Ilias 9 is Coming to Your Portal
Your LMS is Getting an Update – Discover What’s New By Natalie Fournier As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the learning experience for police and public safety professionals, CPKN will be performing its annual Learning Management System (LMS) upgrade on Monday, August 31. This update introduces several new features and usability improvements designed to make learning, administration, and content management easier and more effective. The ILIAS 9 upgrade includes a number of enhancements, including: What’s New Learn with Flashcards – Allows learners to review terms using a spaced repetition approach, making it easier to memorize definitions and reinforce key concepts. Bulk Import Glossary Terms – Users can now import glossary terms directly from spreadsheets, significantly reducing the time required to create and maintain learning resources. Improved Exercise Workflow – A clearer layout and improved organization make it easier to track current, upcoming, and completed assignments. Enhanced Test Results – Learners and instructors can now view all relevant information on a single page, with visual indicators for correct, partially correct, and incorrect answers. New filtering and sorting options also make assessment review faster and more intuitive. Redesigned Metadata Editor – The Learning Object Metadata (LOM) editor has been modernized with a more intuitive interface, making it faster and easier to manage metadata for courses […]
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CPKN Receives Provincial Grant to Support Women in Public Safety Leadership in Prince Edward Island
The provincial grant will help women in policing and public safety across Prince Edward Island strengthen their leadership skills through CPKN’s Canadian Credible Leadership program. By Natalie Fournier The Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN), a Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.)-based national not-for-profit, has been awarded a $ 20,000 grant from the Government of PEI Interministerial Women’s Secretariat to promote its Women in Public Safety Leadership Program, open to women in policing and public safety across P.E.I. The free Women in Public Safety Leadership Program is an extension of CPKN’s Canadian Credible Leadership (CCL) Cohort and will be fully funded by the grant with financial support from the Government of Canada Department for Women and Gender Equality in support of the National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence. The Canadian Credible Leadership (CCL) Cohort is a virtual program led by a subject matter expert and blends online learning with facilitated workshops to provide a unique learning experience for users. Participants gain a better understanding of their abilities to demonstrate behaviours, skills, and competencies related to self-awareness and self-management, social awareness, problem solving, driving organizational change, and coaching. “This funding reflects a shared commitment to advancing gender equity and increasing leadership opportunities for women […]
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From Engagement to Relations: CPKN Webinar Focuses on Intercultural Understanding and Reconciliation
Knowledge is only the beginning. Discover why developing intercultural skills is essential to building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities. By Laura Newcombe The Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN) commemorated National Indigenous History Month by hosting its latest Network Webinar Series, From Engagement to Relations: Building Trust with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Communities, on June 24, 2026. The session explored three key stages of building trust, beginning with Indigenous cultures and worldviews and how they differ from dominant Western perspectives. The session was led by Jennifer David, a senior consultant and lead on Truth and Reconciliation with the NVision Insight Group. Participants were guided to examine essential intercultural skills, such as self-awareness, communication, and adaptability, before grounding these concepts in the practical realities of respecting Indigenous rights and community protocols. “Knowing about Indigenous cultures and world views is the foundation, but that knowledge alone is not enough,” says David. “Knowledge without capacity is just awareness.” The session welcomed 100 participants from 38 different services and organizations located in eight different provinces. 93 per cent of the post-webinar survey respondents learned something new while watching. This hour-long webinar introduces topics that can be explored further in The Path: Your Journey Through Indigenous […]
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Nominations now open for the 2026 F. Darren Smith Award of Excellence
This award recognizes individuals who are making a significant impact on police professional development. Learn more or nominate today. By Natalie Fournier The Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN) is now accepting nominations for the F. Darren Smith Award of Excellence. Established in 2012, the award is presented annually at the CPKN Conference (formally known as the Stanhope Conference) and honours individuals in the Canadian police community who demonstrate exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing technology-enhanced learning (TEL). The award commemorates Staff Superintendent F. Darren Smith, whose 33-year career with the Toronto Police Service included pioneering efforts in police professional development through technology and had a lasting impact on national learning models. Anyone may submit a nomination. Nominees must be employed as a sworn or civilian member in a Canadian police service, police training academy, college, or institution, or be part of a related organization that is involved in police professional development. Completed nominations must be received by Friday, August 12, 2026, at 11:45 p.m. ET. If you are interested in learning more about this award, eligibility requirements, or would like to download a nomination form, please click here. Completed nomination forms can be emailed to communications@cpkn.ca.
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You Spoke. We Listened: LMS Reporting is Getting a Major Upgrade
A new reporting system shaped directly by clients will deliver customizable, scheduled, and streamlined insights when it launches this fall. By Natalie Fournier You told us. We listened. Reporting in the Learning Management System (LMS) is getting an upgrade. The Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN) is making enhancements to its LMS based on feedback received through a recent review that included a needs assessment and focus group survey conducted with clients across the country. According to the responses, the current reporting system wasn’t meeting client expectations. With this information, CPKN will start from scratch and rebuild the LMS for ease of use with a focus on the system’s reporting capabilities, a common issue identified by users. The reporting system allows clients to collect and analyze learning data within the system to track who is learning, how they are progressing, and overall performance. This data is used by learners, managers, and human resource teams to identify and track training completion. “The message from clients has been clear, reporting needs to be more intuitive and practical,” said Chantelle Ivanski, Director of Innovation, CPKN. “This project is about turning that feedback into a user-focused solution that makes data easier to access and use.” […]
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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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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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