Peel Regional Police's Zoe Ali Awarded 2024 OACP Award of Excellence in the Advancement of EDI

Media Release

Zoe Ali, Peel Regional Police DEI Specialist, Awarded the 2024 OACP Award of Excellence in the Advancement of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity in Policing

For Immediate Release: June 11, 2024

(London, ON) – The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) is pleased to award the OACP 2024 Award of Excellence in the Advancement of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity in Policing to Zoe Ali, DEI Specialist, of Peel Regional Police (PRP), in recognition of her passion and outstanding contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion in policing.

This award honours an individual or organization that demonstrates exceptional commitment to achieving/advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion within their police organization and/or communities.

Zoe Ali has been a member of Peel Regional Police (PRP) since 2017. She has held Clerical Support positions in Intelligence Services and Civilian Recruiting before being promoted to the Specialist in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

In her work, Ms. Ali has demonstrated exceptional dedication to fostering  diverse and inclusive workplace in policing. She has pioneered work around gender expression/identity for PRP and leveraged her lived experience in playing a pivotal role in creating Peel Regional Police’s policy and procedures, specifically: (i) Directive I-A-249(O) – Supporting Gender Transition in the Workplace, and (ii) Directive I-B-156(F) – Strip Search of Persons Who Self-Identify as Transgender, Two-Spirit, Gender Non-conforming and/or Gender Non-Binary. 

Ms. Ali has also championed EDI work around corporate strategies through her involvement and leadership in developing the PRP EDI Strategy. This internal strategy embodies the collective aspiration to foster an environment where everyone is valued, respected, and empowered. The synergies between the EDI Strategy, PRP Strategic Plan, and the Community Safety and Well-Being Framework signifies the commitment to increasing cultural competency, dismantling barriers, and holding PRP accountable to both the membership and community.

In June 2023, PRP assembled the Countering Hate Committee, consisting of more than 25 community partners representing a variety of organizations, ethnicities, religions, and cultures. Ms. Ali participated on this committee, which resulted in the development of a community-based hate crime education and prevention training module. This module is designed to educate the Region of Peel, strengthen the trust between PRP and the community, and to bolster the collective capacity to identify, prevent, and respond to incidents of hate and extremist violence in Peel.

In the fall of 2023, Ms. Ali helped create and deliver training to Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) and Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) on the topic of Trans and Non-Binary passenger sensitivity, inclusion, and service delivery. This training was so successful she was invited to speak as a panelist at the ACI World - Airports Council International at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) conference in Montreal, QC. This is an example of how Ms. Ali progressively collaborates with stakeholders to advance EDI regionally, nationally, and globally.

Through her connections in the 2SLGBTQ+ community and her work with the Pride ISN, many individuals naturally come to Ms. Ali for resources and support. Through these experiences, Ms. Ali identified a gap in service and programs available for transgendered members. As a result, Ms. Ali is developing an education and awareness program for PRP Wellness Bureau to better support transgender employees as they transition, their mental health and overall wellness.    

Ms. Ali’s exceptional commitment to advancing EDI in the law enforcement workplace has not only enhanced the effectiveness of PRP policing efforts but has also strengthened relationships with the community it serves. By prioritizing EDI in PRP policies and practices, she has set a commendable example for others in the law enforcement sector.

This annual award is made possible by the generous support from

Accident Support Services International Ltd.

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#OACP2024

#HarnessingPolicingExcellence

For more information, contact: 

Dr. José Luís (Joe) Couto
Director of Government Relations & Communications

T. (416) 926-0424 ext. 22
C. (416) 919-9798
E. media@oacp.ca

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