Toronto Police Chief William Blair Holds Meeting with Asian Communities



Chief William Blair (right, at center) presides a town hall meeting on Monday (Nov. 8, 2010) at Toronto police headquarters with Asian diplomats and representatives of the different Asian communities in Toronto belonging to the Asia Pacific Community Consultative Committee co-chaired by S/Superintendent Jane Cox (to Blair's right).


Toronto Police Chief William Blair met with representatives of the different Asian communities and their respective diplomats in a continuing dialogue to improve community policing in Canada's largest city.

The town hall meeting at police headquarters on Monday,Nov. 8, 2010, gave authorities a quick glimpse into the issues and concerns affecting immigrant communities, notably language and culture.

"Our commitments continue to recruit (from minorities). When we recruit in our culturally diverse communities, we also know we have to speak to families because that is an important part of recruiting," Blair assured.

With that, Blair said, "we tranform Toronto Police Service. We become a different service because it is a service that has great diversity."

A newsvideo of the meeting is available at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guOWb5GaCys&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Representatives from Asian and Pacific communities, including Malichanh Sananikone Phiphat (in yellow) of the Lao Association of Ontario. Constable Philip Mendoza (left, standing) coordinated the event on behalf of the Consultative Committee co-chaired by S/Superintendent Jane Wilcox. Other Asian officials are shwon below with Police Chief William Blair.