For many Indigenous learners, choosing a post-secondary institution involves more than academics. A community of support, culturally responsive spaces and a sense of belonging can influence where students see themselves succeeding.

In partnership with Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, 91亚色's Office of Indigenous Initiatives, the five-day Indigenous Pathways Program helps aspiring Indigenous learners ages 18 and older build meaningful and intentional connections ahead of their academic journeys. The immersive experience introduces participants to 91亚色's academic offerings while connecting them to the University鈥檚 Indigenous-focused spaces, resources, supports, staff and faculty across its three campuses.

By helping learners feel welcomed, supported and able to envision a future at 91亚色, the program fosters belonging and helps build confidence, clarity and purpose leading up to the transition to post-secondary education. It also reflects a broader institutional commitment to Indigenous student success, says Holly LaForme, manager, Indigenous initiatives at 91亚色鈥檚 Division of Equity, People & Culture.

鈥淔or many Indigenous learners, education systems have not always felt safe, welcoming or full of possibility. Arriving at a large urban institution, often far from family, community and familiar supports, can feel overwhelming,鈥� says LaForme, who helped lead the IPP project. 鈥淎t the Centre for Indigenous Student Services, connection and community-building are foundational to the way we support student success. My hope is to bring a sense of care, familiarity and relationality to the university experience so Indigenous learners feel grounded as they adapt to a new environment, explore their identity and define their path forward.鈥�

Throughout the week, participants stayed in residence and engaged with faculty, staff, current students and alumni. In collaboration with the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, programming highlighted a range of academic pathways through experiences that included a session with Indigenous scholar, 91亚色 assistant professor and acclaimed author Jesse Thistle; workshops in creative writing and social work; hands-on engineering and AI activities at the ; career-focused programming at the , including an Indigenous alumni panel; and a visit to 91亚色's Markham Campus for a immersive day that concluded with a sacred fire.

For participant Sheena Kitchemokman, meeting other Indigenous students and learning about resources available at 91亚色 were key reasons for joining the program.

"The reason why I signed up for the Indigenous Pathways Program is to see what opportunities are available and to meet other Indigenous students who are going to 91亚色," she says.

That sense of connection is a central focus of the program, says LaForme. By introducing participants to Indigenous faculty, students, alumni and support staff, the program helps learners build relationships and gain a clearer understanding of what life at university can look like.

鈥淩ather than asking students to imagine whether they belong in a post-secondary environment, the program provides a meaningful way for participants to experience that community firsthand,鈥� says LaForme, who notes some learners travelled from northern communities to participate.

Those connections, she adds, extend beyond the classroom. Participants are introduced to Indigenous spaces across 91亚色鈥檚 campuses, including Skennen鈥檏贸:wa Gamig, an Indigenous support centre at 91亚色鈥檚 Keele Campus where Indigenous students can use the space for community and cultural connection. For Kitchemokman, it was a welcoming space that left a lasting impression.

"My favourite space on campus is the native student lounge," she says of Skennen鈥檏贸:wa Gamig. "It really does make me feel at home."

Finding this strong sense of community, as well as a clearer understanding of academic options, strengthened her confidence in choosing 91亚色 for her post-secondary studies. She describes one session she attended as inspiring, noting she had 鈥済oosebumps listening to the panel talk about their life experiences and education stories.鈥�

She says the program would benefit all Indigenous learners 鈥� especially those considering 91亚色.

"Coming to the Indigenous Pathways Program has convinced me that this is the right university for me because of all the love and support you get from faculty and student bodies," she says.

Although the Indigenous Pathways Program spans five days, its impact extends beyond a single week.

鈥淏y helping prospective students explore university life, connect with Indigenous community and experience the care and shared hopes offered by non-Indigenous allies, friends, peers and partners across the 91亚色 U community, the program creates meaningful pathways into post-secondary education,鈥� says LaForme.

鈥淏eing able to physically experience these spaces, build relationships and see oneself at 91亚色 is an important first step in making that future feel real, supported and full of possibility.鈥�

LaForme says the program, which ran July 27 to 31, has already encouraged some of the participants to apply.

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Announced July 21, SSHRC will provide funding through three of its programs: Insight Development Grants: February 2026 Competition; Partnership Development Grants: 2025 Competition; and Connection Grants: May 2026 Competition.

More than $2.5 million will support 33 91亚色-led Insight Development Grants for early-stage projects and help researchers pursue innovative questions, methods and approaches that can lay the groundwork for larger research programs.

