Cornwall police service board hires for 2025-28 strategic plan

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Ottawa-based Veradus Consulting has been hired by the Cornwall police to lead the development of the service’s strategic plan for 2025-28.

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The board voted to approve Chief Shawna Spowart’s recommendation to hire the firm led by Pamela Smit after considering her report on the question on Thursday. Every police service in Ontario must have a strategic plan under the Community Safety and Policing Act— the Cornwall Police Service has developed several of these to help guide operations and decision-making.

The current plan runs through to the end of this year, and the original idea was to have the development of the plan for 2025-28 led by former director of corporate strategy and communications Stephanie MacRae. MacRae left the service in the summer of 2024, and Rodney Wilson was hired to fulfil the communications role. Last fall, Spowart explained the hope was the development of the next plan could still be undertaken; money to fund the work was included in both the 2024 and 2025 budgets.

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The board asked Spowart to seek out three quotes for a consultant to complete the work earlier this year and accepted her recommendation on Veradus, at a quoted cost of between $34,000 to $45,000, plus associated costs estimated at about $5,500. A second quote was received from Consilium Public Sector Services Inc., based in Whitby, Ont., at $80,000 for a comparable level of work, and Spowart noted a third consultant ultimately decided not to complete and submit a quote.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with Pamela as member of (Children’s Aid Society of SD&G) board. I can say first-hand she was exceptional to work with, very knowledgeable about strategic planning,” Spowart said. “She has a good knowledge of our community, the community partners in it, and how best to support our specific community needs.”

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Mayor Justin Towndale agreed with Spowart’s assessment, adding the qualifier that Veradus’ quote falls within the amount set aside to complete the work.

“They’re on budget and that does impact (my recommendation),” Towndale said. “They’re the best proposal meeting the budget.”

Spowart will be the lead staff person working with Veradus, which said the 2025-28 strategic plan could be ready for police service board approval in June. Spowart’s recommendation called for a liaison on the board, who wasn’t identified on Thursday but to which vice-chair Amanda Brisson asked Spowart to keep chair Maurice Dupelle and the board secretary informed until the board could choose someone.

The board is currently down a member after the resignation of community member Stephen Scott earlier this fall. The call for applicants has been circulated throughout the fall and Cornwall city council has not yet ratified who would be appointed.

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