This year’s Annual Conference theme is “Legacy. Innovation. Service. – 75 Years.” As we celebrate our association’s 75th anniversary, the conference will focus on leadership and excellence in policing that serves as a catalyst for positive change and provides a forum for learning, collaboration, inspiration, and networking. This conference ultimately benefits the communities served by Ontario’s dedicated police professionals as attendees are guided from awareness to action on ways to improve service delivery and how to best equip your organization to adapt and thrive in a changing landscape.
Sunday, May 31
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Registration from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sheraton Fallsview 3rd Floor - Pre Function Great B |
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Thank you to Smart Serve Ontario for partnering with us!
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Niagara Distillery
Kick off the OACP Annual Conference in style at our Ice Breaker Evening at Niagara Distillery! Join colleagues and friends for a relaxed and lively night of networking, conversation, and connection in one of Niagara’s most iconic venues. Enjoy locally crafted spirits, great company, and the perfect atmosphere to reconnect with peers and spark new conversations before the conference begins. This is the must-attend event to set the tone for an unforgettable week — we look forward to seeing you there!
Monday, June 1
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Registration from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Sheraton Fallsview 3rd Floor - Pre Function Great B |
| Opening Ceremony 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. proudly sponsored by Canadian Bankers Association |
Thank you to Canadian Bankers Association for partnering with us!
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Partnership Spotlight - NicheRMS 365 |
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Chris Bushell |
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Keynote Speaker - Chief Superintendent Darren Campbell 10:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. |
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C/Supt. Darren Campbell has served with the RCMP for more than 35 years. His service has taken him from the pacific coast to central Canada, to the maritime provinces of eastern Canada and internationally. In his most recent roles, he was the Criminal Operations Officer for the RCMP in New Brunswick, and he recently returned from a one-year international mission in the Middle East serving as the Director of Law Enforcement and Public Safety for the Office of Security Coordination for Isreal and the Palestinian Authority. He has an extensive background in a variety of operational roles from oversight and command of all specialized policing units within the criminal operations realm. He has dedicated more than 23 years of his service to investigating, commanding and providing investigative oversight in the areas of singular, mass murder and serial homicide investigations. He is Member of the Order of Merit of Police Forces, an accredited major case management Team Commander, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and is a frequent major case management and investigative techniques facilitator at the Canadian Police College and the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. At the time of the Nova Scotia mass casualty incident, C/Supt. Campbell was the Support Services Officer for the Nova Scotia RCMP. He served in that role from October 2018 to June of 2022.
About the Session The Nova Scotia Mass Casualty incident is known as Canada’s most devastating active shooter incident. The lives of twenty-two innocent people were taken by single gunman, Gabriel Wortman. The lasting impact of the tragedy will remain with the victims, survivors, surviving family members, the Nova Scotia first responder’s community and the people of Nova Scotia. Every major incident encountered by the police presents opportunities to reflect and to learn from these incidents, regardless of how well or how poorly they were managed and executed. The Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Incident was subject to a joint, federal/ provincial commission of inquiry know as the Mass Casualty Commission or MCC. The MCC produced a seven volume, 3000-page report with respect to the incident and made several recommendations. The purpose of this presentation is to relay the facts and to have the participants reflect on what they are doing to prepare themselves for a similar or worse incident within their areas of jurisdiction/ responsibility. Participants are asked to put themselves in the shoes of those who responded over the 19th and 20th of April 2020 and into the more than two years that followed leading up to the MCC inquiry. This presentation is for everyone who works for police services and for those who support the police in their work. Patrol members, Operational Communication Centre staff, Critical Incident Commanders and other resources attached to critical incident program, tactical operators, Major Crimes Investigators, Forensic Identification Specialists, Behavioural Science specialists, Domestic Violence Coordinators, Emergency Management resources, Human Resource Specialists, Wellness Coordinators, Strategic Communications personnel, police supervisors and police managers, Police Board members and government/ public safety leadership. Topics normally embedded in the presentation include:
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Session 1 1:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. |
