David is a proud Pickering resident and is an active member of the community, spending three decades volunteering with several community projects involving youth. As a returning member of the DRPS Diversity Advisory Committee, David wants to contribute to actions and initiatives that are aimed at enhancing public safety while developing increased transparency and accountability in policing. He has 35-years of operational and administrative experience working professionally in the criminal justice system. David's international police and criminal justice network developed through 35-years of service, coupled with his close connection to the Association of Black Law Enforcers has and will continue to be.

Aji is humbled and honoured to be a member of this committee. Advocating for equity and inclusion has been a lifelong passion. With a BA in Criminology and Psychology of Law, Aji started off working with young offenders by helping them navigate through the youth justice system. Driven by his desire to learn more and help the most vulnerable people in our society, he went back to school and earned his Masters in Social Work. He now works in the child welfare sector as a child protection worker. Aji hopes that by sharing his personal experiences, he can help close the gap between police and the communities they serve.

Bev has been a member of the DRPS Diversity Advisory Committee for 5 years. She is a teacher with the Durham District School Board currently living and teaching in Oshawa. An Indigenous woman and member of the Batchewana First Nation in Northern Ontario, she has 40 years of volunteer experience in the criminal justice and Indigenous communities throughout Ontario. She continues to volunteer her time in the community and in her teaching profession. Bev is married and has two adult children. In her spare time she enjoys reading and travelling. 

Debbie, a resident of Durham Region, was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, and takes great pride in her Trinidadian and Jamaican heritage. She credits an amazing husband and wonderful twin daughters for providing her with unwavering support. With a background in Communications, Finance, and ECE, Debbie currently holds the position of Children's Ministry Director at a local Pentecostal Church. Moreover, she is the proud owner of Kumoi's Baskets of Love. Debbie actively engages in building community relationships and is dedicated to empowering youth, children, and seniors through various local programs. Her commitment to giving back extends to the GTA, Peel & Durham regions, as well as the USA.

Deo is a Professional Engineer residing in Whitby. He is a director of the Pickering Devi Mandir. At the Devi Mandir, he is working to enhance the outreach programs of Durham to the Hindu community in the region. He will be working with the DRPS to strengthen the outreach of and training of DRPS staff and new recruits to understand the Hindu culture and invite them to the places of worship for introduction and during social events.

Donald is the President of George Donaldson and Associates Inc. & One World Immigration Consulting Services. He has strong senior management and governance background having managed a business unit of a multinational corporation and served on non-profit boards in senior governance positions. Currently he is the founder and President of the non-profit organization African Canadian Cultural Council Foundation. As a social justice and advocacy volunteer, he has more than 39 years of volunteer service experience in various capacities most of them at board levels in different communities and countries. Donald resides with his family in Oshawa. He holds a Masters in Public Administration, an Advanced Diploma in Alternative Dispute Resolution and an Immigration Consulting Diploma.

As an Ajax resident, Elaine has held various roles within the Region Income, Employment & Homelessness Support Division. Providing life stabilization supports to individuals who are facing financial challenges, and precariously housed. Her most recent role involves advocating and building connections for newcomer refugees. Elaine’s vision is to promote positive social change, and cultural awareness.  She recognizes service gaps, and advocates for individuals and service needs. While serving on various committees/initiatives, she promotes community and safety, well-being and youth empowerment. Elaine was nominated in 2024 for the Service Commitment Award, for her participation on the Human Trafficking Response team. Through advocacy efforts, she works to foster collaboration among community partners. In addition, Elaine is also an ordained minister and chaplain. Within her role, she provides spiritual support and counselling. Elaine's dedication to serving with grace and her commitment to eliminating systemic barriers reflect her unwavering determination to make Durham Region a better place for all residents.

Ivan is the first Black business representative in Canada for the International Union of Painters & Allied Trades. (IUPAT) and holds the position of Political Director. Ivan is passionate about working with youths, particularly those who are at risk due to social and economic impediments. He mentors youth at the Toronto Community Benefits Network’s (TCBN) Next Gen Builders Program., and is also a board member at TCBN. Ivan also believes in giving back to the community, and has received many awards for community service. 

Kashif has been an active member of the Pickering community and has participated in various social service initiatives. Kashif believes that the best sign of a vibrant and thriving community is when its residents feel happy and proud of where they live and also feel that their voices are heard. Trying to improve and perfect our community will be an ongoing and long-running endeavor, step-by-step with contributions from each member of our community. The Diversity Advisory Committee has the potential to be the platform that brings this diverse community together and Kashif will achieve this goal.