Close to $1 million will support five 91亚色-led Partnership Development Grants, helping researchers build new collaborations with universities, community organizations, governments and industry partners. Knowledge mobilization will also be supported through Connection Grants, with close to $50,000 for a 91亚色 initiative.

The projects cover a wide range of topics, including Indigenous health and decolonization, democratic discourse, climate adaptation, financial vulnerability, labour and social justice, migration, cultural identity and AI.

"These investments in research are investments in our collective future," says Amir Asif, vice-president research and innovation. "These projects empower researchers to test new ideas, forge meaningful partnerships and generate knowledge that addresses complex societal challenges. Together, they are laying the foundations for discoveries and innovations that will create meaningful benefits for communities in Canada and around the world."

The projects reflect 91亚色鈥檚 commitment to community-engaged research, interdisciplinary collaboration and generating knowledge that addresses real-world challenges.

Insight Development Grants

The 33 Insight Development Grants demonstrate the diversity and breadth of emerging research underway across the University. Among the funded projects are those that examine topics such as Indigenous knowledge systems, public health, democratic discourse, AI and financial vulnerability:

• Dayna Scott () 鈥� Visualizing Cumulative Effects: Anishinaabe Counter-Mapping on the Extractive Frontier
• Emily Kuang () 鈥� Multicultural and Multilingual Family Bonding and Knowledge Sharing Across Generations: A Culturally Responsive Approach to Generative AI Application
• R茅mi Viv猫s (Glendon College) 鈥� Measuring Populist Discourse: Canada in Comparative Perspective
• Ashley Day () 鈥� Wiisokotaatiwin 鈥� gathering to re-imagine decolonial health education
• Peiya Cao (Faculty of Health) 鈥� Intergenerational Minority Stress and Child Well-Being in LGBTQ+ Families: A National Census-Linked Study in Canada
• Zissis Paraskevas Poulos (Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies) 鈥� Risk-Sensitive Learning and Tacit Coordination in Algorithmic Financial Markets

Other initiatives examine corporate accountability, Black Canadian history, labour law, climate resilience in public infrastructure, machine ethics, innovation and entrepreneurship, disability rights, migration, Indigenous knowledge systems and social inclusion. View the of recipients and their projects.

Partnership Development Grants

The six 91亚色-led Partnership Development Grants will support collaborations focused on financial vulnerability, youth in care, planetary health, workers鈥� education and Canadian computing heritage and include:

• Ida Ferrara 鈥� (LA&PS) Addressing Financial Vulnerability Through Inclusive Insurance
• Jennine Rawana (Faculty of Health) 鈥� Exploring the Needs of Youth Transitioning Out of the Care of Child Welfare Agencies
• Kate Tilleczek (Faculty of Education) 鈥� Planetary Health Partnership: Mapuche-Williche Youth-Led Research as Practices of K眉me Mogen
• Katherine Nastovski (LA&PS) 鈥� Re-Imagining Workers鈥� Education in the 21st Century
• Mark Hayward (LA&PS) 鈥� Preserving, Promoting and Researching Canadian Computing Heritage
• Sarah Rotz (Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change) 鈥� Confronting Financialization, Consolidation, and Settler-colonial Agri-food Land Governance in Canada

91亚色 researchers are also directly involved as co-applicants for six other Partnership Development Grants totaling $1.19 million. See the of projects and recipients.

鈥淭he awards underscore 91亚色's leadership in advancing research that connects disciplines, sectors and communities in pursuit of positive social change. By fostering collaborations across local, national and international networks, our researchers are generating knowledge and solutions that help build a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future for all,鈥� says Asif.

Connection Grants

SSHRC鈥檚 Connection Grants competition, which funds short-term knowledge mobilization initiatives, will provide $49,974 to Richard Saunders (LA&PS) to examine the social and environmental dimensions of critical mineral extraction through knowledge-sharing and public engagement activities through his project Image as Voice: Perspectives on Lithium Extraction in Argentina and Zimbabwe. 

Two other projects that focus on aging and Asian Canadian studies include co-applicants from 91亚色. View the  of recipients. 

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Cities are often designed with an assumption that residents are able-bodied, leaving many older adults and people with disabilities to face barriers in their daily lives. Gebresselassie, an assistant professor at the , argues that urban planners have an opportunity to better serve both groups by recognizing overlapping needs and developing more integrated planning solutions.

