Role & Responsibilities
Lorne brings more than four decades of policing, security, leadership and international experience to his teaching in Confederation College’s Police Foundations program. He focuses on connecting classroom learning with real-world practice, helping students develop the judgment, critical-thinking and practical skills needed for careers in policing, public safety and security.
Professional Background
Lorne Clifford has more than 40 years of experience in policing, public safety, security, leadership and adult education. He served 30 years with the Thunder Bay Police Service, retiring at the rank of Inspector, He served at both the Ontario Police College and as Director of the Police Executive Centre at the Canadian Police College. His international experience includes United Nations service in Sudan and a European Union policing mission in the Palestinian Territories, where he served as Canadian Contingent Commander. He currently serves as Director of Security Services at Lakehead University and has taught in Confederation College’s Police Foundations program since 1999. He holds a BA in Political Science from Lakehead University and an LL.M. in Criminal Law from Osgoode Hall Law School.
Teaching
Lorne has taught in Confederation College’s Police Foundations program since 1999, drawing on his experience in policing, police education, security, leadership and international operations. His teaching focuses on connecting theory with professional practice through real-world examples, case studies, scenario-based learning and applied assignments. He encourages students to think critically, exercise sound judgment, consider different perspectives, and understand the importance of ethics, professionalism, communication and community relationships in policing and public safety.
Creative Work, Research, or Industry Experience
Lorne’s professional practice includes operational policing, emergency and security planning, leadership development, police training, and international capacity building. His field experience includes United Nations work in Sudan addressing sexual and gender-based violence, European Union policing work in the Palestinian Territories, and the development and delivery of police leadership education in Canada. More recently, he founded I WAS THIRSTY, a community-based humanitarian outreach initiative in Thunder Bay, and has worked to document its operational model, lessons learned and resources for potential replication by other communities.
Community Involvement
Lorne serves as a Director with St. John Ambulance Council for Ontario and previously chaired its Northwestern Ontario Regional Advisory Board. He is the founder and Programme Manager of I WAS THIRSTY, a community-based water outreach initiative serving people experiencing homelessness in Thunder Bay, and is a longtime volunteer and founding Pipe Major of the Thunder Bay Police Pipe Band. His community involvement has also included leadership with the Canadian Armed Forces Cadet Organizations and with the Navy League of Canada, and participation on university committees addressing safety, security, sexual and gender-based violence, and student care and response. Lorne is also engaged in reconciliation advocacy, with an emphasis on building respectful relationships, increasing understanding, and supporting practical action toward reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.