National Series on Police Oversight, Legal Change, and System Transformation
Session 1: Strengthening Oversight in Alberta
This opening session will take an in-depth look at Alberta’s new Police Review Commission (PRC) and the broader provincial system for handling police complaints. Led by interim CEO Michael Ewenson, K.C., the conversation will explore the transition from police-managed complaint processes to an independent oversight body, lessons learned from ASIRT, and opportunities to build stronger independence, transparency, and systemic accountability across the province.
We’ll also be exploring key questions such as:
What gaps is the PRC designed to address in Alberta’s oversight system?
How will the transition to an independent agency unfold in practice?
What challenges arise in building public trust during this shift?
How can systemic learning happen from individual complaints?
This session offers an important opportunity for community members, legal professionals, advocates, and anyone committed to justice and human rights to engage with the emerging
Date: Friday, December 12
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (MST)
Location: Online via Zoom
Michael Ewenson, KC
Michael Ewenson, KC was appointed interim CEO of the Police Review Commission (PRC) on July 23, 2025. Mr. Ewenson is a former prosecutor who served as deputy chief prosecutor in Calgary for 10 years. Following his work as a prosecutor, Mr. Ewenson served as executive director of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) from 2022 until his appointment as interim CEO of the PRC. Under Mr. Ewenson’s leadership, ASIRT significantly reduced a long-standing investigative backlog and is well-positioned to continue its work as part of the PRC from December 2025 onward.
Mr. Ewenson received his initial legal education in Canada and in 2015 obtained his LLM in international criminal law from the National University of Ireland. After earning that degree, Mr. Ewenson was a sessional instructor in the law of evidence at the University of Calgary.
