Foundation for a Path Forward Teams Up with the Strong Cities Network for Prevention Academy Canada

The Foundation for a Path Forward is proud to partner with the Strong Cities Network and the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities on the launch of Prevention Academy Canada, a national initiative funded by Public Safety Canada that officially launched on September 11, 2025. The Academy is now underway, equipping municipal leaders and local officials with the tools, knowledge, and partnerships needed to address rising hate, extremism, and social polarisation in communities across the country.

Across Canada, municipalities are on the frontlines of responding to growing divisions and threats—both online and offline—that undermine community safety and cohesion. Yet many local governments, particularly smaller ones, face limited resources and competing priorities. The Prevention Academy directly addresses this gap by empowering mayors, councillors, senior administrators, and community leaders to understand the hate landscape, strengthen digital and social resilience, and implement coordinated prevention strategies tailored to their communities.

Building on the success of the Strong Cities Prevention Academy model in the United States, Prevention Academy Canada tailors its curriculum to the Canadian context, aligning with existing safety and well-being efforts. The ten-month program features a series of ten learning modules, combining expert-led sessions, peer-to-peer exchanges, and hands-on planning. Participants will engage on key themes such as:

• Countering online hate and disinformation through digital literacy;
• Building community resilience using a public health approach;
• Developing referral systems for individuals at risk of radicalisation; and
• Managing crisis communications and post-incident response.

The Foundation for a Path Forward brings to this partnership its deep experience in community resilience, anti-racism, and social innovation. Since 2020, the Foundation has reached more than 750,000 individuals, built over 200 organisational partnerships, and delivered programming across Toronto, Calgary, and Moncton. Its grassroots networks, interfaith partnerships, and expertise in public safety and inclusion are helping ensure the Academy’s implementation is both effective and community-driven.

With sessions now in progress, the Foundation continues to play a central role in connecting local leadership with community expertise, embedding equity and inclusion throughout the Academy’s design. Together with the Strong Cities Network and the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities, this partnership represents a major step toward building safer municipalities, stronger institutions, and a more united Canada committed to prevention and resilience.