2026 Crisis and Strategic Communications Conference

About the Session

The mental health of first responders, particularly those in front line and investigative units, has come to the forefront in the past several years as recognition of the psychological pressures facing police has grown. While much research has taken place in this field, one area that is still underrepresented in the literature is the unique experiences and stressors for media relations officers and police communication specialists. 

Drawing on the current research on mental health and burnout in policing as well as the diverse experiences of police communications specialists and media relations supervisors, this panel will seek to explore the nature of crisis and strategic communications and its impacts on mental health, discuss strategies for managing stressors associated with this type of work, and propose ways in which supervisors and organizations can best support these roles. 

Dr. Kyle Handley is the Senior Director of Wellness for the York Regional Police (YRP) and the former chair of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police – Psychological Services Committee.  Dr. Handley has used his training in both clinical psychology and organizational development to support his work with police services, hospitals, universities, and private corporations in the United States and Canada.  Currently, Dr. Handley is responsible for the design and delivery of YRP’s comprehensive wellness strategy, management of the biopsychosocial spiritual wellness team, and providing general mental health education and support for YRP members and their families.

Speaker: Chief Mark Crowell, Waterloo Regional Police & OACP First Vice President

Chief Mark Crowell has served with the Waterloo Regional Police Service since 2001 and is the Service’s 7th Chief of Police. Over his career, he has served in areas including Community Policing – Patrol, Intimate Partner Violence, Special Victims – Sexual Assault, Communications, Administrative Support – Records, Executive Officer to the Chief of Police, and Deputy Chief of Police.

Chief Crowell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Canadian Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University, as well as a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. from the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies at the University of Waterloo.

He currently serves as a Vice President on the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) Board of Directors and is a member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) Victims of Crime Committee.

Chief Crowell has served on the Board of Directors for Supportive Housing of Waterloo (SHOW) and he is currently a Board of Directors member for Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region. He has also volunteered with Out of the Cold and Food4Kids Waterloo Region

Police communicators are often called upon to inform the public during life's most difficult moments while supporting frontline members working under extraordinary pressure. The challenge is clear: how do you communicate with empathy without compromising accuracy, transparency, or operational integrity? 

Designed for police communications professionals, this session explores practical strategies for communicating with compassion during critical incidents, organizational crises, and everyday policing. Through real-world examples, participants will learn how empathetic communication can strengthen public trust, support employee well-being, and enhance relationships with victims, families, communities, the media, and police personnel.

Chief Don MacLean began his policing career in 1993. He was appointed Chief of Halifax Regional Police in September of 2023. Since 2020 he had held the position of Deputy Chief of Operations, overseeing both the patrol and criminal investigation divisions.

Prior to serving as Deputy Chief, he was the Superintendent of the Patrol Division. Chief MacLean served as the first Diversity Officer for Halifax Regional Police from 2004 to 2006 and went on to become the Executive Officer to the Chief and later the Human Resources Officer.

A lifelong resident of Halifax, Chief MacLean is a long-serving member of the Board of Directors for St. John Ambulance Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Island Council, is an active member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police as well as on the Board of Directors for Phoenix Youth. He currently serves as the Co-chair of the Wortley Report Research Committee, which consists of community stakeholders and partners doing important work to address bias and systemic racism in policing. He’s also a member of the Board of Governors for the University of King’s College and has previously received an appointment as an Honorary Aide-De-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. Chief MacLean was invested into the Order of St. John in 2017, and recently became the recipient of a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.

He attended the University of King’s College and has continued his education through Saint Mary’s University Executive and Professional Development, Dalhousie College of Continuing Education, Canadian Police College and the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

In today’s policing environment, crises unfold in a world characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), where operational decisions are increasingly shaped by governance, politics, stakeholder expectations, and public scrutiny. This session equips police leaders with the political intelligence to understand the dynamics of power and authority, navigate complex stakeholder relationships, anticipate political and reputational challenges, and think and act strategically during times of crisis. Through practical frameworks and real-world scenarios, participants will strengthen their ability to leverage opportunities, build organizational resilience, and enhance public trust while upholding the highest standards of ethical leadership, transparency, and accountability.

Dr. Ken Chan is a Partner at Optimus SBR, where he leads the firm’s Health, Government and Public Sector practice. Prior to joining Optimus SBR, Ken served as an Assistant Deputy Minister with two Ontario ministries and as Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at two public universities.

Ken also brings extensive municipal and public safety experience, having held leadership and advisory roles in Canada and the United Kingdom, including serving as an advisor on policing in the Mayor of London’s Office. Earlier in his career, he served as a Constable with Peel Regional Police in both frontline uniform and investigative assignments.

A recognized executive educator, Ken teaches leadership and governance across several post-secondary institutions and professional organizations. He holds an Executive PhD in Management from ESCP Business School, a member of the Sorbonne Alliance.

Ken serves on the boards of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), Alterna Savings, Alterna Bank, and the Pathstone Foundation.

The death of a police officer, whether in the line of duty or while on duty, is among the most devastating events a police service can face. In an instant, communicators are called upon to support grieving families, assist organizational leaders, respond to intense public and media scrutiny, and help an entire service navigate profound loss, all while ensuring information is accurate, timely, and compassionate.

This session explores the unique role of police communications professionals in the hours, days, and weeks following an officer's death. It will examine strategies for managing internal and external communications, coordinating with investigative partners, supporting memorial and ceremonial events, navigating social media, and balancing transparency with privacy and investigative integrity. 

Speaker: Ashling Murphy, Manager of Strategic Communications, Toronto Police Service

Ashling Murphy is the Manager of Strategic Communications at the Toronto Police Service, where she oversees internal and external communications and social media. She leads a team responsible for developing proactive communications strategies and products that support organizational priorities. 