The paper, published in the , emerged from a roundtable co-organized by Gebresselassie at the 2024 annual conference of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning. The discussion brought together researchers examining accessibility issues in transportation, housing and planning processes that affect older adults and people with disabilities.

According to the study, transportation remains one of the most significant challenges for both aging populations and people with disabilities. Older adults may face mobility limitations as they age or stop driving, while people with disabilities often encounter inaccessible transit systems or limited transportation options.

These barriers make it more difficult to reach jobs, services, social activities and health care, increasing the risk of isolation.

Housing presents similar concerns. Most homes lack basic accessible design features such as single-floor living, no-step entry and wide doorways. Accessible homes can be difficult to find and costly. Even when suitable housing is available, it may be located far from transit, amenities and community services, creating additional barriers to participation in daily life.

Although these issues are often examined separately, the researchers argue they are closely connected. Governments, planners and researchers often address aging and disability through separate policies and programs, which can lead to fragmented approaches to transportation, housing and community development.

"Previously, researchers on these topics investigated accessibility issues for the two populations in silos, despite the common challenges they face," says Gebresselassie.

To address these issues, the authors propose an anti-ableist framework that encourages planners to consider accessibility from the beginning of the planning process.

Instead of treating aging and disability as separate concerns, the researchers argue that municipalities should integrate policies, services and decision-making processes. The paper outlines a framework to bring together government departments, community organizations and residents to ensure barrier-free design is considered across transportation, housing and public infrastructure.

"This means moving toward a planning culture that is anti-ableist and can address the accessibility needs of both groups," says Gebresselassie.

The researchers also call for greater involvement from people with lived experience in urban design decisions, as well as enhanced access training in planning education and professional practice.

The authors hope the study will encourage further research on the subject.

"As one of the pioneering studies to illuminate the need to explore the overlap, our study encourages other researchers to follow suit," says Gebresselassie.

The study has also led to an ongoing research collaboration between 91亚色 and the University of Utah. Gebresselassie and collaborator Andy Hong are currently completing another study that examines historical trends in transportation accessibility research involving older adults and people with disabilities.

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outlines priorities for higher education institutions as they work to advance sustainable development and contribute to discussions about sustainable development beyond 2030.

Introduced July 13 during the Global Higher Education Symposium at United Nations Headquarters in New 91亚色, the work was developed through a drafting process including global consultation led by Katrin Kohl, co-chair of the UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability at 91亚色.

The project brought together partners including UNESCO, United Nations Academic Impact, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the International Association of Universities and the International Science Council to build consensus around the role of higher education as a catalyst for positive change.

鈥淯niversities have an important role to play in helping society respond to global challenges, including climate change, inequality and emerging technologies,鈥� says Kohl. 鈥淭his statement brings together voices from around the world to identify how higher education can contribute to building a more sustainable future."

Perspectives from higher education leaders, researchers, international organizations, students and policymakers shaped a shared vision for priorities in higher education. The priorities include integrating sustainability across teaching, research and operations; strengthening democratic values and public trust; advancing inclusion and decolonization; using science and emerging technologies responsibly; and supporting changes to governance and funding systems.

UNESCO Chairholder Charles Hopkins says the initiative originated at 91亚色 and grew into an international collaboration with UN agencies concerned with higher education that resulted in the consensus statement.

The final document emerged from a global consultation process involving participants from around the world to build agreement on higher education's role in creating more sustainable, equitable and resilient societies.

The launch marks the latest contribution from 91亚色's UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability, established in 1999 as the first UNESCO Chair dedicated to education for sustainable development. For more than two decades, the Chair has worked with governments, international organizations, educators and institutions around the world to advance sustainability through education.

Hopkins says the statement represents an opportunity to strengthen the role of universities as partners in addressing complex issues beyond 2030 as conversations are beginning to emerge.

鈥淭he challenges the world faces do not exist in isolation, and neither can the solutions,鈥� says Hopkins. 鈥淯niversities have an important role to play as conveners, collaborators and catalysts for change.鈥�

The statement is expected to inform ongoing international discussions about the future of higher education and sustainable development and provide a framework for institutions seeking to strengthen their contributions to social, environmental and economic well-being.

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Clark, associate director, program development and academic integrity in 91亚色鈥檚 Office of the Vice-President Academic, will lead 鈥檚 work to support evidence-informed practices across Canada鈥檚 post-secondary sector.

As Chair, Clark will work with colleagues across the country to support institutions, academic integrity practitioners and educators responding to emerging challenges in teaching, learning and assessment.

