Leading Women in Law Enforcement
A Leadership Coaching Program for Women in Senior Law Enforcement
A unique opportunity to gather for leadership development with 24 senior women leaders in law enforcement from across Ontario.
Expand your network. Build skills and strategies to enhance your leadership. Talk through the critical issues facing women in policing with others who know. And create action plans to address the challenges.
Cohort 3 dates!
October 28-30, 2025 Foundation Residency
November 2025 - January 2026 Online Leaders' Coaching Circles
January 14-15, 2026 Final Residency
As a partnership between Ontario Women in Law Enforcement (OWLE), Heather Clayton Consulting (HCC), and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP), the Leading Women program addresses a gap in leadership development opportunities for women in senior sworn and civilian roles.
Based on HCC's extensive coaching experience in this sector and consultation with women in law enforcement, this four-month leadership development experience has been designed to align with current police initiatives and to meet your on-the-ground needs.
- Learn from other senior leaders what is working in their services to meet the 30x30 Challenge
- Identify personal leadership vision, values, and statements to guide your ongoing leadership practice
- Build on existing and new relationships to further cross-service networks and community
- Practice the GROW coaching model, linked to improved bench strength, enhanced team performance, increased productivity, and higher retention rates of valued staff
- Develop and practice leadership and coaching skills to effectively address the challenges of your team
Robin Abbott, Superintendent Division 1, Hamilton Police Service
"This program is an incredible opportunity for any female leader in policing. It really encouraged self-reflection and offered practical, valuable insights into how we lead. As a Cohort 1 participant, I really loved how it brought together sworn and civilian members, creating opportunities to connect and learn from each other’s experiences. I would absolutely recommend it to any female leader looking to grow both personally and professionally."
Chelsie Gurica, Criminal Record Check Team Lead, Treaty Three Police Service
“The impact was astounding. This truly has been the most fulfilling, rewarding and beneficial training opportunity I have ever been a part of." (Cohort 1)
Treena MacSween, Deputy Chief, London Police Service
“I am a better human than I was before this program. This (learning) will translate into being a better mother, wife, and leader."
The Leading Women Program
We open and close the 4-month program with residencies at Crieff Hills Centre, 45 minutes southwest of Toronto Airport, getting away from it all to make space for clarity, connection and focused skill-building.
In between, we meet every 2-3 weeks virtually for 4 one-hour Leaders' Coaching Circles. Each LCC is made up of 3-4 women from the cohort, who are guided by their expert coach to explore specific leadership challenges and practice addressing them.
Foundation Residency
Cohort 3 - Tuesday, October 28 to Thursday, October 30, 2025
Disconnect to reconnect – Give yourself the time to realign to your leadership values and purpose as we kick off our 4-month program together with a three-day foundation program at Crieff Hills Centre in Puslinch, Ontario.
We will explore ideas, skills, and strategies that empower us to lead from the authentic self. We'll identify and build strengths as leaders, leveraging them to navigate difficult conversations, make hard decisions, work through challenges, and restore deep purpose to your workday.
Real change is hard work! Between these highly-focused sessions, we'll recharge with incredible fresh food, prepared at the Centre from local ingredients. And there will be time to nourish ourselves in other ways: morning yoga, curling up in the cosy lodge with your journal or a good book, going on a snowy night hike ,or enjoying a glass of wine by the fire.
We’ll come away from the three-day intensive with a foundation for our leadership development over the next four months: a supportive network of women you've met face-to-face, clarity of intentions and purpose, tools to identify our strengths, and more.
Leaders' Coaching Circles
Every 2-3 weeks, between the two residencies
4 x 60 minutes, virtual
Leaders' Circles bring together the collective wisdom of 3-4 leader participants to resolve each other's current challenges. In each group, your coach will support you and your peers as you develop the skills to coach each other, give and receive feedback, and strengthen your support network.
Circles use action learning, which is a cycle of acting, reflecting, learning, and planning. This scientifically proven methodology transforms both individuals and organizations through continuous experiential learning.
Final Residency: Consolidate & Sustain Your Leadership Development
Cohort 3 - Wednesday, January 14 - Thursday, January 15, 2026
We will gather as a whole group at Crieff Hills Centre to integrate and honour the work we have done together throughout the program.
