Canadian Association of Police Governance

08/19/2026

Thank you for making the 37th Annual CAPG Conference such a success! 🇨🇦

To our delegates, speakers, moderators, sponsors, exhibitors, partners, volunteers, and everyone who joined us in Edmonton — thank you. Your participation, expertise, thoughtful conversations, and commitment to strong civilian police governance made this year’s conference truly memorable.

Over the past week, we shared ideas, challenged perspectives, strengthened connections, and explored some of the most important issues facing police governance and public safety in Canada today.

A special thank you to our hosts and supporters who helped make this conference possible, and to everyone who travelled from communities across the country to be part of it.

We leave Edmonton energized by the conversations we had, the connections we made, and the work still ahead.

Thank you for being part of CAPG Edmonton 2026. We look forward to seeing you in Ottawa next year!

08/14/2026

Community Engagement & Trauma-Informed Policing: The Shift from Policing to Public Safety

Public safety is evolving. Increasingly, effective policing requires looking beyond traditional enforcement to understand the people, experiences, and communities behind every interaction.

At the 37th Annual CAPG Conference, this panel will explore how community engagement, trauma-informed approaches, evidence-based policing, and strategic partnerships are helping reshape the way we think about public safety.

Featuring:

Amanda MacNeil – CAPG Board Director
Michelle La Rue – Acting Director, Partnership and Stakeholder Branch, Edmonton Police Service
Brian Harker – Director, Strategy and Innovation Branch, Edmonton Police Service
Dr. Sogand Zakerhaghighi – Chair, Chief’s Committee Council
Paul Stam – Sergeant of Evidence-Based Policing, Ottawa Police Service - Service de police d'Ottawa

Moderator: Teddy Manywounds – CAPG Board Director

Together, the panel will examine how police services and governance bodies can strengthen relationships with the communities they serve, incorporate trauma-informed practices, and support innovative approaches that address the broader factors influencing community safety and well-being.

It’s a conversation about moving beyond policing alone and toward a more collaborative vision of public safety.

Join us at the 37th Annual CAPG Conference!

08/14/2026

08/14/2026

Thank you to the Hon. Ruby Sahota, Canadian Secretary of State and Minister for Combatting Crime for participating in a roundtable discussion & taking questions from CAPG members about strengthening the police governance role within Canada's public safety model.

08/14/2026

Where Governance Ends and Policing Begins: Different Roles, Same Goal

Effective police governance depends on understanding where the role of the board ends and operational policing begins—but maintaining that distinction doesn’t mean working toward different objectives.

At the 37th Annual CAPG Conference, this panel will bring together experienced voices from both sides of the governance table to explore one of the most important relationships in Canadian policing.

Featuring:

Dr. Stephen Reid – Chief Executive Officer, CAPG
Rich Johnston – Chief of Police, Barrie Police Service
Warren Driechel – Chief of Police, Edmonton Police Service
Corwin Odland – Executive Director, Calgary Police Commission
Teddy Manywounds – CAPG Board Director

Moderator: Vincent Beswick-Escanlar – CAPG Board Director

Where should boards provide direction? Where must operational independence be respected? And how can boards and police leadership build productive relationships while remaining accountable to their distinct responsibilities?

This session will explore how clearly defined roles, mutual respect, effective communication, and a shared commitment to public safety can strengthen both governance and policing.

Different roles. Same goal.

Join us for this important conversation at the 37th Annual CAPG Conference!

08/13/2026

Governing the Algorithm: AI’s Impact on Oversight and Decision-Making

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how organizations operate—and policing is no exception. As these technologies evolve, so too must the conversations around governance, accountability, transparency, and responsible decision-making.

At the 37th Annual CAPG Conference, join our panel for a timely discussion on what AI means for police governance and civilian oversight.

Featuring:

Stephanie Johanssen – Chief Governance Officer, London Police Service Board
Dr. Michael Billinger – Manager of AI Policy and Governance, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Kurt Martin – Superintendent, Edmonton Police Service

Moderator: Arif Khan – CAPG Board Director

This session will explore the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, the questions governance bodies should be asking, and how boards and police services can approach emerging technologies while maintaining transparency, accountability, and public trust.

As algorithms play an increasingly important role in decision-making, who governs the algorithm?

Join the conversation at the 37th Annual CAPG Conference!

08/12/2026

We’re pleased to welcome Blair Gibbs, Director of the UK Police Foundation, as a keynote speaker at the 37th Annual CAPG Conference.

Police governance and oversight continue to evolve around the world, and there is tremendous value in looking beyond our borders to understand how other jurisdictions are responding to many of the same challenges facing Canadian policing.

Blair will bring an international perspective to the CAPG stage, sharing insights from the United Kingdom and exploring issues shaping the future of policing, governance, accountability, and public safety.

This keynote offers attendees a unique opportunity to consider Canadian police governance through a broader lens and hear from a leading voice in policing policy and research.

Join us for this international perspective at the 37th Annual CAPG Conference!

08/12/2026

Beyond the Badge & Role of the Board: Wellness, Retention, and the Future

The future of policing depends not only on how we recruit officers—but on how we support them, retain them, and build healthy organizations where people can succeed.

At the 37th Annual CAPG Conference, this panel will explore the evolving challenges surrounding employee wellness and retention, and the important role police governance boards can play in supporting sustainable, effective police services.

Featuring:

Dr. Stephen Reid – Chief Executive Officer, CAPG
Mark Dapat – Deputy Chief, Community Safety and Well-Being Command, Peel Regional Police Service
Derek McIntyre – Deputy Chief, Operational Services Bureau, Edmonton Police Service
Linda Jackson – CAPG Board Director
Lance Parker – Superintendent, Edmonton Police Service

Moderator: Shazia Amiri – CAPG Board Director

Bringing together perspectives from governance and senior police leadership, this conversation will examine how wellness, organizational culture, retention, and workforce expectations are shaping the future of policing—and where boards fit into that conversation.

Join us for an important look beyond the badge at the 37th Annual CAPG Conference!

08/12/2026

We’re pleased to welcome Cal Corley, Chief Executive Officer of the Community Safety Knowledge Alliance, as a keynote speaker at the 37th Annual CAPG Conference.

As communities across Canada navigate increasingly complex public safety challenges, strong leadership, collaboration, evidence, and innovation are essential to building effective responses.

Cal will bring his extensive experience in community safety and policing to the CAPG stage, offering insights into the changing public safety landscape and the opportunities for police governance leaders to help shape safer, more resilient communities.

Cal Corley will be introduced by Amtul Siddiqui, CAPG President.

Join us for this keynote and an important conversation about the future of community safety at the 37th Annual CAPG Conference!

08/12/2026

Round Table: A Federal Perspective on Police Governance

What does the future of police governance look like from a federal perspective?

At the 37th Annual CAPG Conference, we are pleased to welcome The Honourable Ruby Sahota, Canada’s Secretary of State (Combatting Crime), for a special roundtable discussion with CAPG members.

This interactive session will provide members with an opportunity to discuss the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing police governance across Canada while bringing their perspectives and questions directly to the federal conversation.

Rather than a traditional presentation, this roundtable is about dialogue - creating an opportunity for CAPG members to share their experiences, raise important governance issues, and engage in a meaningful discussion about the evolving landscape of policing and public safety in Canada.

Don't miss this unique opportunity at the 37th Annual CAPG Conference!