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Dr. Marc Hurwitz is a co-author of the best-seller Leadership is Half the Story (University of Toronto, Rotman-Press), Followership Education, and Followership In Action. He is the co-founder of FliP U Inc. - FliPing leadership on its head with innovative blended professional development. Marc teaches leadership & followership, entrepreneurship, organizational behaviour, and consulting at U. Waterloo. He has also taught Finance at Wilfrid Laurier, neuroscience and psychology at U. Waterloo, and math and physics at a number of PSEs. Marc has many years corporate and entrepreneurial experience in product marketing, HR, actuarial and IT, including starting three separate ventures. Although, as a kid, he dreamed of being a theoretical physicist or one of the Beatles, his path in life keeps pulling him back to his love of people, learning and teaching. About the Session Title: Leadership Is Half the Story Every Chief knows leadership matters. What’s less discussed, and often misunderstood, is followership. Outcomes in your service don’t depend on leadership alone. They depend on the quality of the partnership between leadership and followership. And research shows that when followership is strong — proactive, accountable, engaged — performance improves by 17–43% across nearly every organizational metric. In this energizing session, you will:
Speakers:Dr. Marc Hurwitz, PhD MBA MSc MSc, and Samantha Hurwitz, CPA, are co-authors of the bestselling Leadership Is Half the Story, and co-founders of FliP U Inc. and the Global Followership Network. They are internationally known for reframing leadership and followership as a single, interconnected system, and for designing learning experiences that positively change how people work. Marc is a Professor at the University of Waterloo with deep expertise in leadership, followership, entrepreneurship, and organizational neuroscience, shaped by years of corporate experience across HR, IT, and product management. Samantha is a former senior executive with 25+ years of experience in finance, HR, and large-scale organizational transformations. Together, they work with organizations that want leadership to be less heroic, followership to be more intentional, and work to be more human, effective, and meaningful. Learn more at www.flipu.ca | www.globalfollowership.com. |
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Session 2 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
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Kim Armstrong joined the Calgary Police Service in 2023 as the Chief People Officer (CPO) and brings an extensive professional background in municipal and provincial government, as well as law enforcement. Kim’s role at CPS is to lead the Bureau of People and Organizational Development, which offers member-focused supports in the areas of learning, recruitment, human resources, and wellness. Kim also plays an instrumental role in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion within the Service. Prior to joining the Calgary Police Service, Kim served as the Deputy City Manager for Employee Services at the City of Edmonton – an organization of 14,000 employees. Previous positions include the Deputy Minster for two portfolios in the Government of Alberta, Status of Women and Seniors and Her experience, combined with her passion for people and law enforcement, continues to further expand and strengthen the vital work underway in the bureau dedicated to our people. She is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Superintendent Nadine Wagner leads the Learning and Recruitment Division of the Calgary Police Service, where she is responsible for Service-wide training and sworn recruitment. She is deeply committed to equipping members with the tools, knowledge, and support systems they need to serve Calgarians with excellence— and to complete their careers happy, healthy, and whole. Since joining the Service in 2002, Supt. Wagner has brought her collaborative leadership style to a wide range of investigative and operational roles. Her experience includes frontline patrol, drug enforcement, and undercover work, along with specialized assignments in the Child Abuse, Homicide, and Domestic Conflict Units. She has also served in leadership roles in District 5 and as Acting Superintendent in the Criminal Investigations Division. Most recently, she led the Technical Investigations Section, where she oversaw the Cyber Forensics, Economic Crimes, Technical Support, and Robbery and Arson Units. Across all these roles, Supt. Wagner has prioritized teamwork, innovation, and strategic partnerships—particularly with the private sector—to enhance investigative capabilities and service delivery. A long-standing advocate for member wellness and inclusive workplace culture, Supt. Wagner has championed initiatives that promote mental health, gender equity, and psychological safety. Her work includes a notable collaboration with the University of Calgary and the Art of the Nudge to support respectful workplace practices. As a Peer Support Team member since 2005, she has provided compassionate leadership through some of the Service’s most challenging moments, including the line-of-duty death of a colleague. Supt. Wagner holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Calgary and a Graduate Certificate in Values Based Leadership at Royal Roads University. She also serves as the Chair of the Aventa Centre of Excellence for Women with Addictions, a non-profit offering trauma-informed treatment for women. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga, spending time with her family, and playing volleyball with the CPS Sharpshooters team. About the Session Title: Calgary Police Service Journey of Shaping Culture Through Leadership Development, Growth Mindset and Accountability This session will outline how through an innovative approach, Calgary Police moved from development to accountability by establishing a performance framework that includes developmental assessments, performance management, and complaint management. They concurrently established six leadership competencies for the Service and underpin the Performance Framework. The team from Calgary Police Services’ Bureau of People and Organizational Development will also highlight a transformational approach to changing culture called the Art of the Nudge: Advancing Equity and Belonging, an initiative developed with academia over 5 years. |
