Toronto Students Spend Summer Serving with Police
July 14, 2026
The Toronto Police Service’s Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI) is providing 165 young people across the Greater Toronto Area with more than just summer employment. Designed to give students firsthand exposure to policing and public service, the programme helps participants develop workplace and leadership skills while exploring future career opportunities. Among this year’s participants are Mahjabin Orthi, Caleb Thorpe, Omed Popal and Hafia Arfan, four students with diverse backgrounds but a shared interest in making a positive impact in their communities through policing.
For the students, YIPI offers a unique opportunity to gain practical experience and a deeper understanding of law enforcement. Orthi, who recently graduated from Birchmount Collegiate Institute and plans to study mechatronics engineering, sees the program as a chance to learn about a police officer’s daily responsibilities firsthand while challenging stereotypes about women in policing. Thorpe, a future Grade 11 student, hopes the initiative will help him build responsibility and valuable life skills as he pursues his long-standing ambition of becoming a police officer. Similarly, Popal has already mapped out a pathway into law enforcement through studies in Police Foundations and criminology, while Arfan views the program as a stepping stone toward a future career in either civilian or sworn policing roles.
Speaking to participants at the start of the program, Inspector Brian Urkosky encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunity to experience different aspects of the Toronto Police Service and engage with communities across the city. Since its launch 20 years ago, YIPI has provided employment and career development opportunities to more than 4,500 young people, with dozens of former participants later joining the Service. Supported by the Toronto Police Service Board, the initiative focuses on youth aged 15 to 18 from Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, helping them gain meaningful work experience while fostering interest in careers dedicated to public safety and community service.
To read the full story, see here
July 14, 2026
Toronto Students Spend Summer Serving with Police
July 14, 2026
The Toronto Police Service’s Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI) is providing 165 young people across the Greater Toronto Area with more than just summer employment. Designed to give students firsthand exposure to policing and public service, the programme helps participants develop workplace and leadership skills while exploring future career opportunities. Among this year’s participants are Mahjabin Orthi, Caleb Thorpe, Omed Popal and Hafia Arfan, four students with diverse backgrounds but a shared interest in making a positive impact in their communities through policing.
For the students, YIPI offers a unique opportunity to gain practical experience and a deeper understanding of law enforcement. Orthi, who recently graduated from Birchmount Collegiate Institute and plans to study mechatronics engineering, sees the program as a chance to learn about a police officer’s daily responsibilities firsthand while challenging stereotypes about women in policing. Thorpe, a future Grade 11 student, hopes the initiative will help him build responsibility and valuable life skills as he pursues his long-standing ambition of becoming a police officer. Similarly, Popal has already mapped out a pathway into law enforcement through studies in Police Foundations and criminology, while Arfan views the program as a stepping stone toward a future career in either civilian or sworn policing roles.
Speaking to participants at the start of the program, Inspector Brian Urkosky encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunity to experience different aspects of the Toronto Police Service and engage with communities across the city. Since its launch 20 years ago, YIPI has provided employment and career development opportunities to more than 4,500 young people, with dozens of former participants later joining the Service. Supported by the Toronto Police Service Board, the initiative focuses on youth aged 15 to 18 from Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, helping them gain meaningful work experience while fostering interest in careers dedicated to public safety and community service.
To read the full story, see here