鈥淧ost-secondary institutions are navigating significant changes in assessment, student learning and academic misconduct, alongside the growing influence of generative AI and other emerging technologies,鈥� says Clark. 鈥淭his environment highlights the need for coordinated approaches that support student success while maintaining public trust in the value and integrity of academic credentials.鈥�

Her appointment reflects her extensive experience leading academic integrity education and prevention initiatives at 91亚色, including collaborating with campus partners, co-facilitating 91亚色 Libraries鈥� Academic Integrity Workshop for Students (offered several times during the year), and delivering workshops and presentations to 91亚色 community members.

As Chair of the University鈥檚 Academic Integrity Community of Practice, Clark works with faculty members, academic units and institutional partners to develop resources, programs and strategies that foster integrity in teaching, learning and research. Her work includes advancing educational approaches that respond to evolving student needs and emerging issues, including the responsible use of new technologies.

"Academic integrity is fundamental to academic quality," says Clark. 鈥淚CAI Canada provides an important space for collaboration, professional learning and the sharing of effective practices."

Clark recently completed a PhD in higher education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. Her research examined the roles and experiences of academic integrity practitioners working within post-secondary institutions and contributed to scholarship on how institutions build and sustain cultures of integrity through policy, practice and collaboration.

"I'm looking forward to supporting ICAI Canada's continued growth,鈥� she says, 鈥渁s well as the work to strengthen connections among academic integrity practitioners across Canada.鈥�

Those interested in becoming a member of the Academic Integrity Community of Practice at 91亚色 can reach out to Clark at angclark@yorku.ca.

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91亚色 presents the findings from its yearly analysis in the鈥�Annual Employment Equity Statistical Report. The report covering Jan.1 to Dec. 31, 2025, is now available.

The report highlights representation at the University for four federally designated groups under the Employment Equity Act 鈥� women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons and persons with disabilities, as well as community members who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+. This year鈥檚 report also highlights employment equity initiatives undertaken in 2025, such as inclusive recruitment practices, targeted outreach to equity-deserving communities and equitable hiring and adjudication training.

Over the past three years, representation for racialized persons, persons with disabilities and 2SLGBTQIA+ employees has increased steadily, indicating measurable, incremental progress across the institution.

While work to advance equity has shown positive momentum, the University continues to recognize and address gaps in visibility and inclusion for under-represented groups.

The findings of the 2025 report highlight the opportunity to look beyond overall representation rates and better understand how employment systems, practices and workplace conditions support access, progression and retention across the University.

"The 2025 report also considers a period of change across the post-secondary sector, including financial pressures, restructuring and workforce adjustments. At 91亚色, this is reflected in increased workforce movement over the reporting period," says Parissa Safai, interim vice-president equity, people and culture.

The Employment Equity Dashboard continues to serve as an important companion to the annual report. The dashboard, housed on 91亚色's鈥�Data Hub, provides three years of aggregated and disaggregated employment equity data. It was designed to support transparency and enable evidence-based decision-making across the University community.

Increased participation in the Employment Equity Survey 鈥� with response rates rising from 62 per cent in 2024 to 70.1 per cent in 2025 鈥� suggests growing confidence in the use of this data to support inclusive practices.

Accurate data is important to ensure the dashboard supports evidence-based decision making. Participation in the Employment Equity Survey helps to ensure the report and dashboard represent the 91亚色 community.

Those who have not yet completed the employee self-identification survey, or wish to change their responses, can access it through鈥�HR Self-Serve鈥痠n the 鈥淧ersonal Details鈥� tab.

To find out more about employment equity鈥痑t鈥�91亚色 and to view past reports, visit the鈥�Employment Equity and Diversity鈥痺别产蝉颈迟别.

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This summer, YFile examines how 91亚色-led researchers move ideas into impact through the Connected Minds Prototyping Awards. This series shows innovation in practice 鈥� how socially responsible technologies are tested in real-world settings and how this work drives meaningful change.

Knee injuries and osteoarthritis are among the most common causes of pain, disability and reduced mobility. While knee braces are often prescribed to support recovery after injury or surgery, most provide only passive support and rely on subjective feedback to guide treatment decisions.

Patients and clinicians have limited tools to monitor changes in knee function between appointments, creating challenges when personalizing rehabilitation and tracking recovery progress.

At 91亚色, researchers from the and the are working together to develop an instrumented "smart" knee brace that could help monitor knee function beyond the clinic.

