Notice Board

The Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA) presents a session examining evidence-based projects as they relate to Canadian policing.

How can we make a difference in our community with evidence-based public safety projects?

Lethbridge Polytechnics’s Centre for Public Safety Applied Research (CPSAR) has been embracing Klose’s (2024) re-definition of evidence-based policing approach that entails decision-making, “which integrates the best available evidence, professional judgement and community values, preferences and circumstances.” CPSAR currently supports over 14 different research projects, 15 researchers, 14 student researchers that involve meaningful collaborations with over 28 Canadian policing, public safety, academic, and community partners across five provinces. We hope to share the benefits and potential of using “research-informed, practitioner-centred, and community-oriented” (Klose, 2024) evidence-based policing practices overall.

We will share the research questions, objectives, methods and initial data collected and analyzed for a three-year project based in Lethbridge, which is currently SSHRC/NSERC funded (Community Integration Through Art – Pissatsinaskssini), that has emerged from this redefinition of evidence-based approaches in public safety in Canada. Findings regarding policing, community and academic partnerships will be shared including current trends, challenges and opportunities shared by police services. These findings have served to inform current research projects, collaborations and grant applications.

Key findings from our CITAP project, which aims to reduce recidivism and facilitate reconciliation, will be shared about our priority population, including their self-reported preferences and input from service providers on the social-recreational gatherings we are implementing. Practically, we aim to show how co-created, multi-disciplinary, research-informed applied research projects that reflect community values and circumstances can result in meaningful societal benefits.

Speakers: Dr. Kirsten Fantazir, President’s Applied Research Chair in Public Safety and Dr. Jami Albright-Tolman, Principle Investigator, Researcher and Faculty, Lethbridge Polytechnic

Dr. Kirsten Fantazir is an experienced instructor, curriculum developer, researcher, chair, graduate supervisor and mentor at Lethbridge Polytechnic. Kirsten is currently researching the re-integration of marginalized populations through art, technology-facilitated gender-based violence in youth, and authentically assessing police applicants through virtual reality. In 2022, she was named the first President’s Applied Research Chair in Public Safety. Kirsten has since led the Centre for Public Safety Applied Research (CPSAR) which is supported by faculty researchers and student research assistants who currently oversee numerous applied research projects with public safety, community, technology and academic partners.

Dr. Albright-Tolman is an instructor and researcher at Lethbridge Polytechnic. Her research focuses on enhancing public safety by improving social determinants of health in marginalized populations. Currently, she is researching the re-integration of marginalized populations through art and addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence in youth. She has also designed, implemented and evaluated an online gambling harm reduction program for offenders called Hedge Your Bets.

Date/Time: Thursday, Jan 23, 2025. The session begins at 12 noon and concludes at 1 pm.

Cost is free, donations, however, are gratefully accepted.

Location: SACPA sessions are held at Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO), Atrium Dining Room, 500 -11 Street S, Lethbridge

Lunch and Refreshments: Please arrive early to patronize the LSCO cafeteria and enjoy its excellent variety of good-value food options. The Atrium Dining Room is available by 11:15 a.m.

For more information on the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs, visit the SACPA web page.