Chief Ward Donald Clapham
Search Institute Keynote Speaker
Home Province: British Columbia
Professional Expertise
Ward Clapham has an extensive history in law enforcement. He is a retired superintendent and 28-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Until recently, he led the men and women who served within the third largest RCMP detachment in Canada, located in Richmond, B.C.—a diverse multicultural community within the Metro Vancouver area. He is also the former chief of police for the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service (Transit Police), where he served for just over two years.
Contributions to Search Institute
Ward blends his rich history in policing and public safety with a deeply passionate belief in the power of Developmental Assets. He has been a long-standing advocate and champion for asset-based approaches in policing, not only in his home country of Canada, but in some 54 other nations who have expressed interest in his groundbreaking work of positive leadership. Perhaps his most noted innovation from a positive youth development perspective is the idea of Positive Tickets— catching young people doing things right, recognizing them with an affirming ticket, and using the entire exchange as an opportunity to build a meaningful relationship with the young person.
Major Publications
Ward has recently written and published the first book in his Breaking With series: Breaking With the Law: The Story of Positive Tickets (www.PositiveTickets.com). The second book in this series, Breaking With the Law: Proactive Insights on Leadership, will be released winter 2010.
Ward has been recognized for his efforts in several other publications. His creative approach is the subject of a chapter in a newly released book by best-selling author, D. Michael Abrashoff titled Get Your Ship Together: How Great Leaders Inspire Leadership from the Keel Up. The Franklin Covey (Dr. Stephen R. Covey) organization has also recently produced a documentary film on the success of Richmond Detachment and their approach within the new leadership paradigm. Ward is currently working as a co-author with Dr. Stephen Covey on his next book titled The End of Crime, which will be released in 2011. Reader’s Digest magazine recently featured Ward’s work in a full-length story titled “Something Positive for a Change.”
Major Presentations
- Catching Kids Doing Things Right: The Story of Positive Tickets
- Pay Now or Pay Later! Asset Building for First Responders
- Breaking With the Law: Proactive Insights on Leadership
- Get Your Leadership Together
- Wellness Leadership
- Ending Crime
- Bravely Swim Upstream
Professional History
- Chief of Police, Transit Police Vancouver
- Director of Investigative Services, Absolute Software Corporation
- Officer in Charge (Superintendent), Royal Canadian Mounted Police,
Richmond, B.C. - Operations Officer (Inspector), Nanaimo Detachment
- Numerous previous RCMP and police assignments
Education
- Associate Bachelor of Arts, Criminology, Camosun College
- Bachelor of Arts, Administration (in progress), Athabasca University
- Certificate in Advanced Police Studies, Canadian Police College
- Certificate in General Police Studies, Canadian Police College
- Seven Habits facilitator and Four Roles training, Covey Leadership
Awards and Honors
- Recipient of the Head of Public Service of Canada Award for Valuing and
Supporting People—Leadership - Recipient of the Canadian Order of Merit of the Police Forces for
conspicuous merit and exceptional service - Recipient of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of
Jerusalem, for Community Service - Recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for Community Policing
- Rotary International Centennial Service Award for Professional Excellence