Crieff Hills will be waking up from the winter, offering us the perfect setting to synthesize the learnings, set new intentions and determine the actions for continued leadership growth and community with long-term impact.
Our plans for the second residency are customized as we get to know you and the specific challenges and strengths of the women in the cohort.
Foundation Residency
3-day (2-night) residential workshops at Crieff Hills Centre October 28-30, 2025
Leaders' Coaching Circles
4 x one (1) hour virtual small-group coaching sessions between the residencies
Final Residency
2-day (1-night) workshop residency at Crieff Hills Centre, January 14-15, 2026
All Meals and Accommodations
Private Room and All Meals. Fresh, locally-sourced, gourmet breakfasts, lunches, and dinners from the esteemed Crieff Hills Centre kitchen. Snacks and (non-alcoholic) beverages are also included.
Pre-Program Access
Advance login to access the documents & resources that will support a strong start to your professional development experience
Leadership Resources
Lifetime access to your cohort's private portal with materials to support the coaching workshops, Leaders' Coaching Circles, and continued leadership development
Individualized Learning
1:8 Facilitator-to-Participant ratio (Residencies)
1:4 for Leaders' Coaching Circles
Leadership Network
Active, dedicated WhatsApp community for lasting connections across services and roles
40+ Facilitated Learning Hours
More than 40 hours of live, guided learning designed for depth and transformation.
Julie Craddock, Deputy Chief, Anishinabek Police Service HQ/Kettle and Stony Point
"Leading Women is unique in that it empowers women to take ownership of their career paths. This is a learning program that isn’t offered anywhere else and the supportive environment to learn from other female leaders was a truly remarkable experience." (Cohort 2)
Nicole Noonan, Inspector, OIC Federal Policing - Integrated Response & Organized Crime, RCMP-Toronto West
"My time with the Leading Women Cohort (2) was simply one of the most valuable, rewarding and fulfilling experiences I have had in my 26 years as a Police Officer. Lifelong lessons in leadership, and leading difficult conversations were made, along with enduring friendships, a new self-awareness and grace for myself. I wish everyone, women in policing especially, could take part in this experience."
Your Coaches
HEATHER CLAYTON
As Principal of Heather Clayton Consulting, Heather brings many years of coaching executive leaders. Her focus is to be a 'think partner', creating space for learning and strategic movement those keen to grow and leverage their strengths. Heather has been working with Peel Regional Police Services for the past four years, including three Women in Leadership programs. She has also coached with Regional Police Services in Cornwall, Hamilton, Timmins, Surrey (BC), and several school boards.
ZAYNA KUNIC
Through her years of experience in corporate work, Zayna brings a deep understanding of the challenges of change in large organizations. A strategic, sensitive listener and a team player, she can be counted on to go the extra mile. Zayna co-created the curriculum for Leaders’ Coaching Circles, a ground-breaking part of our work and a significant piece of this leadership experience. She has been coaching individuals at Peel Regional Police Services alongside Heather for the past four years.
Shawna Spowart, Chief of Police, Cornwall Police Service
"Working with Heather Clayton has been an incredible experience. As a coach, she knows just how to ask the right questions in order for you to find your own answers. I’ve learned to leverage my strengths in becoming a more authentic leader. Understanding ourselves and others is key to becoming a more effective leader."
Where We'll Be
Located 45-minutes southwest from Toronto, Crieff Hills is an historic retreat facility on 250 acres of woods, farmland, and grassy fields. Open year round, this peaceful, venue invites individuals and groups to work and recharge together in an environment that supports reflection and growth. Crieff Hills welcomes you to take a slow reflective walk on the labyrinth, hike the many wooded trails, and relax beside the fireplace in your lounge. Crieff Hills has an important mission in today’s busy world, providing an opportunity for people to connect with nature and find renewal. For accessibility, directions, and other venue questions, please visit the Crieff Hills Centre site.
Meals & Accommodations
During the two Residencies, we will enjoy gourmet meals beautifully prepared by the Crieff Hills Centre chef, with many ingredients sourced from their own gardens. Dietary accommodations can be made with (minimum) one-week advance notice. Self-serve coffee, tea, water, and juices, as well as light snacks (for eg. granola bars) will be available between meals. Please note that Crieff Hills is not licensed to serve alcohol.
