Ward Clapham—Superintendent (Rtd) is a 28-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Until recently, he led the men and women who served within the third largest RCM...view moreWard Clapham—Superintendent (Rtd) is a 28-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). 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. Ward’s RCMP detachment has been celebrated as one of the most progressive police organizations in Canada. Throughout his career, he and his teams took calculated chances, made mistakes, and forged new paths where others feared to tread. Though difficult at times, Ward’s unshakable vision created new paradigms of leadership within the traditional command-and-control environment of policing.
The results of his vision and courage paid off. Crime and community problems were significantly decreased. More than 53 countries from around the world have studied the Richmond leadership approach to policing. The Richmond model has also been championed by government and private institutions as the key to successful community safety and public reassurance.
In July 2008 through September 2010, Ward served as Chief for the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service (Transit Police). In this role, he continued to break with what was not working, infuse effective principles into his organization, and empower and inspire team members.
He is currently pursuing his consulting practice full-time to bring his methodology and processes to a wider audience. Ward’s leadership approach has been featured in D. Michael Abrashoff’s book, Get Your Ship Together—How Great Leaders Inspire Ownership from the Keel Up. FranklinCovey Co. (founded by Dr. Stephen R. Covey) completed a documentary film on the success of Richmond’s proactive policing. And Reader’s Digest magazine described Ward’s work in a full-length story titled, “Something Positive for a Change.”
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, Lead Big: Discovering the Upside of Unconventional Leadership is now available at www.LeadBig.net.
Recognized Outcomes
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 Queens Golden Jubilee Award for community policing
Rotary International Centennial Service Award for professional excellenceview less