One of Canada’s most prestigious awards honouring trailblazers who contribute to our country’s success will be bestowed on a team led by a Waypoint researcher.
Dr. N. Zoe Hilton, Research Chair in Forensic Mental Health, was announced May 9 as the lead of a team — it also includes Waypoint’s Elke Ham and colleagues from the Ontario Provincial Police — receiving a 2025 Governor General’s Innovation Award (GGIA). The award is in recognition of the development, validation, implementation and evaluation of the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) and its professional training programs.
It’s an incredible honour to receive this award. The ODARA was born from an academic-researcher partnership formed to respond to the urgent need to turn research into real-world tools that can save lives. This recognition is a tribute not only to the science behind the ODARA, but also to the professionals who use it every day to protect those at risk and to create safer communities.
Dr. N. Zoe Hilton, Research Chair in Forensic Mental Health
The first statistically based tool in Canada designed to assess the likelihood of repeated domestic violence, the ODARA has transformed how law enforcement and mental health professionals approach such cases. Created through a 25-year collaboration between police and academic experts, it evaluates specific risk factors to help responders identify high-risk situations, enhance safety planning and allocate resources more effectively. The ODARA is now formally adopted in six Canadian provinces and territories, and embedded in legislation in four U.S. states.
Nominated by the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, the ODARA team’s selection underscores a commitment to celebrating not only technological advancements, but also social innovations that protect vulnerable populations and improve lives.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the awards, which celebrate Canadian innovators whose work is exceptional, transformative and positively impacts quality of life. The 2025 laureates will be formally honoured at Rideau Hall on May 29 during Canadian Innovation Week.