At York Pride, we are working to reduce the disconnect that exists between communities and policing. This work is critical and requires participation from both sides. Hate crimes continue to rise, and Trans and Non-Binary people face some of the highest risks. If we want things to improve, officers must have the training, tools, and resources needed to respond safely and respectfully. To support this change, York Pride is listening directly to Trans and Non-Binary residents, because your voices deserve to be heard and every person deserves to feel safe and supported.

Project Affirm was created to understand how Trans and Non-Binary community members experience policing in York Region. Project Affirm is not about surveillance or judgment. It is about strengthening trust, improving officer awareness, and reducing gaps in service delivery. As a result of this work, we are building safer, more respectful, and more inclusive connections between police services and the community.

How Project Affirm Works

1. Conversation Request

Submit a request for a relaxed, community-centred conversation. You can meet in person over coffee or tea, or join us virtually. We provide the refreshments, and you choose the environment where you feel most comfortable.

2. Data Collection

York Pride will audio-record and scribe your story or concern. If you have a police reference number for a specific report or interaction, please have it available. With your permission, York Pride can request access to relevant police notes. This helps York Pride understand how York Regional Police documented and handled the incident. Data handling policy can be read here.

3. Review and Recommendations

After all feedback is reviewed, York Pride will compile recommendations for York Regional Police. These recommendations will support updates to officer training, digital resource libraries, and follow-up processes to ensure implementation by York Regional Police.

4. Community Updates

Once the project is completed, a final recommendations list will be posted on this page for community transparency.  

Why Your Voice Matters

The experiences you share will help York Pride develop practical, community-informed recommendations that help frontline officers build stronger connections, report incidents accurately, and support residents with dignity and accountability. Together, we can create meaningful change that strengthens safety across York Region.

We are here to listen, learn, and work with you toward a safer and more informed future.

Jacob Gal
Program Manager


Nicholas Kashef
Program Coordinator


2SLGBTQ+ Community Action Plan