In an era where communication is instantaneous and omnipresent, the OACP 2025 Crisis and Strategic Communications Conference stands as a beacon for professionals navigating the complex landscape of crisis management. This conference promises a deep dive into critical case studies and invaluable lessons that shape the future of strategic communications.
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Monday, October 6, 2025
Welcome
Chief Bill Fordy, Niagara Regional Police Service
Paul Pedersen, OACP Executive Director
Opening Remarks from the Conference Emcees
Crisis? What Crisis? Why We Have to Talk Doing Better in Crisis and Strategic Communications Planning for Today's Policing Organizations
Cherrie Greeno, Director of Corporate Affairs, Waterloo Regional Police Service
Co-Chair, OACP Corporate Communications Network
Co-Chair, CACP National Strategic Group
Dr. José Luís Couto, Director of Government Relations & Communications, OACP
Keynote Speaker - Chief Constable Ian Arundale (Ret.)
Contentious Police Shootings - The United Kingdom Experience
Lessons Learnt and Pitfalls for Police and Government
Cyber-attack on Kingston Police
Chief Scott Fraser, Kingston Police
Constable Anthony Colangeli, Media Officer, Kingston Police
Case Study: Attack on Vancouver's Lapu-Lapu Festival
Sergeant Steve Addison, Media Relations, Vancouver Police Department
Health and Wellness: Delivering the Message
Dr. Phil Ritchie
| About the Session |
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As police command staff and communicators, you can at times be seen as the face (literally) of a police service. During a crisis, this brings with it a need to present as calm, in control, and providing responses when definitive answers are not available, can't be shared, or both. Such crises typically don't happen in a vacuum, and may involve family, friends, neighbours, and of course colleagues. Your messages can often be dissected later by community members who have the benefit of hindsight; and at times, further analysed through ensuing court proceedings. In short - this can be stressful work! Cops, like healthcare professionals, tend to be more comfortable taking care of everybody else's needs before their own. This presentation examines the impact of your work while presenting evidence-based solutions to looking after yourself, and by extension, your loved ones, friends, and colleagues. |
| About Dr. Phil Ritchie |
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Dr. Phil Ritchie has been a psychologist for 35 years, 17 years at the Ottawa Carleton District School Board, and the next 10 years at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. While he retired from full-time work at CHEO in 2018, he remains on staff, supporting employee wellness, providing outreach to Pikwakanagan in the wake of their fentanyl-related state of emergency, and working with parents, families, and staff at Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice. Phil began working with first responders from the outset of his career, as a member and eventual clinical lead of the Ottawa Valley Critical Incident Stress Management Team. His private clinical practice dealt mainly with sworn and civilian members of police services, wrapping up in December 2024, He has extensive experience in responding to tragic events including being seconded by Health Canada to Halifax following the crash of Swissair Ft 111, seconded by City of Ottawa and/or Ottawa Police following the OC Transpo workplace shootings, bus-train collision, and bus-station collision. He was seconded by an American NGO to Sri Lanka following the 2004 tsunami. Phil has consulted to the City of Ottawa, RCMP, Canadian Police College, and National Defence regarding disaster preparedness and response to critical incidents. Phil has consulted to the Ottawa Police Services since 2007, lectured at the Canadian Police College and has also presented at the RCMP training Depot Division (Regina). He is past president for the Society for Police and Criminal Psychology as well as past board member for Ottawa’s Youth Services Bureau. Phil continues to consult to the Ottawa Police Service including his role as Mental Health Professional on the negotiator team, as well as offering presentations and debriefings. |
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Welcome from Conference Emcees
Cherri Greeno and Dr. José Luís Couto
The View from Ontario - The State of Police Communications Update from the OACP Corporate Communications Network
Cherri Greeno, Director of Corporate Affairs, Waterloo Regional Police Service
Robin Osmond-Matthews, Brantford Police Service
Sergeant Sandash Bough, London Police Service
The View from Sweden
Is Sweden a Nation Awash in a Gun Violence Crisis? What Canadian Law Enforcement Organizations Can Learn From How Swedish Police Leaders and Communicators in Addressing Gun and Violent Crimes.
Tommy Thorngren, Press Manager, Swedish Police Authority, Stockholm Police Region
Centre for Excellence in Communications Workshop - Part 1
Centre for Excellence in Communications Workshop - Part 2
Registration:
Register now to secure your spot at this Conference! You just don't want to miss it!
Registration Fee: $425 + HST
Day Pass: $200 + HST
*Registration Fee includes coffee breaks, lunch on both days and networking opportunity on the evening of Oct 6.
Accommodation
A block of rooms has been secured at The Brock Niagara Falls Hotel.
Traditional Room: $149 + MAT + MDC + HST
Fallsview Room: $199 + MAT - MDC + HST
Fallsview King: $159 + MAT + MDC + HST
BOOK BY SEPTEBMER 8, 2025 TO SECURE YOUR ROOM AT THE SPECIAL GROUP RATE! By either clicking the link below, or calling 1-800-518-9911.