Join us for an exclusive lunch discussion featuring Chief Katie McLellan, a visionary leader and the current Chief of the Calgary Police Service (CPS).
With a career spanning nearly four decades, Chief McLellan offers a rare perspective shaped by leadership roles in municipal policing, federal enforcement with the RCMP, and executive security in the international oil and gas sector. Since joining the CPS in 1987 after immigrating from Scotland, she has risen through the ranks, from a patrol Constable to the first woman Inspector of the Criminal Operations Section, consistently championing the idea that true public safety requires more than just enforcement; it requires deep-rooted community partnership.
Throughout her tenure, Chief McLellan has broken new ground in integrating social development with crime prevention. Whether leading frontline operations in Calgary or managing high-stakes federal investigations into serious and organized crime, her focus remains on building a safe and resilient Calgary through inclusive leadership and cross-sector collaboration.
This is a premier opportunity to hear firsthand from one of Canada’s most seasoned public safety executives on the evolving landscape of urban policing, the critical interface between corporate security and public law enforcement, and her strategies for fostering a healthy, respectful, and inclusive workplace.
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- Date: April 30, 2026
- Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM MST
- (Guests are welcome to stay until 1:30 PM for optional networking)
- Location: Calgary Petroleum Club
- Room: Trophy Lounge
- Cost: $50 + fees and GST
- Attendee limit: 14
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Registration Process
Registration for this event is managed by request. Please submit your details below to hold your place in line. Our team reviews all submissions and will be in touch within 48 hours to officially confirm your registration and process payment.
Chief Katie McLellan
Chief Katie McLellan possesses a unique perspective rooted in extensive policing and security experience across both the private and public sectors. Her time as a private-sector security expert reinforced her belief in building safe, resilient communities through partnership and collaboration. Consequently, she remains a strong advocate for crime prevention through social development.
Immigrating to Calgary from Scotland, Chief McLellan joined the Calgary Police Service (CPS) in 1987. For the next thirteen years, she served in the Communications Section and as a patrol Constable and Sergeant in Districts 4 and 3. These foundational years in grassroots community policing taught her that police cannot solve crime in isolation; success requires the support of communities and social agencies committed to improving the lives of all Calgarians.
Chief McLellan’s CPS career has spanned numerous critical areas, including the Professional Standards Section, the Chief Crowfoot Learning Center, and the Emergency Communications Center. Notably, she served as the first Inspector of the Criminal Operations Section. Following her promotion to Superintendent in 2008, she led the Information and Technology Division and the Executive Office of the Chief Constable. In this capacity, she oversaw Professional Standards, Legal Services, Strategic Communications, and Freedom of Information and Privacy.
From 2010 to 2013, as Superintendent of the Field Operations Division, she and her team of commanders led frontline policing for the City of Calgary. In this role, she played a strategic part in advancing the model of community mobilization and engagement. The complexity of social issues encountered during this time furthered her resolve to leverage social service supports to ensure public safety.
In 2013, Chief McLellan retired as Senior Superintendent to join an international oil and gas company as Senior Security Advisor. In the corporate realm, she focused on the critical interface between security and policing, workplace violence prevention, and building inclusive environments. Working alongside Human Resource teams, she performed a strategic leadership role in fostering healthy and respectful workplace cultures.
Driven by a goal to return to public policing, she joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in May 2018 as the Officer in Charge of Federal Policing South, Serious and Organized Crime (K Division). In December 2019, she returned to municipal policing to begin the next stage of her career as a Chief of the Calgary Police Service.
Chief McLellan holds a Bachelor of Professional Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Athabasca University and a Corporate Executive Diploma from the University of Alberta. Her professional development includes graduation from the Senior Management Institute for Police and various certificates in Senior Police Management and Leadership. She is also trained as a Hostage Negotiator, an Emergency Operation Centre Lead, and an Incident Management Team Commander.
She is a decorated officer, having received the Police Exemplary Service Medal, Alberta Police Officer Centennial Medal, Alberta Emergency Services Medal, Calgary Police Distinguished Service Medal, and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal. Chief McLellan looks forward to enhancing community partnerships and working with all CPS employees to ensure Calgary remains a safe place to live for everyone.