To understand the origins of CPTED Canada, one must go back to the early 1990’s when Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) was finding its way into the culture of the Region of Peel, Peel Police Service and the City of Mississauga. With the support of their politicians, CPTED principles and strategies were implemented to create a safer and more livable city.
To help accelerate the awareness of CPTED in the area, the City of Mississauga and the Peel Regional Police Services Board hosted the International CPTED Association (ICA) Conference in 1999, which attracted over 300 delegates from all over the world. With future ICA conferences scheduled for other countries, many of the organizing committee asked the question “Where do we go from here?” How can CPTED in Ontario build from the momentum from the conference when many of the local delegates would not be able to attend future ICA conferences abroad.
With this in mind, CPTED Ontario was formed, as a local grassroots organization dedicated to reducing the fear and incidence of crime, as well as improving the quality of life by promoting the implementation of CPTED principles in Ontario.
In 2001, the City of Mississauga hosted the first CPTED Ontario Conference, which featured the renowned CPTED trainer and author Timothy Crowe. The conference was a resounding success having attracted 189 delegates including, planners, architects, landscape architects, police services, security professionals, property managers and every day users of space. This confirmed the need for a local CPTED organization.
Over the years, CPTED Ontario flourished with a strong base of local individual and corporate members. In the absence of any other provincial organizations, CPTED Ontario also attracted other members from across Canada, which led to discussions of a national CPTED organization.
On March 31, 2022, CPTED Ontario ceased operations and completed the evolution to CPTED Canada, as a national not-for-profit, educational and networking organization dedicated to the promotion of CPTED principles.
Wayne Nishihama is a Founding Director of both CPTED Ontario and CPTED Canada