Originally from Toronto, Kevin is deeply committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, actively working towards dismantling Anti-Black Racism as he strives to be an anti-racist. He embraces the homestead lifestyle and believes in living a simple and sustainable life focused on self-sufficiency and connecting with nature. His values align with creating a nurturing environment where everyone can thrive together.

Kevin has been a sworn member for over 3 decades in a career in Law Enforcement. As a sworn member with Toronto Police Service, Durham Regional Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Ontario Provincial Police. Majority of his policing career was in Intelligence and Criminal Investigations. Retired as the officer in Charge of West Division. He was responsible for over 100 sworn and civilian members along with ensuring the safety of the community in the Town of Ajax and City of Pickering. He is an advocate of Community Policing and understands the importance of building strong trusting relationships with the community. Kevin has developed and led Equity and Inclusion teams at the Durham Regional Police, and inspired police officers to increase their diversity competence through community engagement, education and relationship development. A resident of Durham Region since 2000 now volunteers with DurhamONE.

Max is a proud Ajax resident dedicated to projecting young voices, encouraging diversity in the workplace, and helping to improve the relationship between the DRPS and the Durham community. Max looks forward to bringing a unique perspective to the Diversity Advisory Committee, carrying his passion for diversity into the communities and workplaces he belongs to, as well as learning from his colleagues about new ways to advocate for diversity and inclusivity. 

PG has been living in Whitby for 20 plus years. His goal is to bring people together to work towards programs and initiatives that will grow and strengthen communities within Durham Region. He believes change is needed and hopes to contribute to this change with new and intriguing initiatives that will help foster a relationship between the community and the service. As the co-founder and Executive Director of DurhamONE, PG is working to create a platform for youth to support them to speak up and speak out about the change they want to see. The opportunity to contribute to more vibrant Durham is his reason for wanting to be involved with the Diversity Advisory Committee.

Rachael (she/her + disabled) recently graduated from Ontario Tech University's Communications and Digital Media program, graduating with academic distinction and a growing interest in sociological research and community development. Her studies and community involvement unlocked her focused commitment and strive to cultivate policies, programming, and services that aim to specifically reach marginalized communities in rural areas. She plans to pursue further study in this area, along with multimedia. She currently works at the Abilities Centre, an NGO in Whitby focused on educating, empowering, and transforming accessibility in the community through the holistic nature of physical activity. From May to August 2024, Rachael will also be working in Tamale, Ghana, supporting as a Communications fellow for Youth Challenge International's (YCI) HerStart initiative. As a multimedia communicator and advocate, Rachael is excited to bring her creativity and human-centered thinking to the DAC team, hoping to learn from and engage with other established DAC members on areas of concern in the region.

Shauna is currently the President/CEO of Inclusion in Canadian Sports Network (ICSN). Being a sports leader is all about empowering and supporting others. Shauna provides expertise and advice to internal and external communities regarding Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion related matters within the Canadian amateur sports industry. She also advocates removing barriers for Black, Indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC)’s at all levels within the sports system.

Sophia is the founder of THINK IT FELL IT DO IT NOW (TIFIDIN) Self-Mastery, a Personal Management lifestyle company, and the visionary behind Talk, a platform harnessing the power of words for personal and professional growth. Grounded in her TIFIDIN principle, she empowers individuals to live in their excellence, guiding them through training, tools, and products. With a background in mental health and wellness, Sophia is committed to social justice and equity, offering leadership workshops and community care initiatives.

Soroush has been a resident of Durham Region for over 20 years. He holds a Bachelor of Social Work Honours from York University and will be completing his Master of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Soroush believes a strong community is achieved through kindness, unity and respect. Soroush has extensive experience engaging and supporting children, youth and their families. Soroush speaks Dari and Farsi.

Tamara is a long-time Whitby resident who is dedicated to meaningful and constructive change and working, collaboratively toward positively influencing matters related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In an effort to ultimately improve community safety, well-being and sustainable change. Tamara is an entrepreneur and local business owner who brings thought-leadership and communications know-how, strategic planning strength and technology expertise to this role.

Tanya is a Certified HR Executive who contributes the nearly 20 years of human resources expertise and passion for diversity, inclusion, and mental health to Diversity Advisory Committee. Tanya has served on the Board for Telecare Spectra Distress Centre in Brampton and for Taibu Community Health Care Centre in Malvern. She works for a large healthcare organization and is the founder of Black HR Professionals of Canada. Through her teaching experience at Durham College and her HR work for not-for-profits, she has developed deep empathy and understanding of community interests. Tanya lives in Pickering with her family.