The project brings together William Gage, professor at the School of Kinesiology and Health Science in the Faculty of Health, Gerd Grau, associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Garrett Melenka, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Combining expertise in biomechanics, engineering design, wearable technologies, sensing systems and prototype development, the team aims to create a knee brace that is scientifically precise and practical for real-world use.

鈥淥ur project was inspired by a simple question: What if we could continuously monitor knee function outside the clinic using a wearable device?鈥� says Gage.

The Intelligent Knee Brace transforms a traditional support device into a wearable, smart monitoring system. By integrating sensors and machine-learning algorithms, it captures data on how people move in their daily activities, providing a more complete picture of mobility and recovery.

Gage and his team received a Phase 2 Connected Minds Prototyping Award, which provides up to $50,000 for full prototype development. The award program is part of the Connected Minds transdisciplinary research initiative at 91亚色 that partners with Queen鈥檚 University to support the development of socially responsible technologies.

Backed by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund and a network of more than 50 industry, hospital and community partners, Connected Minds explores how humans and intelligent machines interact.

Through the prototyping award, Gage and his team have moved the Intelligent Knee Brace through prototype development, sensor integration and the early development of machine-learning capabilities. Now developed into a working model, the smart knee brace integrates wearable sensors capable of measuring lower limb movement.

鈥淭he award has created an environment where researchers and industry partners can work together to rapidly test ideas, identify challenges and refine solutions that have the potential to make a meaningful impact in health care,鈥� says Gage.

From idea to development, the team has gained insights on how wearable sensing technologies and AI can be combined to generate meaningful information about human movement.

鈥淲hile wearable sensors can collect large amounts of data, transforming that data into clinically useful insights is a much more complex challenge,鈥� says Gage. 鈥淭hese findings are helping to shape the next generation of the prototype.鈥�

The project has demonstrated the feasibility of integrating sensing technology into a knee brace and will advance into the testing phase and will begin the validation process with industry and technology partners.

Gage says the goal is to determine how accurately the brace captures knee motion compared with laboratory-based systems.

As technology continues to develop, the potential for this smart device to enhance health care extends beyond individual clinical assessments. By offering continuous monitoring of knee function, the brace can provide more personalized rehabilitation, track recovery following injury or surgery and detect early changes in mobility that may require intervention.

In medical settings, this means clinicians can access continuous data between appointments, offering a more holistic understanding of patient needs. Over time, this comprehensive data can help shift care from periodic assessments toward more proactive models of health management.

"Ultimately, our goal is to help clinicians make better-informed decisions while giving patients more personalized feedback about their recovery and mobility," says Gage.

The next phase of the project will focus on expanding participant testing, validating the system鈥檚 accuracy and refining the machine-learning models used to interpret movement data. The team also plans to explore how the brace performs in populations with knee osteoarthritis and other mobility-related conditions.

Building on the project鈥檚 early successes, Gage and his team hope to establish large-scale clinical studies and industry collaborations that will support the technology鈥檚 path toward real-world health care applications.

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, the only literary journal devoted to contemporary Canadian Jewish writing, has been relaunched by Associate Professor David S. Koffman at 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.

Founded in 1992, Parchment published fiction, poetry, essays, reviews and translations. It was originally published by 91亚色 Libraries before moving to Toronto Metropolitan University, where the last issue was released in 2014.  

With support from 91亚色's Koschtizky Centre for Jewish Studies, the J. Richard Shiff Chair for the Study of Canadian Jewry and the Association for Canadian Jewish Studies (ACJS), which is housed at 91亚色, the publication has been revived with its first issue released in June. 

鈥淭he return of Parchment marks an important step toward reviving a publication that has helped showcase Canadian Jewish literary voices,鈥� says Koffman, who holds the J. Richard Shiff Chair for the Study of Canadian Jewry at 91亚色. 

The journal is published by the  under the editorial leadership of Orly Zebak, the managing editor of Brick: A Literary Journal, and a national editorial team that includes Koffman and Joshua Tapper, as co-executive editors. 91亚色 faculty members on its advisory board also include Professor Sarah R. Horowitz and instructor Olga Stein. 

Published twice a year, Parchment features poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction, while also welcoming other literary forms including reviews, interviews, translations and visual storytelling. The journal aims to provide a national forum for contemporary Canadian Jewish writing and creative expression. 

