Building Safer, More Inclusive Communities Through Collaboration, Prevention, and Youth Engagement
The Citizens for the Advancement of Community Development (CACD) is pleased to invite youth, parents, educators, community leaders, service providers, and residents from across Peel Region to participate in the 2026 Community Safety & Anti-Hate Forum, an important community conversation focused on strengthening safer, healthier, and more inclusive communities.
This Forum forms part of CACD’s Anti-Hate Education, Prevention, Resilience and Community Safety Initiative, supported by the Government of Ontario. The initiative is designed to strengthen the capacity of youth, families, volunteers, educators, and community members to recognize, prevent, and respond to hate, discrimination, violence, exclusion, community tensions, and conflict while promoting belonging, resilience, leadership, and community engagement.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: L.C. Taylor Auditorium Mississauga Valley Community Centre 1275 Mississauga Valley Boulevard Mississauga, Ontario
Admission: Free Community Event About the Forum
About The Forum
The Community Safety & Anti-Hate Forum will bring together representatives from community safety organizations, school boards, law enforcement agencies, mental health organizations, violence prevention agencies, youth-serving organizations, and community stakeholders to explore practical strategies for building safer, more connected, and more inclusive communities.
The Forum recognizes that strong communities are built not only through enforcement and policy, but also through education, prevention, mentorship, collaboration, understanding, and meaningful community engagement. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from experts, engage in dialogue, share perspectives, and explore solutions that promote community well-being and social cohesion.
Forum Discussions Will Explore
- Hate Prevention and Awareness
- Community Safety and Violence Prevention
- Inclusion, Belonging and Community Cohesion
- Youth Resilience and Empowerment
- Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being
- De-escalation and Conflict Management
- Collaborative Community Responsibility and Leadership
Featured Participants:
Host and Moderator:
- Host: Ron Cunningham
- Moderator: Dr. Ann Lopez
Representatives and panellists may include leaders from:
- Peel Regional Police
- Peel Crime Stoppers
- Safe City Mississauga
- Peel District School Board
- Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
- Community organizations and youth-serving agencies
Why This Forum Matters
Across our communities, many young people and families continue to experience the impacts of hate, discrimination, exclusion, bullying, violence, social isolation, and mental health challenges. These experiences can affect emotional well-being, community participation, academic engagement, confidence, a sense of belonging, and overall quality of life.
Through dialogue, education, prevention strategies, partnership-building, and community engagement, this Forum seeks to empower individuals and organizations to work together toward creating environments where everyone feels safe, valued, respected, and included.
Expected Outcomes
Participants will leave with:
- Greater awareness of hate prevention and community safety issues
- Increased understanding of inclusion, belonging, and resilience
- Practical prevention and de-escalation strategies
- Enhanced knowledge of mental health and support resources
- Opportunities for collaboration and community engagement
- Stronger connections with organizations and community leaders
- A renewed commitment to helping build safer and more inclusive communities for all
Join the Conversation
The CACD Community Safety & Anti-Hate Forum reflects CACD’s ongoing commitment to fostering communities rooted in dignity, respect, inclusion, resilience, prevention, collaboration, and shared responsibility. Together, we can help build stronger, safer, and more connected communities for current and future generations.
For More Information:
Phone: (905) 277-8455
Email: info@cacdcanada.org
Building People. Strengthening Communities. Shaping the Future.
