Anticipate risks, understand crowd behaviour, and uphold safety at events of any scale.
By Natalie Fournier
Your heart is racing. The sound of the crowd intensifies. Your head is on a swivel to take in the action of the field. You’re surrounded by fans from all over the globe. But you’re not there for the game, you’re a public safety officer.
Canadian cities welcome hundreds of large-scale events every year and although these gatherings bring communities together and create lasting memories, the size and visibility also make them potential targets for a wide range of threats. Recognizing typical fan behaviour supports more informed, measured responses that prioritize safety while maintaining a positive public environment.
The Canadian Police Knowledge Network’s (CPKN) new course, Large Event Policing, provides the essential knowledge and skills needed to ensure successful and secure public gatherings. Created through collaboration with the Vancouver Police Department, the goal of the course is to establish a shared language and framework within the field of event safety and security.
“Vancouver regularly hosts major gatherings, from protests and demonstrations to high-profile concerts and high-attendance public community celebrations,” says Betty Froese, Director of Learning and Development, Training Services, Vancouver Police Department, and Vice-Chair of CPKN’s National Advisory Committee. “A course like Large Event Policing helps provide an understanding of leading practices, evolving safety considerations, and the unique operational expectations associated with large-scale events.”
As Vancouver and Toronto prepare to host 13 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 from June to July, it will be essential for onsite police and security to understand that FIFA represents a global event unlike typical large gatherings. The scale, magnitude, and international attention associated with FIFA require a heightened level of preparedness and a shared understanding of how operations differ from even the largest concerts or demonstrations.
Large Event Policing prepares police, first responders, public safety officers, and private security personnel to recognize a variety of scenarios that can occur at major gatherings like FIFA events, from the impact of alcohol and illicit substance abuse to crowds becoming unruly. The two-hour course also reviews contingency planning for unexpected incidents, the importance of risk, effective decision making, the legal scope of police powers, and the operational requirements of policing these largescale gatherings.
“The goal is for officers to better understand the dynamics of large events, identify early risks, communicate effectively, and collaborate seamlessly with partner agencies,” says Froese. “It supports a model where public safety, operational readiness, and positive community experiences work hand-in-hand, especially as the city continues to host large scale and globally significant events.”
To learn more about the Large Event Policing course, visit the CPKN catalogue here. Interested private security members can access this course through the PSKN catalogue here.