Ashling has spent more than 20 years leading communications in policing and the public sector, including 15 years with Durham Regional Police Service, after enjoying an early career in broadcast journalism as a news reporter and anchor. 

She is passionate about the unique communications dynamics of policing, including crisis comms, and focuses her work on building trust with members and the community.

Outside of her professional role, Ashling enjoys freelance writing and photography and continues to pursue creative story telling alongside her communications role.

This practical session explores how AI can support communications planning, crisis preparedness, stakeholder analysis, environmental scanning, media relations, and content development. AI will not replace police communicators. It will empower those who know how to use it. This session will provide the practical skills needed to make AI a valuable addition to your communications toolkit.

Brian Teefy is an accomplished public affairs and management consultant with 20 years of experience in government relations and strategy development. As Vice President at StrategyCorp, he leads strategic initiatives and high-stakes projects for a diverse portfolio of private, public, and non-profit clients. Brian is a trusted advisor to executives with public policy objectives in Ontario. 

At StrategyCorp, Brian has played increasingly senior roles navigating complex political, financial, and regulatory files. His expertise encompasses sectors such as transportation, public ream, local government, and community safety.  

Before joining StrategyCorp, Brian served in senior roles within the Ontario Public Service, including Chief of Staff to three Cabinet Ministers and Senior Policy Advisor to two Premiers. This experience helps Brian guide clients facing multifaceted challenges through the decision making and stakeholder environments in Ontario. 

A strategic thinker with a commitment to excellence, Brian is dedicated to delivering impactful results for his clients while fostering collaborative relationships with partners. 

Brian has also volunteered on numerous provincial and local election campaigns, as well as the 2008 Presidential election for Barack Obama. 

Brian is a graduate of Carleton University’s Arthur Kroeger College of Public Affairs. 

John Perenack is a Principal at StrategyCorp and a distinguished expert in strategic communications and engagement. With a career spanning over 30 years, he has established himself as a trusted advisor on corporate reputation, guiding organizations on how to effectively communicate with government, media, communities, and other critical stakeholders.

He is a foremost specialist in crisis communications and reputation management. He has a proven track record of helping organizations navigate complex challenges to educate, inform, and persuade stakeholders, ultimately shaping public opinion and positioning clients for success. His experience in crisis situations covers matters including kidnapping, financial crime, CCAA filings, and sensitive allegations of criminal staff misconduct. He has also provided critical counsel on controversial mergers and acquisitions in Canada, the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

A recognized authority on digital and traditional media, John helps clients tackle their toughest issues and influence opinion. His leadership in communications and stakeholder engagement has been pivotal in advancing complex and controversial projects. Notable examples include a $700 million waterfront development, a $1.4 billion highway project, major energy capital projects in Alberta and British Columbia, designing and executing site selection strategies for over $3 billion in new hospital developments, providing guidance on engagement around the creation of a nuclear waste repository, and numerous strategic communications and engagement processes in support of advancing complex private development projects.

John also brings experience advising on First Nations and urban Indigenous engagement processes. He is dedicated to fostering reconciliation, collaboration, and building lasting, respectful partnerships with Indigenous peoples.

He is also a seasoned media strategist and trainer, adept at preparing senior executives, spokespeople, and public figures to face the media with confidence and control. His experience includes providing intensive spokesperson media training for high-stakes situations. He excels at developing clear, compelling messaging and coaching clients, ensuring they can navigate difficult questions, manage contentious issues, and stay on message. His coaching programs are designed to build the skills necessary to not only protect and enhance an organization’s reputation but also to proactively use media opportunities to shape opinion and advance strategic objectives.

John is a co-host of the Reputation Town podcast (listen on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify) where he has shared views and insight on reputation management since 2021.

John holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Strategic Management from the Schulich School of Business at York University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, and maintains professional affiliations with the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS), and the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Federation.

Police communication crises rarely begin with a media call or public statement. Often, the conditions that increase risk already exist inside the organization through gaps in information sharing, inconsistent leadership messaging, unclear roles, low trust, and disconnects between frontline realities, decision-makers, and communications teams.

This session examines communication as operational infrastructure, exploring how internal culture directly influences an organization's ability to communicate clearly and credibly when the stakes are high. Dr. Janelle Abela will explore how trust, psychological safety, leadership alignment, and information flow shape crisis response, reputation, and public confidence, while offering practical strategies to identify communication vulnerabilities before they become operational or reputational risks. 

Key Takeaway: Effective crisis communication starts before the crisis. Strong internal communication and culture create the conditions for clarity, consistency, credibility, and trust when they matter most.

Dr. Janelle Abela is the CEO and Growth Strategist of Diverse Solutions Strategy Firm Inc., where she works at the intersection of leadership, workplace culture, and organizational change. With extensive experience supporting police and public-sector organizations across Canada and the United States, she brings a practical, systems-informed approach to building respectful, accountable, and high-performing workplaces.

Her work spans law enforcement, public safety, municipal government, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, education, professional athletics, and the nonprofit sector, with a focus on leadership development, psychological safety, communication and conflict, bias mitigation, workplace culture, and high-performing teams.

Dr. Abela's doctoral research examined Canadian police officers' perceptions of equity, diversity, and inclusion training, providing unique insight into how identity, workplace realities, and organizational context shape learning and engagement in policing. Drawing on her background in education, research, coaching, and organizational leadership, she is known for translating complex research and workplace challenges into clear, practical strategies that leaders and teams can apply in everyday practice – particularly in complex, high-pressure environments.