Ilona Kusic wins the 2026 Taras Hryb Educational Builder’s Award
Ilona Kusic receives PSKN’s 2026 Taras Hryb Educational Builder’s Award for her contributions to private investigator education and training in British Columbia. By Laura Newcombe The Professional Security Knowledge Network (PSKN) recently presented Ilona Kusic, Director, Kusic and Kusic Private Investigators Ltd, with the 2026 Taras Hryb Educational Builder’s Award. This award was presented during the Professional Investigators’ Association of British Columbia (PIABC) Spring Conference and is sponsored by PSKN. This award is named in recognition of Taras Hryb, who made outstanding contributions to education and training initiatives in British Columbia’s (BC) Private Investigators industry. Hryb was instrumental in the creation of the Introduction to Private Investigation courses that PSKN delivers in both BC and Alberta. Established in 2022, this award honours his legacy and acknowledges individuals within the PIABC membership who demonstrate a significant contribution to the education and training of private investigators in BC. “Through her leadership and commitment to learning, Ilona has been fundamental in expanding educational opportunities for private investigators across BC,” said Lee Gauthier, manager, business development, PSKN. “Her dedication to advancing professional development truly embodies the spirit of this award.” Kusic has been a part of the private investigative industry for 34 years, dedicating her career […]
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One Course a Day — The Journey of Completing Every CPKN Course
What started as one CPKN course a day became a remarkable learning journey for Jean-Phillippe Chiasson. By Laura Newcombe On September 20, 2025, the Highway Safety Enforcement Officer (HSE) with the Inspection and Enforcement New Brunswick (IENB) division at the Department of Justice and Public Safety (JPS), committed to completing one Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN) course every day, regardless of length. “While I was transitioning from Corrections to HSE, I found myself waiting for surgery after an on-duty injury,” explained Chiasson. “I was entering a new career, still in my probationary period, and I wanted to be as prepared as possible. Rather than focusing on what I couldn’t do, I focused on what I could do. CPKN gave me a way to keep learning, stay engaged, and prepare myself for the next stage of my career.” His journey with CPKN started with four mandatory courses required for the HSE training process. After those were completed, he started at the top of the course catalogue list and worked his way through alphabetically, ensuring he didn’t miss a course. By the time he was fully recovered from surgery, and ready to return to work, he had completed approximately 50 CPKN courses. […]
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CPKN Announces New Board Chair
CPKN welcomes Jennifer Ebert as Board Chair following leadership transition. By Natalie Fournier The Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN) has appointed Jennifer Ebert, Assistant Commissioner, Operational Policing Services, Indigenous, Provincial, Territorial & Municipal Policing (IPTMP), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) as Chair of its Board of Directors, effective June 10, 2026. Ebert’s appointment follows the retirement of York Regional Police Chief Jim McSween, who is also stepping down as Chair of the CPKN Board of Directors. Concluding his tenure on the CPKN Board of Directors. Having previously served as Vice Chair, Ebert will now assume the role of Chair. “We are excited to welcome Jennifer as Chair and look forward to the strong leadership she will bring to the role,” said Sonia Poulin, President, CPKN. “I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to Jim for his years of service and leadership on our Board. His contributions have had a lasting impact on our organization, and we wish him a well-deserved retirement.” Ebert joined the RCMP in 1997, and during her nearly 30-year career, she has served in five provinces and two territories, including holding the position of Commanding Officer of Prince Edward Island (2017–2022) and Newfoundland and Labrador […]
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From Engagement to Relations: Expand Your Learning During National Indigenous History Month
Mark National Indigenous History Month in June by building your cultural awareness and exploring meaningful learning opportunities with CPKN. By Natalie Fournier As we prepare to recognize National Indigenous History Month in June, the Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN) invites you to begin a meaningful journey toward increasing your cultural awareness of Indigenous Peoples across Canada through The Path: Your Journey Through Indigenous Canada. This online program supports the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action for Canadians to receive cultural competency training and offers a strong foundation for continued learning and reflection. Participants of The Path will explore the terminology used to describe Indigenous peoples, examine key historical events, the importance of cultural traditions and values, and be encouraged to reflect on how to build respectful and informed relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. For more information on The Path: Your Journey Through Indigenous Canada and to enroll for just $66 (60% off) plus tax, visit the CPKN catalogue. This limited-time offer is available from May 28 to July 31, 2026. An additional knowledge opportunity is CPKN’s upcoming Network Webinar Series on Wednesday, June 24, entitled From Engagement to Relations: Building Trust with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Communities, led by Jennifer […]
