutions are both grounded in real-world effectiveness and informed by strategic theory.
Neil’s contributions have been recognized at the highest levels, validating his expertise. He is an Officer of the Police Order of Merit appointed by the Governor General of Canada and a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and multiple Police Exemplary Service Medals.
Through Dubord Consulting, Neil partners directly with organizations like yours to enhance effectiveness and achieve strategic goals. You receive tailored guidance in governance, leadership, and strategic planning, specifically designed to address your unique challenges. Leveraging Neil Dubord’s comprehensive understanding of organizational dynamics – honed through decades of executive leadership and advanced study – the firm emphasizes collaborative strategy development and effective leadership practices. The goal is to provide you with actionable solutions that drive sustainable growth, foster resilience, and ensure your organization can adapt and thrive in an ever-evolving landscape. Partner with Dubord Consulting to navigate complexity with confidence and build a stronger foundation for future success.
Neil and his wife of 40 years live with their beloved dog, enjoying a life grounded in family, service and integrity.

Atlantic Canada First Responder Mental Health Conference
Atlantic Canada First Responder Mental Health conference at the Delta hotel in Moncton, New Brunswick. Similar to Ontario, the objective of the conference is to bring together representatives from across the public safety community to share in preventative and interventional practices and to listen and learn how we, as a sector, can enhance the psychological health and safety of our First Responders and their families. June 2-3rd.
Complete conference information and registration is available from the event website: https://acfrmh.ca/
acfrmh.ca
British Columbia

Training large cohort of young officers top challenge for Vancouver’s new police chief - The Globe and Mail
Chief Rai takes the top job after more than three decades with the force

B.C. Human Rights Commissioner details government action, inaction on recommendations
British Columbia’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner says the provincial government has made “progress” on more than half of its recommendations since 2019.
Steve Rai is Vancouver’s new police chief - Business in Vancouver
India-born, Kitsilano Secondary graduate began VPD career in 1990
Alberta

Edmonton city council and police improve relationship at annual report
Four months after the province said it was looking into the "dysfunctional" relationship between Edmonton city council, police and police commission, that relationship appears much improved.

First Nations Mother wants change after son's death
Levon Boyce Jackson Fox, 39, a member of the Goodstoney First Nation west Calgary, was shot and killed by CPS on May 29, 2023.
Review of Sobotiak murder conviction revealed undisclosed police evidence, court filing says | CBC News
Langdon and Strathmore look to form joint policing committee - Airdrie News
Read the full story and comment on ARockyViewWeekly.com
Manitoba

Winnipeg police board seeks public's opinion on future of policing
What should the future of policing in Winnipeg look like? It's a question the Winnipeg police board is exploring. It is seeking feedback and opinions on policing in Winnipeg.
Ontario

Residents invited to weigh in on upcoming Barrie police budget
As the Barrie Police Service (BPS) board prepares their 2026 budget, the service announced this week that they are inviting residents to provide deputations at their upcoming meeting.

New Toronto police 911 digital system now online amid efforts to lower wait times
As of May 22, 2025, the Toronto Police Service 911 communications centre's next-generation system will send text messages for call-backs.

Lalonde and Papineau: Take off the kid gloves for public oversight of Ottawa Police Service
The OPS Board used to hold in-person public meetings. Meetings went online after the pandemic and it's now a gated-community police board.

North Bay news: Chaplains help police deal with trauma on the job
North Bay police have started a new chaplain program to help foster the well-being of its members. Four part-time volunteer chaplains from various faith backgrounds will have roles in the police force going forward.
Halton police leaders receive national honour at Rideau Hall - MiltonToday.ca
Deputy chiefs, superintendents appointed to Order of Merit of Police Forces
Toronto Expands SafeTO Plan with Stronger Focus on Prevention, Mental Health, and Community Safety - NetNewsLedger
Toronto Takes Fundamental Shift in Community Safety Approach TORONTO – NATIONAL NEWS – Toronto City Council has endorsed the next phase of its SafeTO: Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, reaffirming the city’s commitment to building safer communities through public health approaches and proactive social supports. Phase 2 of the plan will guide the city’s safety
Quebec

Policy on police stops: SPVM will have to inform citizens they aren't detained, free to leave
Montreal police unveiled an update to their policy on police stops on Monday. SPVM officers clarified the definition of a police stop, which is an “interaction initiated by a police officer with a person in order to collect or attempt to collect information about them, including identifying information.” The policy was adopted in the summer […]
New Montreal street check policy includes reason for stop, right to end stop, police chief says - The Globe and Mail
Advocacy groups say the new policy, which takes effect immediately, doesn’t go far enough to address years of complaints about the practice
Nova Scotia

Halifax police board gives chief go-ahead to create policies for armoured vehicle - Halifax Examiner
During board meeting on Wednesday, commissioners discuss definition of "chief officer."

Nova Scotia has the highest police-reported hate crime rate
New data from Statistics Canada shows that Nova Scotia has the highest police-reported hate crime rate among the provinces. The report, released May 25, details data from 2023 when the country recorded “a sharp rise” in hate crimes. In Canada, there were 4,777 incidents reported, which is up 32 per cent from the year prior. […]
Newfoundland and Labrador
National

First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leaders lay out major asks for re-elected Liberal government - The Hill Times
Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Métis National Council leaders urge the new Liberal government to address clean drinking water, community policing, Arctic security, and housing among many priorities for this Parliament.
International

Trump administration to scrap police reform measures in some US cities
The justice department announcement comes just days before the fifth anniversary of the death of George Floyd.