About Us
The Coalition for Canadian Police Reform is Canadian Registered Charity. Our goal is to educate Canadians about the need for professionalization of policing through national standards and a 21st Century curriculum.
There is overwhelming evidence of a need for transformation in how police officers in Canada are educated and trained. We bring together relevant stakeholders – citizens representing all parts of Canada and representing the diversity of our nation, police, researchers and politicians – to discuss what police officers need to know to effectively police in the 21st century. We believe that citizens reflecting the diversity of Canada should have a part to play in the police recruit curriculum.
We are NOT about defunding.
Our History
Following a number of unfortunate events involving the police in Canada, three founding members each wrote op-eds to various papers. David Cassels, now the President of C-CPR wrote about the need for policing to shift back to being peace-keepers and not peace-makers. Peace-keepers are about the community; not about intervening with a heavy hand unless safety is at risk. Togbi Nyaho Tamakloe wrote about the reality of People of Colour in North America and the long history of slavery followed by continuing racism that inhibits opportunity. John Lilley wrote about the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada as a model for police training.
Considerable enthusiastic and meaningful conversations ensued! The group of believers in change for policing grew to 20 or 30 of whom 15 were core in forming our non-profit society.
The first annual Conference on Canadian Police Reform in June 2022 was a resounding success. Stay tuned for a possible CCPR24 conference in Vancouver.
In the fall of 2022, C-CPR was granted charitable status by the Canada Revenue Agency.