PGO Conference Chair Lisa Darling invites all members and partners to the 2026 Spring Conference & AGM. Police Governance Ontario’s 2026 Spring Conference and AGM is being held in person!
OPP Detachment Boards:
June 1 – 2, 2026
Municipal & First Nations Boards:
June 1 – 3, 2026
The Brock Niagara Falls – Fallsview
Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada
Early Bird Member: $899
Early Bird Non-Member: $999
Companion Meal Package: $225
One Day Pass: $550
Early Bird pricing ended April 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Member: $999
Non-Member: $1099
Companion Meal Package: $250
CANCELLATION & SUBSTITUTION POLICY
Cancellations must be received in writing. Cancellations received by March 31, 2026 will be eligible for a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee.
Cancellations received between April 1 and May 1, 2026 will be entitled to a 50% refund.
No refunds will be granted after May 1, 2026.
In all cases noted above, delegate substitution is permitted with written notice to PGO.
PROGRAM
Monday, June 1:
| Time | Program |
|---|---|
| 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Hot Buffet Breakfast Sponsored by York Regional Police Service Board |
| 8:15 AM – 8:45 AM OPP Detachment Boards |
Welcome Remarks Deputy Commissioner Chris Harkins, Ontario Provincial Police Lisa Darling, Executive Director, PGO |
| 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM OPP Detachment Boards |
Breakout Session 1A: OPP Boards – Getting Organized for Governance Lisa Darling, Executive Director, PGO |
| 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM OPP Detachment Boards |
Breakout Session 1B: OPP Boards – Rules, Transparency, & Accountability Anitra Basant Sisavang, Trainer, PGO |
| 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM OPP Detachment Boards |
Breakout Session 1C: OPP Boards – Understanding Your Role in Community Safety Natalie Champagne, Trainer, PGO |
| 10:15 AM – 10:30 AM | Networking Break |
| 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM OPP Detachment Boards |
Breakout Session 2A: OPP Boards – Getting Organized for Governance Lisa Darling, Executive Director, PGO |
| 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM OPP Detachment Boards |
Breakout Session 2B: OPP Boards – Rules, Transparency, & Accountability Anitra Basant Sisavang, Trainer, PGO |
| 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM OPP Detachment Boards |
Breakout Session 2C: OPP Boards – Understanding Your Role in Community Safety Natalie Champagne, Trainer, PGO |
| 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch Sponsored by Toronto Police Service Board |
| 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM All Boards |
PGO Annual General Meeting: Professionalizing Police Governance Elections Restricted to Member Boards & Their Staff |
| 2:15 PM – 2:45 PM | Networking Break |
| 2:45 PM – 4:30 PM All Boards |
PGO Strategic Update: Building Governance Architecture Lisa Darling, Executive Director, PGO Jeanine Lassaline-Berglund, Director of Communications & Engagement, PGO Linda Skoyles, Director of Curriculum & Training, PGO |
| 4:45 PM By Invite only |
PGO Board of Directors’ Meeting Election of Officers |
| 6:00 PM | PGO Welcome Reception & Conference Dinner Featuring Rose City Dueling Pianos! Presented by Niagara Police Service Board |
Tuesday, June 2:
| Time | Program |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Hot Buffet Breakfast Sponsored by York Regional Police Service Board |
| 8:15 AM – 9:00 AM All Boards |
Opening Ceremonies & Remarks Niagara Police Service Chief’s Colour Guard & Piper |
| 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM All Boards |
From Compliance to Governance: Why the Shift is Challenging in Practice (Panel) Moderator: Lisa Darling, Executive Director, PGO Panelists: – Melanie Fix, Partner, Advisory Services, MNP – Cal Corley, CEO, Community Safety Knowledge Alliance – Stephanie Johannsen, Chief Governance Officer, London Police Service Board Sponsored by London Police Service Board |
| 10:15 AM – 10:35 AM | Networking Break Sponsored by Owen Sound Police Service Board |
| 10:35 AM – 10:50 AM All Boards |
Governing the AI Era: What Police Service Boards Need to Know Stefan Schurman, Director of Sales, Axon Public Safety Canada |
| 10:50 AM – 12:00 PM All Boards |
Governance Under Pressure: Lessons from Peel (Panel) Moderator: Robert Serpe, Executive Director, Peel Police Service Board Panelists: – Al Boughton, Chair Finance Committee, Peel Police Service Board – Mark Dapat, Deputy Chief, Community Safety & Well Being, Peel Regional Police Service – Dyson Smith, Superintendent, Peel Regional Police Service Sponsored by Peel Police Service Board |
| 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch |
| 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Municipal Boards |