鈥淭his relaunch builds on the University's longstanding connection to the publication,鈥� says Koffman. 鈥�91亚色's support helps sustain a platform dedicated to celebrating and advancing contemporary Canadian Jewish writing for readers across the country. The literary journal now joins its sibling-journal, , our more traditional academic journal, which is platformed through 91亚色 Digital Library鈥檚 Open Journal System and is open access, bilingual and multi-disciplinary.鈥� 

New print editions are available through bookstores and online retailers every spring and fall. 

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The award honours the team behind the project First-Year Engineering Block Model 鈥� a NEW Way of Teaching, led by Associate Professor Jeffrey Harris at the .

The project introduces a modular, block-based teaching structure that fundamentally restructures how students engage with courses by supporting student learning, reducing cognitive load and improving well-being. It was selected as one of five recipients through a national adjudication process recognizing collaborative innovation in post-secondary education.

The 91亚色 initiative brings together faculty and staff across multiple disciplines and roles and reflects the award鈥檚 emphasis on collaborative teaching innovation. Developed through Lassonde in collaboration with the Faculty of Science, the block model restructures the traditional course system, delivering courses in intensive, sequential formats rather than concurrently.

鈥淥ur project brings together expertise from engineering, mathematics, physics and computing to redesign the structure of the first-year experience,鈥� says Harris. 鈥淭his work is deeply collaborative and highlights what is possible when faculty are supported through educational development and instructional design.鈥�

Harris says the design responds to structural challenges students were facing 鈥� such as commuting, employment commitments and heavy workloads 鈥� by redistributing academic demands across the term.

Piloted in Fall 2023 with 63 students, the initiative has expanded to include 120 participants with plans to reach 250 students by the 2026-27 academic year.

Across three years of implementation (2023-25), students in the model achieved higher success rates compared to those in the traditional delivery model. Students also reported stronger peer connections, increased interaction with instructors and improved clarity on learning goals and assessments.

It has also led to increased collaboration across faculties and strengthened teaching practices through shared design.

鈥淏y focusing on how learning is delivered, we鈥檝e demonstrated that meaningful, large-scale academic transformation is possible within institutional and accreditation requirements,鈥� says Harris. 鈥淭he next phase builds on this foundation, with a new curriculum that expands the model into an integrated first-year experience launching in Fall 2026.鈥�

The team聽receiving the award聽includes Lassonde colleagues Associate Professor聽Mojgan Jadidi, Assistant Professor聽Kai Zhuang, Tanveer Bhimani, instructional and learning designer, and聽Saskia van Beers, research associate along with Faculty of Science Professor聽Matthew George聽and Associate Professor聽Andrew Skelton. The team also includes Patrick Molicard-Chartier from the Universit茅 de l鈥橭ntario Fran莽ais.

The project was supported in part by 91亚色鈥檚 Academic Innovation Fund.

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Set to launch in September 2026, the EPS Executive Development Program is an educational initiative developed to advance learning in crime management, leadership development and service excellence 鈥� three strategic pillars outlined by EPS Chief Warren Driechel.

Delivered in collaboration with Schulich ExecEd, the initiative is designed for senior leaders across EPS, including both sworn and civilian members, to strengthen internal leadership capacity and support teams while emphasizing employee development and well-being. It also reinforces accountability by equipping participants with tools to make informed decisions, uphold organizational standards and lead with integrity.

鈥淚nvesting in our people is one of the most important things we can do as an organization,鈥� says Driechel. 鈥淏y prioritizing employee well-being and development, we are creating strong learning pathways that help our people grow, lead with confidence and reach their full potential, personally and professionally.鈥�

Risk management, strategic foresight, communication, innovation and political acuity are key themes in the curriculum. Additionally, the program features specialized learning pathways designed for different management levels, delivered through a series of custom-designed modules. Each module focuses on leadership growth, strategic thinking and practical applications, helping learners meet current challenges and prepare for the future of policing and public service.

The launch of the Executive Development Program is the first phase of the Edmonton Police Service's overall leadership development strategy. The EPS and Schulich ExecEd teams are also working on the development of leadership programing for the remaining levels of leadership across the organization.

鈥淲e are proud to partner with the Edmonton Police Service on this important initiative,鈥� says Rami Mayer, executive director of Schulich ExecEd. 鈥淭his collaboration reflects a shared commitment to developing leaders who can navigate the evolving demands of modern policing, strengthen public trust and deliver meaningful outcomes for the City of Edmonton. By equipping participants with practical skills in strategic thinking and leadership, the program supports a culture of innovation, resilience and service excellence across the organization.鈥�

Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate from Schulich ExecEd that recognizes commitment to leadership development and successful completion of the program.

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