All meals, beverages, and snacks are included in your program fee.
You will have a private room in a comfortable modern lodge among Crieff Hills' historic buildings. The entire cohort will be staying in three buildings that are close together, with a cosy lounge area to gather.
Please see the FAQs at crieffhills.com for the answers to many facility questions.
Why We Chose Crieff Hills
Crieff Hills offers a venue experience that is likely different from other professional development facilities you may have encountered, with some features that are luxurious and some that are more rustic.
Since we are focusing on leadership presence, we wanted to provide an environment that would support this learning in multiple ways. We chose Crieff Hills because it offers many opportunities for presence and supporting your development as a whole person. Studies have shown that knowledge acquired in nature-based retreat settings is better retained, due to the lack of distraction, the restorative effects of time in nature, and the support for self-reflection and communal experience. The grounds have several trails and places to explore that offer a calm place to reset and learn. The food is thoughtfully made from ingredients grown on-site offering an exceptional dining experience. The *accommodations are more rustic than a hotel room*, but offer the coziness and comfort of a cottage so you can feel rested and have access to several common spaces to spend time with the community you will form. We trust you will soon feel at home here.
FAQs
May 13 - June 13, 2025: Pre-registration for Cohort 3 (October 2025-January 2026)
- Pre-registrations will be time and date stamped and accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, with the following caveats:
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- Maximum of 2 participants per service
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- We ensure a diversity of service locations and a close-to-equal number of Civilian and Uniformed participants.
June 16, 2025: Pre-registrants will receive an email with their status (accepted or waitlisted). Full payment is required to confirm your spot.
July 9, 2025: Final deadline for full payment (by cheque or direct transfer) to confirm your spot in Cohort 3. We'd HIGHLY appreciate payment as soon as possible after you receive your acceptance status. In select cases, we will accept proof of funding from your Service by July 9 in lieu of full payment. Please content heather@heatherclaytonconsulting to discuss arrangements.
July 10, 2025: Unpaid spots released to the waitlist, who will receive an email about availability.
Full payment for Cohort 3 is due by July 9, 2025 to confirm your spot. Unpaid spots are released to our waitlist the next day.
In select circumstances, we will accept an email/letter of guarantee from your service to confirm your spot -- please contact Heather Clayton to make arrangements.
See also "How does the pre-registration process work?"
We carefully consider the pre-work we "assign" so that in our live sessions we can go deeper together through informed discussion, meaningful practice, and mutual support. Please plan to commit 2-3 hours of pre-reading, writing, and other preparation before the first residency, about 1/2 hour before each coaching circle, and 1-2 hours before the final residency.
By submitting payment, you are committing to your registration.
If you must withdraw, options are as follows:
- Find an eligible (senior) leader (sworn or civilian) in your organization who is available and committed to attend in your place. No refund will be issued.
- Ask HCC & OWLE to see if someone from the waitlist is available to attend. If someone on the waitlist is committed to attend in your place by October 1, 2025, we will issue a refund minus a $500 cancellation fee up.
- If a replacement cannot be found your registration will not be refunded.
- No refunds after October 1, 2025
Due to the nature of the design and delivery of the two retreats, we are unable to accommodate late arrivals, early departures, or partial attendance for the residencies. We ask that you attend both in-person residencies in full: your presence and full commitment affect not only your program outcomes, but those of the whole group.
The online Leaders' Coaching Circles are not available as a stand-alone experience: they are open to those who are participating in the entire program so that the necessary foundational work has been done.
We strive to create a safe psychological space for the work we are doing together. For this reason we will not be recording any of the sessions at the residencies or the Leaders' Coaching Circles. However, all of the support materials for the program will be available in your cohort's private learning space for you to access.
Depending on sponsorship, we are planning to run cohort 4 from January 2026 to April 2026 or October 2026 - January 2027.
If you would like to be notified about Cohort 4, please sign up here. (Rest assured, we will not use your email for anything else.)
Shelley Thompson, Superintendant, Peel Regional Police Department
"The (Leadership) Program has not only connected me with a supportive network of peers but also offered valuable insights…I've tackled authentic leadership challenges with a focused approach, developing comprehensive strategies for effective resolution."
Thank you to our Lead Sponsor.
