POLICE SERVICES BOARD RE-ELECTS CHAIR AND ELECTS NEW VICE CHAIR

Jen Lawson was re-elected Chair of the Regional Municipality of Niagara Police Services Board for a second term by the members of the Board at their first meeting held on January 11, 2024. Nyarayi Kapisavanhu was elected to serve her first term as Vice-Chair.

"I want to thank the members of the Board for their confidence and support, and for allowing me the opportunity to continue serving as Police Services Board Chair”, says Chair Lawson. “It is a privilege to continue to serve on the Board and work alongside my dedicated colleagues and with the leadership of the Niagara Regional Police Service. Together we will continue our shared vision of achieving excellence in policing, and the path forward to a safer community, and a more progressive, inclusive and innovative police service.”

Chair Jen Lawson was first appointed to the Board on November 20, 2020, and re-appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario for an additional two-year term commencing November 20, 2023. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and brings over 20 years of strategic leadership, collaboration, and business experience from a diverse background in the public and private sectors. Her employment experience includes universities, hospitals, regional and provincial governments, manufacturing, distribution, and family entertainment. Her passion for continuous learning inspired her to pursue her Bachelor of Commerce from Laurentian University where she then completed her Master of Business Administration (MBA). She’s currently pursuing a Psychology Degree with a minor in Indigenous Studies at Brock University. Born and raised in Hamilton, Chair Lawson moved to the Niagara Region in 2002 where she has been an active member of the community, serving on several committees and boards in a variety of capacities for business, sporting, and service organizations.

Vice Chair Nyarayi Kapisavanhu was appointed by Niagara Regional Council as its community representative to serve on the Regional Municipality of Niagara Police Services Board on February 23, 2023.  She is the Executive Director at Tools of Empowerment for Success (TOES) Niagara, an organization that empowers immigrant and marginalized women through multi-lens educational workshops, programs, and other support services to improve their economic, educational and social outcomes. Her passion is providing training and education to enhance the economic and social status and the development of leadership skills of women, especially marginalized women, to improve their prospects. Vice Chair Kapisavanhu is a strong believer in Education for Sustainable Development, which allows every human being to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values necessary to shape a sustainable future.   She is the founder of the Advocating for Black Excellence Awards of Niagara (ABEAN) and is heavily involved in the community and sits on many boards and committees, locally and internationally, in various capacities. 

“I am honoured to have been elected as Vice Chair by the Members of the Police Services Board and will continue to use my skills and experience working with and in various sectors and communities, to meaningfully engage on Niagara’s growing and diverse community needs and best interests regarding policing in the Region,” says Vice Chair Kapisavanhu.

The election of the Chair and Vice Chair for the Police Services Board is consistent with the provisions of Section 28 of the Police Services Act, which requires the Board to select its executive officers at the first meeting of the calendar year.

Other members of the Police Services Board are: Regional Councillor Pat Chiocchio (Welland); Regional Councillor Laura Ip (St. Catharines); Regional Councillor Bill Steele (Mayor of Port Colborne); plus provincially appointed representatives Kevin Gibson (Wainfleet) and Tara McKendrick (Welland).

The Regional Municipality of Niagara Police Services Board is comprised of seven members, three members appointed from Regional Council, one private citizen appointed by Regional Council, and three provincial appointees. It is the civilian governing authority for the Niagara Regional Police Service, the oldest regional police service in Ontario that patrols one of the largest geographical regions. The Niagara Regional Police provides policing and public safety to 12 municipalities totally some 500,000 residents and an estimated 13,000,000 visitors annually.

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