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Canadian public servant and former police executive
Matthew Torigian is a Canadian public servant, public policy leader, and former police officer. He has served as Ontario’s Deputy Solicitor General, Chief of Police of the Waterloo Regional Police Service, and Deputy Minister in the governments of Ontario and Alberta.[1]
In June 2025, Torigian was appointed Deputy Minister of the newly established Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services for the Government of Alberta.[2]
Early life and education
Torigian earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Public Administration from Western University.[3] He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and the FBI National Executive Institute.[4]
As a junior athlete, Torigian represented Canada in international rowing competitions, finishing fourth at the 1975 World Rowing Junior Championships in the junior men’s Eight Event and sixth at the 1976 World Rowing Junior Championships in the men’s Coxed Pair. [5]
Policing career
Torigian’s policing career spanned over 34+ years as he began his policing career with the Niagara Regional Police Service, initially serving in an auxiliary position before joining the Waterloo Regional Police Service.[6]
[6] At the Waterloo Regional Police Service, Torigian served in frontline patrol and later in specialized investigative and tactical assignments, including drug enforcement and the Emergency Response Unit, where he was trained as a sniper. He started at the bottom and rose through the policing positions, including inspector, superintendent, and deputy chief.[6]
On December 12, 2007, Torigian was appointed the fifth Chief of Police of the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS), one of Ontario’s largest regional police services, where he oversaw policing operations for the Region of Waterloo and its constituent municipalities.[7]
As Chief, Torigian was responsible for organizational governance, operational policing, budget oversight, labour relations, and strategic modernization initiatives. Torigian initiated an organization transformation through the development of data analytics, evidence-based decision-making, and a neighbourhood policing model. [8]
Torigian served as President of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP), where he represented police services across Ontario on matters of public safety policy, policing standards, and intergovernmental coordination.[9]
During his tenure as Chief of the Waterloo Regional Police Service, Torigian co-founded the BLUE CREW initiative alongside former Kitchener Rangers head coach Steve Spott. Launched in partnership with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League, the program was designed to foster positive relationships between police officers and local youth through mentorship, education, and community engagement activities. BLUE CREW focused on building trust, encouraging leadership, and strengthening connections between law enforcement and the community.[10]
In addition to his operational responsibilities, Torigian played a prominent role in national and international policing education. He is a graduate of both the FBI National Academy and the FBI National Executive Institute in the United States, programs attended by senior law enforcement leaders from around the world.[11]
In 2014, Torigian retired as Chief of Police of the Waterloo Regional Police Service to accept a senior appointment with the Government of Ontario, transitioning from operational policing to public policy leadership.[12]
Government service
As Ontario’s Deputy Solicitor General, Torigian led a major transformation of the province’s community safety framework through the passage of the Safer Ontario Act.[13] The legislation mandated Community Safety and Well-Being Planning across municipalities, established Canada’s first Inspector General of Policing, and expanded equitable access for Indigenous police services. Torigian became a prominent figure in public safety and justice system reform. As Deputy Solicitor General of Ontario, he was closely involved in policy initiatives aimed at strengthening community safety, modernizing oversight mechanisms, and improving coordination across public safety institutions.[6]
Following his Ontario government services, Torigian served as Chief Strategy Officer for Niche Technology, a Canadian-based global software company specializing in justice and public safety case management systems.[14]
In June 2025, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services for Alberta, with responsibility for advancing integrated, cross-government models of care for the province.[15]
Academic and advisory roles
Torigian is a Distinguished Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, where he contributes to the Community Safety and Policing Research Program through research initiatives, symposiums, and mentorship of graduate students.[16]
He is a published author on issues related to community safety, policing, and public sector leadership.[17]
Awards and recognition
| Year | Award | Awarding body |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (O.O.M.) | Governor General of Canada |
| c.2012 | Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal | Government of Canada |
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