FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 11, 2025

Sergeants Rita Raj, Rob Dairon, and Julie Gilmore receive the team 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 it is defined.

This year, the team award went to Sergeant Rita Raj, Sergeant Rob Dairon, and Sergeant Julie Gilmore of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) for their successful implementation of the Scam Prevention for Seniors Program.

From left to right: Chief Harj Sidhu (CACP), Sergeant Julie Gilmore, Sergeant Rob Dairon, Sergeant Rita Raj and Mr. Michael Martin

This program was carefully planned and delivered with a strong community focus and cost-effective strategies in response to the increasing prevalence of financial scams.  

There has been a significant increase in financial crimes targeting seniors worldwide. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), victims of "grandparent scams" across Canada lost approximately $10.1 million in 2022, over $569 million in 2023, and exceeded $503 million in 2024. Citizens of Vancouver lost a total of $13.36 million to scams in 2023, while in 2024, the loss was $12.50 million.

According to IPSOS Canada, seniors aged 55 represent 44.8% of all fraud victims in Canada. Alarmingly, 92% of these senior victims did not disclose or report the fraud they experienced. Many indicated they were scared to lose their independence. Scam Prevention for Seniors Program is designed to protect seniors, build trust, and make sure no one feels alone or ashamed if they’re targeted. Through regular education, strong community partnerships, and ongoing support, seniors are getting the tools they need to stay safe and confident.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly changed the landscape of fraud, making scams more sophisticated and difficult to detect especially for seniors. Scammers continue to use AI-generated deep fake voices and videos to impersonate family members, police, or financial institutions. 

In June 2023, a strategy was launched based on four key pillars: Training and Education, Community Engagement, Collaborative Service Delivery, and System Enhancements.  This project was built on teamwork. From day one, the Vancouver Police Foundation gave vital support. Public Affairs helped build awareness. Officers and civilian staff delivered trusted, consistent messages. Volunteers, community centres, and partners like Crime Stoppers and other police agencies helped reach more seniors. Together, the award recipients built a program that is strong, trusted, and still growing.

What made this project particularly successful it that it was police led and not handed off to a third party. This program became part of the Vancouver Police Department’s official strategic business plan for 2024 and 2025 and has been successfully implemented into the department’s increment program, offering a meaningful incentive for participation.

Because of the amount of personal interaction, seniors reported that they finally felt safe talking to police and reporting scams. As a result, Vancouver has seen an important decrease in the number and value of Bail Money Frauds against grandparents. While an increase of 18% was reported between 2022 and 2023, a 74% decrease was experienced between 2023 and 2024. The total money loss in 2022 was $704,408, dropping to $156,900 in 2023, with a mid-year total of $45,250 in 2024.

“What began as a small, grassroots effort quickly grew into a trusted and in-demand program, thanks to the passion, dedication, and compassion of the team behind it. Through presentations offered in multiple languages, strong partnerships with local communities, and creative public engagement, the team has built lasting relationships and empowered thousands of seniors to recognize fraud, protect themselves, and report scams. The program’s success is evident, not only in the positive feedback received from participants, but also in the recognition it has earned via media coverage and community awards. It truly exemplifies the best of community policing.” — Chief Constable Steve Rai, Vancouver Police Department

“Educating seniors about financial crime is a crucial endeavor that can empower them to protect themselves and their hard-earned assets. So far, we have reached over 1,200 seniors, arming them with the knowledge and information necessary to prevent them from becoming victims of crime. We would like to continue to raise awareness and support the generation that raised and supported us.” —Sergeant Rita Raj

 “There has been an influx of financial crimes against seniors around the globe, including right here in Vancouver. This is what we are doing to keep our seniors safe.” — Sergeant Julie Gilmore

“This winning initiative was selected for its exceptional community engagement, innovative and adaptable outreach, and measurable impact in reducing victimization while strengthening relationships between seniors and police. The winners are commended for implementing a sustained, evolving program that responds to emerging threats, including those powered by artificial intelligence.” – Chief Harj Sidhu, Co-chair of the CACP Crime Prevention, Community Safety and Well-Being Committee.

“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.”- Mr. Michael Martin, President of Motorola Solutions Canada, sponsor of the 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 | www.cacp.ca