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In October 2020, an Anti-Racism Action Committee, was formed to oversee the development of a community-based anti-racism strategy. Together, the Committee, Administration, and external consultants will work with racialized communities to identify strategies to address racism within our programs and services and leverage work being done in our communities.
Following protests over the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd in May 2020, we committed to the Calgary Police Commission and City Council that we would:
In March 2021, the Anti-Racism Action Committee was formed with internal and external members participating in monthly conversations to guide the development of the Anti-Racism Strategy.
This 15-member committee is comprised of Calgarians with lived experiences of racism and/or professional experience, academic or cultural expertise in anti-racism related work. The Committee’s key responsibilities:
This committee, which is comprised of 70 per cent sworn members and 30 per cent civilian members, all have varied personal and professional experience that they bring to the CPS. They will help us identify what is working well, where some issues may be, and how we can improve our systems and work culture to address systemic racism and any barriers that affect some groups differently than others.
In October 2020, an Anti-Racism Action Committee, was formed to oversee the development of a community-based anti-racism strategy. Together, the Committee, Administration, and external consultants will work with racialized communities to identify strategies to address racism within our programs and services and leverage work being done in our communities.
In October 2020, an Anti-Racism Action Committee, was formed to oversee the development of a community-based anti-racism strategy. Together, the Committee, Administration, and external consultants will work with racialized communities to identify strategies to address racism within our programs and services and leverage work being done in our communities.
Inspector Avril Martin has 19 years of experience with the Calgary Police Service. She is the Inspector of the Community Services Section which includes that Anti-Racism Portfolio, Diversity Resource Team, Hate and Extremism Team, Victim’s Assistance Support Team (VAST), Crime Prevention Team, and Volunteer Resource Team.
She has spent time in units throughout the investigative, operational, and administrative areas within CPS with over half of her career spent in the Domestic Conflict Unit (DCU) as different ranks. She has had many roles, including front line patrol in Districts 2 & 3, several positions within the Domestic Conflict Unit, Duty Staff Sergeant at the Real Time Operations Center, Professional Standards Section Investigator, and Co-Chair of the Information Management Working Group.
Avril has won two Chief’s Award Team Citations, with one for Investigative Excellence. She is married to another police officer, and together they share a combined 34 years of policing experience in Calgary.
Anne Sureshkumar is a therapist in private practice, who works with families, couples and individuals, and is a member of the CPS ARAC Team. Anne’s areas of interest include anti-racism work, knowledge of racialized trauma, mental health, domestic violence, intersectionality, identity development for racialized and sexual minorities, research, public speaking as well as free-lance writing.
Presentation to the Anti-Racism Action Committee on Racial TraumaPsychology TodayLiving Well CounsellingCGScholar BookstoreMicosoft StoriesCommitment to Anti-Racism VideosHealth Collective
Dr. Khwezi Mbolekwa is the Lead Consultant with the Calgary Police Service, Anti-Racism team. Previously he was the Anti-Racism Organization Lead for the City of Calgary following his role as the Lead for Employee Experience, which included responsibility for furthering the Diversity & Inclusion Framework. Dr. Mbolekwa is a Board Member and Advisor to the Black Physicians Association of Alberta, the Relational Coordination Collaborative, and consults on Diversity, Inclusion, and Racial Equity in various sectors including healthcare, working with Boards and Executives.
Dr. Mbolekwa has worked with the LGBTQ+ and Indigenous portfolios in health care on improving access to healthcare, education and addressing systemic racism and discrimination with both groups. In addition, Dr. Mbolekwa has experience working with several community organizations create respectful workplaces focusing on anti-harassment, anti-bullying, and anti-discrimination behaviours.
Dr. Mbolekwa has made numerous presentations at the local, national, and international meetings, symposiums, and conferences. Dr. Mbolekwa holds two Masters, one in Health Services Administration and the other in Organizational Systems, and a PhD in Organizational Culture Change and Systems Transformation
Shuana Porter is the Chief Executive Officer of Upper House Agency. She is an organizational behaviour and culture consultant that creates policies and workshops with an anti-racism lens. Shuana is the CEO of the AllThingsBossy Brand, a business service and event planning company that is dedicated to black women and girls that fosters mentorship, personal development, excellence, and entrepreneurship. She is also the founding president of Let’s Be Human, a non-profit organization committed to serving Calgary’s homeless population with a focus on mental health and wellness. Shuana is a self-identified Black Female Activist.
