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The CAPE Conference 2024 attendees and delegates. (Photo Credit: Halifax Regional Police Staff Photographer)

The Canadian Association of Police Educators (CAPE) Conference 2024, a much-anticipated national event for police educators and law enforcement professionals, took place from May 28 to May 30 in Halifax. 

Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Open Learning and Career Development (OLCD) co-hosted the conference with the Halifax Regional Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) of Nova Scotia, and the Canadian Association of Police Educators (CAPE). Creating a unique collaboration opportunity, the CAPE Conference allowed for professionals across Canada to come together for an exchange of the best teaching and training practices in law enforcement. 

This year’s theme focused on topics around leadership in policing. With OLCD being the home to Dalhousie’s Police Leadership program, co-hosting this year’s conference was the perfect opportunity to give back, collaborate, and learn more about this field. 

Day 1: Engaging Sessions and Networking at Dalhousie
The three-day conference kicked off at the McCain Building on the Dalhousie campus with an opening ceremony led by Jennifer Hann, Acting Dean of OLCD, Don MacLean, Chief of Police with Halifax Regional Police, and David Tutte, CAPE President. The opening ceremony was followed by a keynote talk from Dr. Shelly Whitman of the Dallaire Institute on the topic of developing leadership to prevent children from being recruited and used in armed violence. Afterwards, attendees were invited to attend sessions on topics including women in law enforcement, evidence-based policing, and the use of AI in law enforcement. 

Day 2: Exploring Halifax’s Facilities
Day two provided attendees with an opportunity to explore key facilities in Halifax, offering insights into the operations of local law enforcement. The day began at Pier 21 with a demonstration of the watercraft used by the Halifax Regional Police and Canada Border Services Agency. Afterwards, attendees visited the RCMP Nova Scotia Headquarters in Dartmouth, which gave them an opportunity to understand the logistical and operational challenges faced by law enforcement in Nova Scotia.

Day 3: Culmination at Pier 21
For the last day of the conference, attendees returned to the waterfront at Pier 21 for sessions on health and wellness and key topics in leadership. David Tutte, a Staff Sergeant with the Halton Regional Police Service who also serves as president of CAPE, said that co-hosting this year’s conference with OLCD "allowed the CAPE planning committee to foster new connections with Dalhousie and highlight local academics, practitioners, and issues."

The CAPE Conference is an annual event that takes place in different locations across Canada. Ottawa is being proposed for the 2025 conference, but has yet to be confirmed.