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The Human System Behind the Badge: Rethinking Mental Health and Prevention
CPKN’s Network Webinar Series introduces a new learning series to help organizations build stronger, safer teams. By Natalie Fournier The Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN) commemorated Mental Health Awareness Month by hosting its latest Network Webinar Series, Resilient First Responders: Protecting Members Through Prevention, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The webinar presented the importance of individual and organizational commitment to trauma awareness, psychological safety, education, and resilience, providing a connection of these concepts to real-world operational realities through facilitated discussion. The session was led by Lieutenant Colonel Steven Boychyn, Director of Training at Wounded Warriors Canada, and Dr. Yasmeen Krameddine, a national expert in de-escalation and resilience. Participants were guided through key concepts related to proactive approaches to member protection, with a focus on preventing risk before incidents, complaints, or investigations occur. “Misconduct and excessive force rarely come from people who set out to cause harm. They come from good officers who were maybe running on empty …or maybe from a culture where asking for help still kind of feels like a risk,” says Dr. Krameddine. “This is not a people problem. It’s really a systems problem, and systems can be fixed. The real question isn’t how to punish failure; it’s how to prevent it. And that starts with understanding the human system underneath the badge.” The webinar also introduced CPKN’s new learning series, Resilient First Responders. The five-part series explores building personal coping skills, fostering psychologically safe and informed workplaces, reinforcing […]
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From Potential to Practice: Evaluating AI Enabled Tools in Policing
A collaborative CPKN pilot evaluation highlights both the promise and the challenges of AI on the frontlines. By Natalie Fournier As we continue to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) in our personal and professional lives, it’s no wonder that police organizations would also want to harness this technology in their everyday tasks. AI is increasingly being explored as a potential support tool in police services across Canada and to better understand its value, the Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN) was asked to evaluate just how GovAI-enabled tools could support frontline officers through its research arm. The evaluation project was initiated by the Vancouver Police Department. They collaborated with CPKN to examine how GovAI digital tools could assist with researching, drafting and summarizing information. The tools would also be used to access operational reference materials such as policies, procedures, and legal resources. GovAI, short for Government AI, is an AI‑powered platform that helps government staff support decision‑making and streamline operations across departments. “CPKN was a great partner for this,” says Betty Froese, Director, Learning and Development Services, Vancouver Police Department. “It’s Department of Innovation was able to provide professional research with a quick turnaround. It was important for us to have data from […]
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CPKN Announces Two New Board of Directors
Two new Board appointments bring deep policing experience and fresh perspective to CPKN. By Rachel Cutcliffe The Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN) has appointed Warren Driechel, Chief, Edmonton Police Service, and Andrew Chan, Deputy Chief Constable, Vancouver Police Department, to its Board of Directors effective April 1, 2026. “As a national not-for-profit organization, it is important that our Board represents the diversity of policing and public safety throughout Canada,” stated Sonia Poulin, President, CPKN. “We are delighted to welcome two distinguished leaders from prominent Western Canadian services whose expertise and viewpoints will enhance our capacity to support police and public safety organizations nationwide.” With almost 30 years in policing, Chief Driechel brings extensive experience in patrol, intelligence, organized crime, and recruit training. He has led the development of several intelligence units and played a key role in advancing data and technology within policing. Prior to his appointment as Chief, he served as Deputy Chief overseeing the Community Safety and Well-Being Bureau, which included areas such as Transit and Community Safety Teams, the School Resource Officer Program, and Behavioural Assessment and Integrated Offender Management Units. “Chief Driechel’s dedication to innovation, community engagement, and operational excellence will provide valuable insight to our […]
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CPKN and the Canadian Police College Announce Strategic Evolution of Longstanding Partnership
A stronger collaboration is improving police training and education.
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Keeping Crowds Safe: Preparing for Large Scale Events
Developed with the Vancouver Police Department, Large Event Policing provides frontline personnel with the knowledge and confidence to manage complex crowd dynamics and respond effectively to emerging risks.
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Supporting Small Services with the Modernized CBMF
How collaborating with CPKN and the updated CBMF can build stronger and more consistent organizational practices for your service.
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