PROVINCE APPOINTS KEVIN GIBSON TO POLICE SERVICES BOARD

Chair Jen Lawson welcomed back Kevin Gibson to the Regional Municipality of Niagara Police Services Board.  Mr. Gibson was appointed to the Police Services Board by the Provincial Government under an Order in Council from the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario for a three-year term commencing November 9, 2023.  He served previously on the Board as a former Regional Councillor from 2018 to 2022.  Mr. Gibson fills the position previously held by former Board Vice-Chair Dave Eke, whose term ended on November 3, 2023. 

Mr. Gibson was elected as Mayor of the Township of Wainfleet in 2018 and in this capacity served on Niagara Regional Council for a four-year term from December 2018 to December 2022.   During his capacity as Mayor and Regional Councillor, Mr. Gibson served on the Police Services Board, Public Health Committee and Waste Management Committee, and on the Board of Directors for the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA).  Before his time as an elected official, Mr. Gibson served as a police officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).  He retired as a 34-year veteran of the RCMP and served both nationally in Chilliwack, British Columbia; Whitehorse, Yukon Territory; Toronto, Ontario; and internationally in Bangkok, Thailand, for specialized investigations into human trafficking.  During his policing career, he has held a variety of positions including general uniform duties, community policing, member of the Emergency Response Team dealing with high-risk situations, human trafficking investigator, supervisor of a serious crime unit, and Detachment Commander.  He also worked as part of the security planning team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC. 

“I am very honoured to serve again on the Police Services Board.  Policing is a key public service and I’m very pleased to continue to add my efforts to those of my colleagues on the Board,” says Mr. Gibson.  “They are an experienced and dedicated group, intent on working with our Chief and the entire police service to ensure we have a safe and healthy community.” 

Chair Lawson welcomed his appointment and said, “We’re fortunate that Mr. Gibson is back on the Police Services Board and I look forward to working together as we continue to build on the momentum the Board’s established, especially in our efforts to fulfill our mandate of providing the citizens of Niagara with accountable, civilian oversight. I would also like to extend sincere thanks to Dave Eke who committed an enormous amount of time and energy over the past four years.” 

The Regional Municipality of Niagara Police Services Board is the civilian body governing the Niagara Regional Police Service and is comprise of seven members.  By statute, three are members of the Regional Council of Niagara, three are citizens of Niagara appointed by the provincial government, and one member is a citizen appointment made by the Regional Council of Niagara.  The Board is the civilian governing authority for the Niagara Regional Police Service and is responsible for the provision of adequate and effective police services for 12 municipalities, totaling over 500,0000 residents and an estimated 13,000,000 visitors annually.  

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