Breakout Session 3A: Budgeting for Governance – Strengthening Board Oversight & Decision-Making Caitlin Brown, Partner, MNP Community Safety & Well-Being Practice |
| 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM OPP Detachment Boards |
Breakout Session 3B: Understanding the OPP – Structure, Roles, & the Board’s Place in the System Lisa Darling, Executive Director, PGO |
| 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM First Nations Boards |
Breakout Session 3C: First Nations Police Governance – Understanding the CSPA, Options, & Practical Implications Jeff Cooper, Inspectorate of Policing Dylan Kekanovich, Police Services Advisor, Indigenous Policing Unit, Ministry of the Solicitor General Deputy Grand Chief Mike Metatawabin, Nishnawbe Aski Nation Frank McKay, Nishnawbe Aski Police Service Board |
| 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Networking Break Sponsored by Waterloo Regional Police Service Board |
| 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM OPP Detachment Boards |
Breakout Session 4A: Using Data to Inform Community Safety & Governance Decisions Dubi Kanengisser, Inspectorate of Policing |
| 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM OPP Detachment Boards |
Breakout Session 4B: OPP Detachment Commander Performance Evaluation – Governance in Practice Lisa Darling, Executive Director, PGO Linda Skoyles, Director of Curriculum & Training, PGO |
| 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM First Nations Boards |
Breakout Session 4C: First Nations Police Governance – Defining Roles, Responsibilities, & Relationships Anitra Basant Sisavang, Trainer, PGO Natalie Champagne, Trainer, PGO |
| 3:00 PM – 4:45 PM Municipal Boards |
Municipal Boards Joint Sessions with OACP OACP-Run Sessions at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel |
| 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM | Networking Break |
| 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM OPP Detachment Boards |
Breakout Session 5A: Using Data to Inform Community Safety & Governance Decisions (repeat) Dubi Kanengisser, Inspectorate of Policing |
| 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM OPP Detachment Boards |
Breakout Session 5B: OPP Detachment Commander Performance Evaluation – Governance in Practice Lisa Darling, Executive Director, PGO Linda Skoyles, Director of Curriculum & Training, PGO |
| 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM First Nations Boards |
Breakout Session 5C: First Nations Police Governance – Building Effective Relationships with Police Leadership Kai Liu, Executive Director, Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario (IPCO) Jeanine Lassaline-Berglund, Director of Communications & Engagement, PGO |
| 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Free Time |
| 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM | PGO Networking Reception Presented by AXON |
Wednesday, June 3:
| Time | Program |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM – 8:30 AM | Hot Buffet Breakfast Sponsored by Ottawa Police Service Board |
| 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM Municipal Boards |
Opening Remarks Labour Relations & Bargaining: Emerging Pressures & PGO’s Path Forward Lisa Darling, Executive Director, PGO Jessica Barrow, Partner, Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall Larry Vieira, General Counsel-Office of the Chief, DRPS Sponsored by Medallion Group Insurance, by McFarlan Rowlands |
| 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM Municipal & First Nations Boards |
Strategic Planning as a Governance Tool: Setting Direction & Measuring Progress Neil Dubord, Leadership Expert, Former Chief of Police, Author Sponsored by Consilium Public Sector Services |
| 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM | Networking Break |
| 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Municipal & First Nations Boards |
Governance in a Reactive World: Applying the Principles That Matter Lisa Darling, Executive Director, PGO Jeanine Lassaline-Berglund, Director of Communications and Engagement, PGO Sponsored by Infinit Drones |
| 12:00 PM | Closing Remarks |
ALTERNATE HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
Courtyard by Marriott Niagara Falls (3 minute drive)
5950 Victoria Ave, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 3L7
(905) 358-3083
Doubletree Fallsview Resort & Spa (4 minute drive)
6039 Fallsview Blvd, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 3V6
(289) 932-1990
Hilton Niagara Falls/Fallsview Hotel & Suites (5 minute drive)
6361 Fallsview Blvd, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 3V9
(905) 354-7887
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
There are sponsorship opportunities available for the 2026 PGO Spring Conference! Please contact Holly Doty at holly@policegovernanceontario.ca or 1-800-831-7727.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
