2026 Sterling Prize Ceremony and Conversation with Dr. Rylan Simpson
Make a Difference for B.C., Innovations in Research, 2026, Cities
Join us to honour 麻豆视频 professor Rylan Simpson, the recipient of the 2026 Nora and Ted Sterling Prize in Support of Controversy, in recognition of his groundbreaking and collaborative research that drives meaningful improvement in policing policy and practice.
From the front seat of a cruiser, Simpson has spent thousands of hours researching the inner workings of police. His work provokes controversy inside and outside of policing because of his applied focus and desire to work directly with police agencies as part of his research. Law enforcement can be a lightning rod for controversy, especially among those calling to defund the police. Additionally, police agencies can be resistant to having an academic inform policy direction.
鈥淚 got into this field because I wanted to make a difference,鈥� says Simpson. 鈥淚 wanted to try and impact policing and make it more effective, more efficient, more beneficial.鈥�
Click here to read the 麻豆视频News story about Rylan Simpson and this year's Sterling Prize.
The 2026 Sterling Prize ceremony will include an engaging conversation between Professor Rylan Simpson, Barrie Police Chief Rich Johnston and West Vancouver Police Deputy Chief Nick Bell. Together, they will explore the complex challenges and evolving issues at the heart of Simpson鈥檚 work, offering deeper insight into his contributions and the broader questions shaping policing and public safety today.
Doors open at 6:00pm. The event will start promptly at 6:30pm, and will be followed by a reception, which all attendees are invited to join.
罢丑别鈥�Nora and Ted Sterling Prize in Support of Controversy鈥痺as first awarded in 1993 and remains committed to recognizing work that provokes and contributes to the understanding of controversy, while presenting new ways of looking at the world and challenging complacency. The prize recognizes work across disciplines and departments and is awarded annually by the Sterling Prize committee.
Doors: 6:00 pm
Event: 6:30-8:00 pm
Post-Event Reception: 8:00-9:00 pm
Location:
Asia Pacific Hall, 麻豆视频Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue (580 W Hastings St, Vancouver)
On this page
Dr. Rylan Simpson
Associate Professor, School of Criminology, 麻豆视频
Dr. Rylan Simpson is an Associate Professor in the School of Criminology at 麻豆视频. As a court-recognized expert in policing, Dr. Simpson conducts research related to public perceptions of police, police organizations, and police effectiveness. He approaches his research using a variety of different methodologies, including experimental and quantitative analyses. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his policing scholarship and engagement with policing officials, including from the Academy of Experimental Criminology, the American Society of Criminology鈥檚 Division of Policing, and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology鈥檚 Policing Thematic Group.
He is also the recipient of numerous awards for his teaching and mentorship, including SFU鈥檚 Early Career Award for Excellence in Teaching and 麻豆视频FASS鈥� Cormack Teaching Award. Finally, he is the Chair of the American Society of Criminology鈥檚 Division of Experimental Criminology, a Fellow of the Academy of Experimental Criminology, a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police鈥檚 Research Advisory Committee, a member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police鈥檚 Research Advisory Committee, and a former mentor for the Canadian Society of Evidence-Based Policing鈥檚 Virtual Scholar Program. Motivated by frontline experiences, Dr. Simpson has participated in more than 2,200 hours of ride-alongs with police agencies from around the world, including in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, and has more than 14 years of service as a police dispatcher.
Nick Bell
Deputy Chief Constable, West Vancouver Police Department
Deputy Chief Nick Bell joined the West Vancouver Police Department in 2004. Over the course of his career, he has worked in Patrol, Surveillance, the Police Academy, Community Service Team, and Corporate Support Services. He was promoted to Inspector on May 24, 2022.
Inspector Bell holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology from the University of Victoria, a Master of Arts in Emergency Management from Royal Roads University, and a Master of Laws in International Justice from the University of London. Currently, Inspector Bell is pursuing a PhD in Criminology from the University of Huddersfield.
He lives in West Vancouver with his wife, two sons and their French bulldog, Rudy.
Chief Rich Johnston
Chief of Police, Barrie Police Service
Chief Rich Johnston brings nearly three decades of dedicated service to policing, having held a wide range of roles within the Barrie Police Service, from front-line operations to senior executive leadership. His career reflects a steadfast commitment to innovation, organizational excellence, and advancing evidence-based approaches to public safety.
Chief Johnston holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Philosophy from Queen鈥檚 University, a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies from the University of Guelph, and a Master of Studies in Applied Criminology and Police Management from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
A nationally recognized advocate for Evidence-Based Policing, Chief Johnston serves as a Board Member of the Canadian Society of Evidence-Based Policing (CAN-SEBP), a Board Member of the Coalition for Canadian Police Excellence (CCPE), and Co-Chair of the Research Advisory Committee for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP). He is also a National Institute of Justice L.E.A.D.S. Scholar (Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science), recognized for his commitment to integrating research and innovation into policing practice.
In 2022, Chief Johnston was inducted into the George Mason University Evidence-Based Policing Hall of Fame, recognizing his leadership and significant contributions to the advancement of evidence-based policing in Canada and internationally. Through his leadership, he continues to champion collaborative partnerships, organizational innovation, and research-informed strategies that strengthen policing and enhance community safety.
David Zandvliet
Chair of the Sterling Prize Commitee
David Zandvliet will be opening this event as the Chair of the Sterling Prize Commitee. He is a Professor in SFU's Faculty of Education and the UNESCO Chair in Bio-cultural Diversity and Education. His research interests lie in the areas of science, technology and environmental education with expertise centred on the assessment of physical and/or psychosocial learning environments.
Jane Pulkingham
Jane Pulkingham is a Professor of Sociology, currently serving as Senior Advisor (Academic Affairs) in the Office of the Provost and Vice President Academic at 麻豆视频. From 2016 鈥� 2021 she served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) at SFU. Previously, Pulkingham was Associate Dean (2013-2015) of FASS and served as Chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology from 2003-2013. She completed her PhD in sociology and social policy at the University of Edinburgh.
In-Person Accessibility
This event will take place in the Asia Pacific Hall at the 麻豆视频Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, located at 580 W. Hastings Street (enter via Seymour Street courtyard entrance).
Bike stalls are available outside the Hastings entrance of 麻豆视频Harbour Centre (located across the street). Nearby parking is available at 500 & 400 W. Cordova Street.
Washrooms are located on the lower level, second, third, and fourth floors. The venue has a gender-neutral washroom, available on the second floor (use the hallway to the right).
The venue is wheelchair and walker accessible, with elevators and fully accessible washrooms. The chairs within Asia Pacific Hall have armrests with the seat measuring 50cm (w) x 48cm (d).
Online Accessibility
Technology requirements
Online attendees will need a computer (laptop or desktop), tablet or smartphone, with speakers or headphones.
We recommend that you use a computer for the best experience of this event. Some interactivity and accessibility features are not available when using a smartphone or tablet.
Protecting your privacy
To ensure that we are using online event technology in a privacy-conscious way, we follow best practices for this online event series:
We will only circulate the event link to those who are registered for the event
We will password-protect the event
We will enable end-to-end encryption
We will not use attention tracking
To protect your own privacy:
We remind you that whatever you say during the event is public, so please do not share sensitive information about yourself or others, and do not say anything you do not wish to enter the public domain.
To protect the privacy of others:
Please do not record or photograph yourself, other participants, or the hosts during the event, unless permission is requested and given.
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