2025 IMPACT Youth Forum

More than 300 attendees gathered at the General Sikorski Hall in Oshawa for the 5th annual IMPACT Youth Forum hosted by the Durham Regional Police Service’s Youth in Policing program on Saturday, January 18, 2025.

The theme for this year’s forum was ‘Create.’ With the forum’s mission to Inspire, Motivate, Persevere, Act, Create, and Transcend (IMPACT), the event provided attendees with the tools and confidence needed to transform their ideas into action. 

DRPS Chief of Police Peter Moreira opened the forum with an inspiring speech, emphasizing the power of action and the importance of seizing opportunities. Following this, the YIP Big Impact Team led a lively icebreaking activity to energize the crowd, encouraging students to network and engage through interactive “This or That” questions.  

The morning continued with an energizing keynote by Canadian innovator and entrepreneur Swish Goswami, who brought high energy, inspiring attendees to embrace their creativity and pursue their entrepreneurial potential. His dynamic presentation motivated everyone to think big and take bold steps toward turning their ideas into reality. 

The energy stayed high through the afternoon as participants jumped into an exciting and interactive workshop with exploring the power of teamwork and collaboration. Motivational speaker and author, Christine Lewis delivered a powerful keynote, inspiring youth to focus on intention and how it can drive success.

Adding to the excitement, Ontario Tech University’s learning hub, Brilliant Catalyst put together a panel of entrepreneurs (Angelique Deck, Keanu Barrage, and Sinan Mohsin—hosted by Connor Loughlean) who answered questions from attendees, offering valuable insight into entrepreneurship and innovation.  

A huge thank-you to all attendees and the DRPS Youth in Policing Team, including Program Coordinator Jeevika, Supervising Team Leader Christine, Team Leader Ellie, and the BIG IMPACT Team for their hard work in coordinating this fantastic event. 

Are you between the ages of 15-18 and interested in a paid employment opportunity with the DRPS YIP Program? Applications for the YIP 2025 Summer Initiative are now open; visit www.drps.ca/yip for more information. You can also contact the YIP team via email (youthinpolicing@drps.ca), phone (1-888-579-1520 x4386), or social media (@drps_yip).