Devon Clunis
Winnipeg Chief of Police, Personal & Professional Life Growth, Diversity & Inclusion Expert
Devon Clunis solidified his place in history in 2012 when he became the first Black chief of police in Canadian history. Clunis immigrated from Jamaica with his family in 1975 at age 11 and he began his career in law enforcement with the Winnipeg Police Service in 1987. Clunis occupied several roles and moved up in ranks from patrol to community relations and then chaplain to superintendent. He served as chief of the Winnipeg Police from 2012 to 2016. Before 2012, Winnipeg was well known across the country for some of the highest amounts of crime and gang affiliation per capita in Canada. Clunis worked internally with his officers to redefine their roles, reconstruct their purpose and re-invent their systems to be more inclusive through a human/community first approach.
Devon Clunis led an organization of over 1900 employees with an annual budget surpassing $263,000,000.00. Success meant learning to navigate complex work environments, attracting and retaining highly motivated, passionate, results-driven, team-oriented individuals, while creating inclusive, caring cultures that gave each individual a sense of purpose and belonging. He defined his approach as a “compassionate and community building” leadership style, and the outcomes he produced were defined as “nothing short of a miracle” by McLean’s Magazine in 2016.
With the help of key difference makers, He was able to achieve success in a culturally challenging setting. The little boy from Jamaica went on to become a Canadian history maker; the first Black Chief of Police in Canadian history. After his retirement, he transitioned to a consulting role with the Winnipeg police. Devon Clunis continued to be a trailblazer in Winnipeg by packing McNally Robinson Bookseller with more than 300 people in January 2017 for the launch of his first children’s book, The Little Boy From Jamaica. Co-authored by his wife Pearlene.
Clunis achieved another first in 2020 when he was appointed as Ontario’s first inspector general of policing in Canada. The province implemented the new role to oversee policing services and improve issues around transparency, accountability and public trust. Solicitor General Sylvia Jones spoke very highly of Clunis during the Oct. 2 release about the new appointment, describing his reputation as, “an exceptional and transformational police leader.” Devon Clunis applies his proven leadership principles across North America helping individuals and organizations achieve their aspirational goals to bring awareness through a humanized approach to their work and their everyday relationships. He is passionate to make a difference for all Canadians, and to create conversations that combat oppression.
Topic Presentations
We are more powerful and effective than we give ourselves credit for. Sometimes, we simply need someone to remind us of that truth. We need to know that our individual actions matter, that what we do can change the course of a single life and impact the destiny of many.
Devon and Pearlene have spoken to audiences of all ages; in schools, businesses, government, and community gatherings. Their messages of hope have inspired many locally in Winnipeg, nationally across Canada, and internationally in the U.S. and the Caribbean. They inspire you to achieve your personal and professional potential.
- Personal Fulfillment
Learn to:
- Define your purpose
- Stay focused
- Achieve interpersonal potential
Ethical Leadership
Learn to:
- Create a Caring Culture
- Engage Effectively
- Development Leaders
- Set Leaders Free
What Do You Need?
We listen:
- Sometimes you need a plan designed just for your needs
- We do that
- Focus Group Engagement
Help to:
- Coordinate and lead discussions
- Collect data
- Produce detailed analysis/reports
- Provide stakeholder feedback
- Strategic Alignment
Help to:
- Formulate vision
- Define strategic goals
- Assess resource needs
- Develop implementation plans
- Facilitate implementation
- Evaluate results and provide follow-up feedback
- Creative Outreach
Help to:
- Conduct situational assessments
- Develop educational and outreach plans
- Coordinate outreach
- Evaluate outcomes
Learn to:
- Assess workplace vulnerabilities
- Develop physical and psychological resilience
- Prepare and respond effectively to a workplace crisis
- Protect people and property
- Survive and thrive after a crisis
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Language Spoken
English
Travels From
Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Little Boy from Jamaica: A Canadian History Story
will help create an understanding of contemporary social issues, leading to an aware and culturally sensitive generation of young adults.
- Accountability | Self Leadership
- Attitude | Change of Attitude
- Business Change
- Business Expert
- Business Growth
- Business Leadership
- Business Management
- Crisis | Crisis Management
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Emotional Intelligence
- Excellence | Success
- Government | Government Relations
- Leadership | Leadership Development
- Management
- Muticulturalism
- Overcoming Adversity | Adversity
- Performance | Productivity
- Professional Growth | Personal Growth
- Professionalism
- Resilience
- Social Change | Human Rights
- Stress Management
- Teamwork | Team Building
- Workplace Culture
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