Brampton Regional Councillor Rowena Santos is taking her work on community safety to the national stage after being appointed chair of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Standing Committee on Community Safety and Crime Prevention.

Santos will lead the committee for the 2026-27 term, bringing Brampton’s concerns about crime, policing and neighbourhood safety into discussions with municipal leaders from across Canada.

The appointment recognizes Santos’ work on community safety and gives Brampton a prominent voice in national discussions involving policing, crime prevention, community corrections, emergency preparedness and emergency management.

Rowena Santos

Santos has been a member of the FCM Board of Directors since 2020 and has held several leadership positions within the organization. She previously served three terms as chair of the Standing Committee on Municipal Finance, Infrastructure and Transportation and two terms as vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Anti-Racism and Equity.

She has also been recognized by FCM as a “municipal trailblazer” for her contributions to municipal government.

Her focus on community safety has included bringing the concerns of Brampton residents directly to Peel Regional Police.

In June, Santos presented the Peel Police Services Board with the results of a community survey involving 161 residents. She said residents were concerned about issues including vehicle break-ins, package thefts and people checking car doors overnight, and that some were reluctant to report such incidents because they felt nothing would be done.

Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah acknowledged that so-called petty crimes can have a significant impact on residents’ confidence in their neighbourhoods.

Santos’ new national role will encompass those day-to-day concerns as well as some of the larger public safety challenges facing Canadian municipalities.

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Brampton has identified organized crime, auto theft, firearms, drug trafficking, human trafficking, gender-based violence, hate and extremism among its community safety priorities.

The city is also advocating for greater federal investment in policing, including support for Peel Regional Police in dealing with organized crime and other transnational threats.

Santos said she is honoured by the appointment and intends to use the position to bring Brampton’s perspective to the national table.

“Community safety is fundamental to the well-being of our residents, children and families,” Santos said.

“This role gives me the opportunity to bring Brampton’s perspective to the national table while working with municipalities across Canada on the challenges we share.”

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said the appointment gives the city a stronger voice in national discussions on public safety.

“Being selected by municipal leadership peers from across the country to chair this important committee is a significant recognition of her leadership and commitment to building safer communities,” Brown said.

Peel police Chief Duraiappah also congratulated Santos, calling her a consistent champion for community safety and prevention in Brampton and Peel.

As chair, Santos will now help bring municipalities together on practical approaches to crime prevention and community safety, while advocating for the resources and partnerships cities need to make their communities safer.


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