In an effort to better reflect York's evolving approach to campus safety, the University's Community Safety ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Department is launching an initiative to rename the York Security Services (YSS) unit and front-line job titles.
Once a new job title has been chosen, the Community Safety ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Department will then gather options for the unit name and have the community vote on that. This transformation represents a significant step in advancing the University's commitment to community-centred safety and inclusion.
"The renaming of York Security Services reflects our broader vision for campus safety – one that genuinely embraces the diverse experiences and needs of our entire community," says Orville Wallace, executive director of the Community Safety ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Department. "Our approach centres on building meaningful relationships, fostering trust and creating an environment where safety and well-being are achieved through genuine partnership with our community. This is about more than a name change, we are continuing to evolve our service to better reflect our values of inclusion, support and proactive engagement."
As part of this transformation, the Community Safety ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ Department is seeking input from the York community through a naming campaign. Students, staff, faculty, instructors and other community members are invited to that have been carefully selected to reflect the department's evolving mandate.
The proposed name for the front-line job titles aims to capture the department's dedication to fostering community engagement, building trust and promoting a holistic approach to well-being across York’s campuses. Importantly, these options emphasize the department's commitment to anti-racism and unbiased approaches to safety.
Results from the community voting campaign will be shared when the new name is unveiled in the spring. York community members are encouraged to .