New! Nipigon 1 Police Service Board Vacancy

Posted on March 14, 2024

The Township of Terrace Bay is now accepting applications for the New – Nipigon 1 Police Service Board.

What is a Police Services Board?

The new Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act, 2019 comes into effect on April 1, 2024. The Police Services Act (PSA) requires municipalities to provide adequate and effective police services and to maintain a Police Services Board (PSB) for general oversight for the provision of police services in the community.

Detachment Level Joint Boards

With the renewal of the Act, changes have been made to switch to detachment level PSB’s rather than individual /municipal.  Given the physical size of the area served by the OPP Nipigon Detachment, a proposal was submitted to have two police service boards for the Detachment, rather than one.  The proposal was that Schreiber, Pays Plat and Terrace Bay be serviced through one joint board (“Nipigon 1”) , and that Nipigon, Red Rock, Dorian and the Red Rock Indian Band (“Nipigon 2”) would be serviced through a second joint board.[1]  The two-board proposal was approved in 2023.

The Regulation to allow the new boards is in progress, and it is anticipated that it will be passed before the end of March.  This is in anticipation of the replacement of the (current) Police Services Act with a new piece of legislation, called the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019.  The legislative changes require the member communities to appoint a Board in-full effective April 1, 2024.

Composition of the Board

The new “Nipigon 1” Police Services Board will include 5 members.

  • 2 members: One Council member seat for each of the two municipalities (appointed by the individual municipalities);
  • 2 members: Community representatives (one appointed by Schreiber, and one appointed by Terrace Bay); and
  • 1 member: Provincial appointee (appointed through a Provincial application/vetting process.

The Board composition should be representative of the population it serves, including diversity. The Board will have a valuable connection with the Detachment Commander to provide the expectations of policing in the community.

What to expect as a member of the Board?

The Board determines objectives and priorities for police services in collaboration with the OPP Detachment Commander.

  • The role of a Police Service Board member is having a relationship with the OPP Detachment Commander to express the community views and community needs of Terrace Bay, Schreiber and Pays Plat First Nation
  • Supporting the selection of a new Detachment commander and evaluation process, when required.

As a Board member, you will be expected to:

  • Provide a criminal record check completed in the last 12 months.
  • Members who are appointed must complete training prior to starting their duties on the Board.
    • This e-training is on the roles and responsibilities of the board, Human Rights, systemic racism, the diverse, multiracial and multicultural character of Ontario society and the rights and cultures of First Nation, Inuit and Metis people. Training is expected to take up to 15 hours.
  • Consider adopting local policing policies that are consistent with the OPP Commissioners Operational Plan and the OPP strategic plan
  • Attend meetings as determined by the Board, no fewer than six each year
  • Elect a Chair and Vice Chair annually

Who will be considered? Do you qualify?

  • Categories ineligible to be appointed are: judges, police force, criminal defense lawyers, and a crown attorney.
  • Restrictions are in place regarding appointment of former police officers.
    • Former OPP officers are ineligible to sit on the Terrace Bay Police Services Board
  • Must be a resident of the Township of Terrace Bay or Township of Schreiber
  • Ability to pass a comprehensive background check
  • An understanding of the role of a police services board as set out in the PSA
  • Volunteer work in community organizations
  • Good written and verbal communication skills
  • Previous experience on boards or committees will be considered an asset

Note: As a board member, you may be subject to other statutes, regulations, rules or directives that currently exist or that may be established which are applicable to agencies, boards or commissions.

Deadline to apply is Friday, March 29, 2024 at 12 noon

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for a seat on the Nipigon #1 Police Services Board, please submit your application to:

For Terrace Bay:
Jon Hall, CAO/Clerk
Township of Terrace Bay
1 Selkirk Avenue, Terrace Bay, ON  P0T 2W0
Email: cao@terracebay.ca

For Schreiber:
R. Evans, Acting CAO/Clerk
Township of Schreiber
204 Alberta Street, Schreiber, ON  P0T 2S0
Email:     cao@schreiber.ca