Resources

The Toronto Police Service has created an Equity Strategy for the first time in our organization’s history. Achieving true equity in policing demands a collective effort, constant practice, and continuous course correction informed by ongoing internal and external collaborations. We are committed to listening and learning from community members and our Service members, especially those whom we’ve failed in the past. Our goal is to strengthen, rebuild and repair relationships and trust as we move forward. As a result, the Equity Strategy is a living document that will continue to evolve over time.

The Equity Strategy includes four proposed priority-specific implementation plans (presented as individual standalone documents, available for download below), each tailored to the priorities outlined in the Strategy. While there may be some overlap in some sub-action items, each priority has its own individualized plan to address its unique challenges, histories and contexts.

It is recommended to read all proposed implementation plans together to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Strategy, as many of the sub-actions are interconnected and speak to each other (especially the Respectful Workplace priority, which covers all groups).

Indigenous Engagement Strategies Environmental Scan

Reconciliation with Indigenous communities is key to Toronto Police Service’s ongoing commitment to fair and unbiased policing and its mission to community safety.

The Service has collaborated with Mokwateh LP., an Indigenous-owned consulting firm, to perform an environmental scan as a foundational step in fostering respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples. This work honours and builds on the valuable work undertaken by the Aboriginal Peace Keeping Unit and the Aboriginal Community Consultative Committee.

The primary objective of this environmental scan is to glean and leverage lessons from organizations with a proven track record of establishing and maintaining sustainable relationships with Indigenous communities. The insights gained through this scan will inform the development of a comprehensive Indigenous Engagement Plan to integrate Indigenous lens in three key areas of work the Service is doing to advance an equitable policing:

• Equity Strategy – Indigenous cultural safety chapter
• The Service’s response to the Calls for Justice under the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
• Race and Identity-based Data Collection Strategy

This document will also help the Service identify key opportunities for improvement, innovate their existing and future policies and programs, and transfer knowledge to adapt to Toronto’s context. Other police services across Canada can benefit from this work in their efforts to develop trustful relationships with Indigenous communities.

Read the full document below.