Toronto Police launch 20th year of Youth in Policing Initiative with message of opportunity and hope

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw urged 162 young Torontonians to make the most of every opportunity presented through the Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI), describing the program as an investment in the city's future and a powerful bridge between young people and policing.

Launching the program's 20th anniversary on July 24, he said that the program has become one of the Service's most successful community initiatives, changing thousands of lives since its introduction in 2006.

“As police, we do not always get to share good news,” noted Demkiw. “That’s part of the job. But today, we are here with excellent news.”

He noted that Toronto Police will mark the program's 20th anniversary in September by bringing together current and former participants, community leaders and government partners to celebrate its impact over the past two decades.

Demkiw emphasized that while some participants eventually pursue careers in policing, the program's broader purpose is to equip young people with confidence, leadership skills and workplace experience that will benefit them throughout their lives.

“Programs like the YIPI program give young people the opportunity to work alongside us and see whether policing is the right path for them,” he said. “Whether YIPIs become TPS members or not, they still leave with valuable skills, meaningful experiences and greater confidence that will serve them throughout their lives.”

The Service employs dozens of former YIPI participants, including 31 police officers, four cadets in training, 12 civilian employees, three special constables, one special constable recruit and five parking enforcement officers.

Ontario Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Michael Parsa told participants they had already achieved something significant by being selected from hundreds of applicants.

“That in itself is something that you need to be proud of,” he pointed out.

Parsa praised former Ontario cabinet minister Dr. Mary Anne Chambers, who was in attendance, for helping launch the initiative two decades ago, noting that what began in Toronto has expanded to more than 61 police services across Ontario and has now benefited approximately 10,000 young people.

He reminded the students that although they represent only a small segment of Ontario's population today, they are ‘100 percent of our future’.

“When you succeed, all of us succeed and the province succeeds,” Parsa added while pledging continued provincial support to ensure participants have the tools and opportunities needed to thrive.

Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner encouraged participants to carry the lessons and friendships they develop through the program into the coming school year and beyond.

“I hope as you go forward in your school next year, you'll take all the memories with you along the way,” he said. “Enjoy the summer and stay safe.”

Deputy Mayor Amber Morley, representing the Toronto Police Service Board, said the initiative is a proven workforce development and leadership program that strengthens communities while opening doors for youth.

"Over the next several weeks, you'll be doing real, hands-on work,” she pointed out. “You will build skills that will serve you for years to come at school, at work and in life.”

Morley said YIPI succeeds because it is not simply about what participants learn, but also about what they contribute.

“YIPI is about building bridges across generations, across communities and between youth and the people who serve them,” she said.

The event also showcased the program’s lasting impact through the stories of three former participants who credited YIPI with changing the course of their lives and careers.

Administrative Assistant Taniel Campbell, who immigrated to Canada from Jamaica in 2018, recalled joining YIPI the following year for what became her first job.

She admitted she had never considered a career in policing until a program coordinator visited her high school and introduced students to the initiative.

Beginning as a YIPI student in 2019, Campbell later returned as a junior assistant in 2021 and a program assistant in 2023 before joining the Toronto Police Service as an administrative assistant.

She said the program provided much more than employment, exposing her to different areas of policing while teaching communication, professionalism and workplace skills that continue to shape her career.

“The Youth in Policing Initiative Program laid a foundation that has carried me, shaped me and developed me into the person I am today,” Campbell said. “I often think about who I might have been if I had never encountered this program.”

Constable Teodor Nechita shared one of the day's most memorable stories.

After receiving his conditional offer to become a Toronto police officer in 2025, he discovered that the badge number assigned to him was the same number he had been given as a YIPI participant seven years earlier.

The coincidence prompted him to reflect on how the program had influenced his journey.

He credited mentors, supervisors and program coordinator Melva Radway with ensuring he received the support and opportunities needed to succeed, reminding the new participants that YIPI is about investing in young people rather than recruiting future officers.

“I want to make one thing clear,” he said. “When you graduate from this program, you are not expected to become a police officer. This program is selflessly investing in the future generation to ensure that you are successful in whichever career you choose.”

Detective Constable Su-jeong Lee told students that she entered the program as a 14-year-old from Toronto's Jane and Finch neighbourhood simply looking for a summer job.

Instead, YIPI introduced her to the realities of policing, teamwork and public service.

She said working alongside officers and investigators helped her realize she wanted a career where every day presented a new challenge and an opportunity to help others. Nearly 18 years later, she is a detective constable with the Criminal Investigative Bureau at 53 Division.

“I am living proof that it worked,” Lee said. “No matter where you are from and where you grew up, never let that define who you are and what you want to become.”