Ann Wallington, a new instructor in the University of Guelph-Humber’s Justice Studies program, comes to U of GH from Humber Polytechnic with a remarkably diverse and intriguing background.
From serving the Toronto Police Service for 13 years in a variety of roles, to running her own business, to being a researcher and educator, her fascinating career has been shaped by many chapters, each adding a level of depth to her expertise and dynamic perspectives. And her educational background is impressive; Ann holds a Master of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, a certificate in adjudication from Osgoode Hall Law School and the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators, a Master of Arts degree from Central Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Laurentian University.
“Justice is more than just punishment when you break the law. All my research has been around how community agency networks support at-risk youth, either when they come out of the criminal justice system or to stop them from going in,” she said when asked about why she’s passionate about the field. “[I'm interested in] how the community supports people to ensure that they don't enter into the criminal justice system or to support them when they come out of it.”
Ann, who taught in Humber’s police foundations and criminal justice programs for 10 years, officially started at Guelph-Humber in May 2025. Upon her arrival, she instantly noticed the close community at U of GH and felt warmly welcomed.
Before her career in academia, she had a multifaceted career in the police force, which to some, may sound like an adventure straight out of the movies, but it was serious and important work.
Ann’s 13-year journey with the Toronto Police Service began on foot patrol, where she “walked the beat” before transitioning into uniform cars. After that, she spent two years working undercover in a drug squad. Next, she became a defensive tactics instructor and use of force training analyst. Though it was after that when she was promoted to sergeant where she oversaw a platoon of uniformed officers. Plus, Ann worked at headquarters within the restructuring team to develop a community policing strategy, and as a divisional planning sergeant, so she “moved around quite a bit.”
While this was exciting for her, she also relished in the opportunity to start her own business that designed and installed high-density mobile shelving units, mostly for art galleries and museums. She described this as a “challenge” but said that being her own boss, hiring staff, and working with clients “was very rewarding.”
Now she’s turned the page in her story to focus on her career in academia. Ann said she loves being in the classroom with students when they’re engaged in the material, but especially when what they learn challenges beliefs or ideas they’ve held. For her, this experience is “really energizing.”
She’s also driven by conducting research that has the power to enhance people’s lives. Although she has carried out applied research before, Ann completed a large three-year research project in 2024 with a co-investigator, where she served as a principal investigator for the first time.
She and her research partner worked with two community agencies in Saskatchewan that support at-risk youth – the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan and the Street Culture Project. Their work examined best practices for how agencies can collaborate to support youth, providing these groups with tangible ways to address challenges they may face. They found there is a need for increased funding to expand services and reduce wait times. Employees, particularly ones who are new to the sector, need the opportunity to network with other agencies so that they are aware of their services and can quickly connect clients.
She cited receiving a College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) grant for this research as being a pivotal moment during her career.
“We're working with community agencies to create something they can use, which I think then translates nicely into the classroom for students to be able to get an idea about the problems [society] is dealing with,” Ann said.
Outside her multi-faceted career, Ann finds joy in music. Immersed in Toronto's vibrant music scene, she attends concerts almost weekly, enjoying performances across all genres – most notably, blues.
“I will happily go to a show where I know nothing about the artist and go with an open mind and listen to it,” Ann said. “[Sometimes] they are newer artists who are developing their live performance, and it's great to go out and support them in these smaller venues.”
It’s full-circle; she finds happiness in seeing smaller artists learn about performing and the live music scene – a happiness that mirrors what she feels when watching her students learn and grow in the classroom.
This fall 2025, you can catch Ann teaching JUST 2000: Community Policing Introduction and JUST 4000: Advanced Issues in Community Policing.
To learn more about the Justice Studies program, click here.