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Queen Victoria Place Restaurant, majestically situated within Queen Victoria Park, offers breathtaking views of both the Horseshoe and American Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Housed in a striking early-20th-century building distinguished by its green copper roof and stately stone façade, the restaurant seamlessly blends historic elegance with refined hospitality. Its panoramic vistas and celebration of Niagara’s exceptional local flavours create an unparalleled dining experience befitting a landmark occasion. The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police is proud to commemorate its 75th Anniversary at this iconic venue. The OACP President’s Night at Queen Victoria Place Restaurant promises to be an extraordinary evening of celebration, fellowship, and reflection in one of Canada’s most spectacular settings—an event not to be missed. |
About Chief Superintendent Darren Campbell
About Dr. Marc Hurwitz
About Kimberley Armstrong, Chief People Officer
About Superintendent Nadine Wagner
President's Night
Tuesday, June 2
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Keynote Speaker - Frank Fazio 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. |
 About Frank Fazio
Frank Fazio is the founder of CySAT Security and a leading cybersecurity expert with over 30 years in IT. Certified in Incident Response and Advanced Forensics, he translates cutting-edge hacker tactics into practical defenses for public sector leaders, law enforcement, and executives across Canada. He has presented at numerous events including the OACP Leadership Forum and the OACP Crisis & Strategic Communications Conference. Frank regularly competes in hacker competitions to stay ahead of adversaries, and his singular focus is arming people and organizations with the exact skills needed to protect themselves and their critical assets from today's escalating threats. About the Session Title: AI Won’t Replace Chiefs - But It Might Embarrass Them: Using AI Without the Blowback Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from experimentation to frontline policing - promising faster investigations, smarter analytics, and new ways to engage the public. But alongside opportunity comes real risk. Across North America, early AI deployments have already triggered legal challenges, operational missteps, and unexpected vulnerabilities. This keynote gives Police Chiefs and senior leaders a clear, practical lens on what AI means for policing today - separating hype from reality and highlighting the leadership decisions that matter most. Through real-world examples and candid insights, attendees will learn how to harness AI’s advantages while avoiding the pitfalls that can undermine trust, evidence integrity, and public confidence. |
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Session 3 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
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Bill Payne is an experienced ICT/IT leader who is currently serving with the Halton Regional Police service as Director, Information Technology. In this role, Bill develops teams and strategy for mission critical infrastructure and projects surrounding broadband data, P25 voice communications, CAD/records operating environments, and mobile technology. He has led Halton’s initiative in establishing Halton’s production Public Safety LTE Network and Halton’s LTE shared core operating model. Bill has held technology and business leadership roles in various industries including; military technology roles, data centre outsourcing, real estate, the travel industry as well as financial services and marketing technology start-up companies.
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Session 5 Neurodiversity and Policing |
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Session 4 1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
 About Dr. Jose Luis (Joe) CoutoDr. José Luís Couto is a public policy and communications professional with 38 years of experience in public affairs, research, and strategic communications. Dr. Couto joined the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police in 2004 as Director of Government Relations and Communications. In February 2026, he was appointed Director of Strategic Initiatives, Research, and Corporate Communications. Previously, he was a Senior Consultant at Enterprise Canada, where he advised clients on key policy areas, including public safety, municipal affairs, education, housing, energy, and taxation. In addition to his role at the OACP, Dr. Couto is Associate Faculty at 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. His research has explored identity formation in policing, with a particular focus on 2SLGBTQI+ officers and intersectionality within police organizational cultures. He 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. Born in Brazil, Dr. Couto holds a Doctor of Social Sciences and a Master of Arts in Professional Communication from Royal Roads University, and a BA in Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University (Formerly Ryerson University). His contributions to public safety and academic research have earned him the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2013), Serving With Pride Ally Award (2016), and two teaching excellence awards – the 2016 Outstanding New Associate Faculty Award, School of Communication & Culture, Royal Roads University, and the 2025 Teaching Excellence Award for Royal Roads University’s Master of Arts in Professional Communications Teaching Excellence Award. Dr. Couto currently serves on the Executive Team of 30Forward, a national initiative promoting the advancement of women in policing.
