Law of Policing Conference, Western Edition

The 17th Annual Law of Policing Conference, Western Edition is organized by the Canadian Institute (CI), part of C5 Group. The conference is part of C5 Group’s National Security Conference Portfolio and brings together law enforcement leaders, police legal counsel, professional standards professionals, oversight bodies, prosecutors and other practitioners working on the legal and operational issues affecting policing in Canada.

The Law of Policing Conference, Western Edition is a two-day conference focused on the legal, policy and professional standards issues affecting police services and law enforcement agencies in Canada. The 2026 program examines police accountability, misconduct and internal investigations, search and seizure, Charter rights, police oversight, officer note-taking and body-worn camera evidence, McNeil disclosure, corruption and breach of trust, cross-border organized crime investigations, hate crime legislation, media rights and employee management in policing.

The 17th Annual Law of Policing Conference, Western Edition will take place November 12–13, 2026, at the Civic Hotel, Autograph Collection, 3 Civic Plaza – 13475 Central Ave, Surrey, British Columbia V3T 0L8. An interactive livestream option is also available for delegates who cannot attend in person. Two optional virtual pre-conference workshops will take place on November 9 and November 10, 2026.

The conference is designed for Police Commissioners, Chiefs, Superintendents and their counsel; Professional Standards Directors and Investigators; executives of police associations and their counsel; senior law enforcement officers; police discipline adjudicators; criminal law practitioners; Crown Attorneys; members of the plaintiff bar; city solicitors; and government policy drafters. It is especially relevant to professionals responsible for police governance, discipline, investigations, legal risk, oversight and policy.

The conference primarily represents law enforcement, policing, public safety, government and legal services. It also brings together police associations, independent oversight bodies, prosecution services, human rights organizations, justice-sector agencies and law firms that advise or interact with police services.

The 2026 program covers police misconduct and harassment investigations, privacy and Charter rights in emerging technology, facial recognition, drones, officer note-taking, body-worn camera evidence, police oversight, Canada’s Black Justice Strategy, search and seizure, production orders, Charter case law, organized crime and cross-border cooperation, hate crime legislation, McNeil disclosure, confidentiality in discipline investigations, police corruption and breach of trust, expert witnesses, media rights and employee management in police environments.

Attendees will gain practical guidance on navigating legal and professional standards challenges that arise in policing. Sessions examine how to conduct and defend investigations, manage disclosure and evidence, work with oversight bodies, respond to evolving Charter and privacy requirements, coordinate across jurisdictions, assess misconduct and corruption issues, and improve internal processes for employee management and accountability.

The faculty includes Police Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs, senior RCMP officers, police legal counsel, professional standards leaders, Crown counsel, government policy professionals, police oversight officials, human rights counsel, police association counsel, prosecutors and private practitioners. The program also features perspectives from international law enforcement and policy professionals on cross-border organized crime and hate crime legislation.

Confirmed 2026 faculty represent Calgary Police Service, Surrey Police Service, BC RCMP, Justice Canada, Vancouver Police Department, Delta Police Department, Edmonton Police Service, Abbotsford Police Department, New Westminster Police Department, RCMP Federal Policing, RCMP E Division HQ, BC Prosecution Service, Government of British Columbia, Independent Investigations Office of BC, Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, Police Review Commission (Alberta), British Columbia’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Glasgow City Council, Police Scotland, Vancouver Police Union, B.C. Police Association and private law firms and advisory organizations.

The conference provides two days of networking with police leaders, legal counsel, professional standards professionals, prosecutors, oversight officials and other law enforcement stakeholders. Opportunities include registration and refreshment periods, networking breaks, a networking luncheon for speakers and delegates, and informal peer-to-peer discussion throughout the program.

Yes. Group discounts are available when attendees from the same organization or firm register together in one transaction. Groups of 4–8 receive a 10% conference discount, groups of 9–12 receive a 15% conference discount, and groups of more than 12 can contact the Canadian Institute for additional group pricing information.

The conference is covered by the Canadian Institute’s Worry-Free Registration Guarantee. Registrants who register and pay are eligible for a full refund until October 23, 2026. If unable to attend, registrants may choose either a full credit note for themselves or a colleague to attend another event, or a full refund; all cancellations and changes must be submitted to the Customer Experience Team by October 23, 2026.

The conference will be held at the Civic Hotel, Autograph Collection, 3 Civic Plaza – 13475 Central Ave, Surrey, BC V3T 0L8. A limited number of guest rooms are available at a negotiated rate; delegates should contact the hotel directly and quote group code “DEEDEEA.” The guest room block cut-off date is October 21, 2026, after which availability and the negotiated rate cannot be guaranteed.

Yes. The two-day conference can be applied toward 7 of the 9 substantive hours, plus 1 hour of professional ethics credits, of annual Continuing Professional Development required by the Law Society of Ontario. Members can also receive an additional 3 substantive hours for each pre-conference workshop. The same number of hours may be applied toward continuing legal education requirements in British Columbia, with additional recognition or submission guidance available for Québec, Alberta and Saskatchewan.