York Regional Police Expands Anti-Racism Training
YRP introduced in-person anti-racism training in 2024, fostering trust, promoting fairness and improving officers’ confidence in addressing racial discrimination effectively
In February 2024, York Regional Police introduced Addressing Racism and Racial Discrimination in Policing, a new in-person training course covering key issues related to racism and racial discrimination in law enforcement. The course covers a broad range of topics, such as the history of racism in Canada and present-day realities, addressing systemic racism and racial discrimination, and understanding racial profiling and its distinction from criminal profiling.
The course is a shift from the online anti-racism training programs that YRP introduced in 2020. The consensus across the organization is that the new face-to-face format of anti-racism training promotes meaningful dialogue and deeper engagement among staff. It allows members to participate in group discussions, question and answer periods, case studies, videos and interactive presentations.
Of our roughly 2,500 members, over 350 civilian staff and almost 600 sworn officers have completed the training. This training takes place on a weekly basis, so that number will increase over time. All members are directed to take part in the training, which will likely be completed in spring 2026.
“The goal of YRP’s anti-racism training is to increase member awareness and promote the fair and equitable treatment of all individuals within and outside of the organization, which in turn can foster a greater willingness of residents to engage with our officers,” said Dr. Sarah Rogers, YRP’s Director of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility.
Before and after each training session, participants are asked to complete a survey to indicate their level of familiarity with the topics covered. The vast majority have reported feeling more confident and effective in their roles when they have the tools to engage fairly and respectfully in interactions with all community members.
“The goal of YRP’s anti-racism training is to promote the fair and equitable treatment of all individuals.”
Dr. Sarah Rogers, YRP’s Director of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility
The training is tailored specifically to the needs and experiences of York Region and YRP members, providing them with a consistent and baseline understanding of key concepts, legislation and issues related to racism and racial discrimination in policing.
Addressing Racism and Racial Discrimination in Policing will soon be augmented by Ontario-government mandated Thematic Training, an online program that provides an overview of human rights, systemic racism and other critical topics. The training focuses on addressing barriers facing communities and internal workplace dynamics.
YRP members will be encouraged to take both trainings in short succession whenever possible to reinforce common themes and provide additional context for applying these lessons in their everyday lives.
“Understanding the reality of racism and racial discrimination in policing is a critical skill for all our members,” said Inspector Charles Byham, Professionalism, Leadership and Inclusion. “To put it simply, police officers deserve a workplace that is free from racial harassment and communities deserve policing services that are free from racial bias and discrimination.”
The next phase of anti-racism training at YRP will provide more depth into various topics such as gender-based discrimination, anti-Indigenous racism and inclusive leadership practices.