Amanda Williams is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in academia and data analysis, currently serving as the Manager of Strategic Services and Data Analyst for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Waterloo Regional Police Service since March 2022. Prior to this role, Amanda was a Senior Lecturer in Social Psychology and Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Bristol from December 2015 to March 2022, focusing on research, teaching, and supervision related to prejudice and stereotyping in childhood. Amanda's career also includes positions as a Lecturer in Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and robust educational qualifications including a PhD in Social Psychology from York University and a Master's in Education from Western University. |
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Breakout Sessions in collaboration with OAPSB for Big 12, Small & Mid-Size Police Service and Police Service Board Members IG Ryan Teschner, Inspector General of Ontario Police Budgets, Roger Ramkissoon, Chair of the Budget Finance and Asset Management Committee & Dr. Jose Luis (Joe) Couto 3:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. |
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Ryan Teschner is Ontario’s first Inspector General of Policing under the Community Safety and Policing Act. He leads the Inspectorate of Policing, an arm’s-length government body responsible for overseeing the performance and compliance of all Ontario’s municipal police services, the Ontario Provincial Police, First Nations police services and boards that opted into the province’s policing legislation, and special constable employers. Ryan champions a modern, transparent, and evidence-based approach to policing oversight, aiming to improve Ontario policing performance to set a global benchmark and enhance public trust. Ryan is recognized for his expertise in public administration, law and governance gained in the public, broader public and private sectors. Ryan is sought after for his ability to lead complex initiatives from concept to fruition with an unwavering people-centred approach, including some of the most significant and public-facing reform and transformation efforts. Prior to his appointment as Inspector General of Policing, Ryan was the Executive Director and Chief of Staff of the Toronto Police Services Board, where he developed first of their kind and nationally recognized policing policies, including for race-based data collection and analysis, the governance of body-worn cameras, and the ethical use of artificial intelligence in policing. He also negotiated a milestone collective agreement and implemented significant police reforms, earning national recognition, including the Award for Excellence in Police Governance from the Canadian Association of Police Governance in 2021. Ryan has held key public service roles in Ontario justice ministries, shaping legislative and policy frameworks for justice and policing. He also served as Lead Counsel to the Independent Civilian Review into Matters Relating to the G20 Summit, playing a pivotal role in strengthening police oversight and accountability. A seasoned lawyer, Ryan was called to the Ontario Bar in 2006 and practiced regulatory, public law and commercial litigation at two leading international law firms, representing clients at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He has been shortlisted twice for the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada. Ryan has also served as a member of University of Toronto’s Governing Council, and a past board member of a not-for-profit organization dedicated to restorative justice. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School. He lives in Toronto with his wife and two children.
About the Sessions
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Table Rock House Restaurant Cafe | Niagara Falls 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. |
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This isn’t just a tagline—Table Rock House Restaurant truly is the closest you can dine to the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. Perched right on the brink, you’ll enjoy a locally sourced, internationally inspired menu while taking in the breathtaking beauty of Niagara Falls as your backdrop. Great company. Incredible cuisine. An iconic view. |
About Bill Payne
About Tony Ventura
About Mandy Williams
About Inspector General Ryan Teschner
About Roger Ramkissoon
Join us for OACP Casual Night at the spectacular Table Rock House Restaurant in Niagara Falls—an unforgettable evening of connection, conversation, and camaraderie with friends and colleagues.Wednesday, June 3
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OACP Annual General Meeting 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
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The following matters will constitute the agenda:
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Government Relations & Communications Update 10:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. |
| About the Session |
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Committee Restructuring Committee Update 10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. |
| About the Session |
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Best Practices Townhall 10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. |
| About the Session |
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Swearing-in of 2026-2027 OACP Board Executive Message from incoming OACP President for 2026-2027 |
| About the Swearing-in Ceremony |
| Closing Ceremony |
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