FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 12, 2025

Ms. Lori Hemm is awarded the individual 2025 CACP/Motorola Solutions Community Safety and Well-Being Award

VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) is proud to announce the winner of an award recognizing outstanding effort and contributions to improving community safety and well-being in Canada through the process of inter- or multi-sector partnership, community mobilization, shared issue/problem ownership, shared outcomes, and shared measurement. The CACP/Motorola Solutions Community Safety & Well-Being (CSWB) Award underscores a growing commitment among government, community-based, academic and private sector organizations to think differently about human service delivery, when and how it is applied, in what configuration it is delivered, and how success is defined.

This year, the individual award goes to Ms. Lori Hemm of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) for leading the Creating Accessibility Project (CAP), a decade-long initiative that has broken down communication barriers for equity-seeking groups when interacting with police services.

Ms. Hemm was assigned to lead a project aimed at addressing language barriers faced by frontline officers. When it was launched in September 2015, the program initially focused on newcomer and refugee youth and was developed in collaboration with the Vancouver School Boards and the Settlement Workers in Schools through the NewKids Program.

Over the next six years, the scope of the program expanded to include the English language learner community and then the deaf and hard of hearing communities through the provision of on-demand interpretation services and accessibility technology to ensure effective communication with the police. These efforts included specialized training for officers, on-demand language support, and technology which helped build trust, enhanced accessibility to policing services, and greater inclusivity in community policing efforts.

In a city where over half the population are newcomers, CAP provided youth with an opportunity to learn from and build positive relationships with the VPD. The program has significantly increased access to police services, encouraged more victims to report crimes, and reduced safety risks and the potential for volatile interactions caused by language barriers and cultural misunderstandings.                                                                           

The program’s evaluations show newcomer youth gaining trust in police, feeling safer, and recognizing differences between Canadian policing and practices in their countries of origin. In a country where approximately 1 in 10 Canadians have a hearing impairment, CAP has allowed these individuals to engage in clear, respectful communication with the police. And for police officers, enhanced communication tools and training has meant performing their duties more effectively, leading to deescalated situations, increased job satisfaction and stronger community relationships.

“Lori’s initiative aligns perfectly with the vision and values of the CACP/Motorola Solutions Community Safety & Well-Being Award. She has shown what is possible when an individual not only recognizes a systemic challenge but also takes bold, strategic steps to solve it in partnership with others.” — Michael Burak, Languages in Motion.

“This award calls for the nomination of individuals who have left a lasting mark on community safety and well-being in Canada. In her 18-year career with the Vancouver Police Department, Lori has dedicated her time and expertise to building and supporting programs that increase the public’s connectivity with police. Her work within the VPD has served to breakdown barriers and give agency to vulnerable communities, including newcomer youth, English language learners and the deaf and hard of hearing. The program has run successfully for a period of 10 years with over 250 students graduating, many of whom have gone on to pursue a career in policing and most importantly shared their trust in police with fellow students.”  — Adam Palmer, past Chief of the Vancouver Police Department.

“This award celebrates the evidence-based, community-developed, and co-led success story. This an excellent example of progressive public safety in action, and we are proud to sponsor an award that aligns with our philosophy that ‘safety is the prerequisite for possibility’ leading to opportunities for connections and progress.” — Michael Martin, President, Motorola Solutions Canada and sponsor of this award

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For further information or to arrange a media interview, please contact:

Natalie Wright
Communications Manager
communications@cacp.ca
613.838.8807