Training Schedule                Biology                Chemistry                Physical Sciences: Firearms     Unit & Documents Unit                Toxicology                Contact Us

The Centre of Forensic Sciences (CFS) provides in-house lectures and training as part of its educational services to law enforcement officers and major stakeholders involved in the administration of justice in the province of Ontario. The series of lectures and training programs provides learning opportunities for police officers, judges, crown and defense counsel, and other members of investigative agencies who would like to gain better understanding of the forensic services that the Biology, Chemistry, Physical Sciences and Toxicology Sections offer. The educational programs are delivered in-class at the Forensic Services and Coroners Complex. The sessions are not available via webcast but a video recording may be accessible for viewing at a later date. Attendance is free and registration is open to eligible participants. As spots are limited, confirmation of attendance is determined on a first-come-first-served basis. To register to a course, follow the link provided in the schedule below. The registration portal provides a brief description of the course including information on the target participants. Other topics will be offered in the future based on client demand or learning needs. If there is any training opportunity that you are interested in or if you would like to provide some suggestions or feedback, click here. Scroll down for a brief description of the 4 scientific disciplines of the CFS and the schedule of the lectures and training.

Schedule

Biology

The Biology Section conducts examination of items to assist with addressing identity, sequence of events, and possible relationships between objects, individuals, and locations. The Biology lectures provide an introduction to the Section’s forensic services which include body fluid identification (blood, semen, and saliva) and DNA profiling in cases involving crimes against persons and property (e.g. break and enters, sexual assault and homicides). The lectures will get participants familiarized with Biology's High-Volume Service and Violent Crime Service.

 

Chemistry

The Chemistry Section performs chemical analysis and physical comparisons of a wide variety of materials in order to identify a material in question or to determine if it could have originated from a particular source. The different materials commonly examined by the section include dye-pack dye, explosives, hair and fibres, fire evidence, glass, gunshot residue, lachrymators, lubricants, metals, paint, tape, etc. The Chemistry Section offers an overview of its forensic services, an introductory and intermediate course on homemade explosives, an overview of fire, explosives and chemical identification and comparison, and traffic accident investigation workshop.

Physical Sciences: Firearms and Documents

The Physical Sciences Section consists of the Firearms and Toolmarks Unit and the Documents Unit. The Firearms and Toolmarks Unit examines firearms, ammunition, target surfaces, toolmarks and related evidence found at crime scenes and during search warrants. Testing and analyses are conducted to relate a bullet, slug or cartridge case to a specific weapon and determine the linkages between shooting occurrences. Toolmarks are examined in relation to a specific tool. The Firearms and Toolmarks Unit offers an overview of the unit's forensic services, an introduction to firearms and ammunition and an overview of Integrated Ballistics Identification System(IBIS) and Suspicious Firearms Index(SFI).

The Documents Unit examines documents to determine whether they are authentic or altered, and to determine how they relate to a person, thing, event or time. The Documents Unit offers an overview of the Unit's forensic services.

Toxicology

The Toxicology Section analyses and examines body tissues and fluids to detect the presence of drugs and alcohol. The Section is involved when the presence or absence of drugs is important to a case, such as coroner's death investigations, impaired driving, sexual assault, fire death, and homicide cases. The analytical results and their associated interpretation in these cases are communicated through written reports and expert witness testimony at all levels of court in Ontario. Most frequently, expert witness testimony relates to drug and alcohol impaired driving. The Toxicology Section offers Drug-facilitated Sexual Assault Investigation lectures and Death Investigation lectures for police officers and forensic pathologists.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, send us an email at CFS.LectureRequests@ontario.ca

Our Locations

Forensic Services and Coroners Complex (FSCC) 25 Morton Shulman Avenue Toronto, Ontario M3M 0B1

Roberta Bondar Place 70 Foster Drive, Suite 500 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6A 6V3

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