The CityWatch program is not currently active. This information is for archival purposes only.

How will CityWatch benefit community safety?

• Enhances safety on the streets and in neighbourhoods through the increased involvement of City workers
• Encourages staff to take informed action to prevent and reduce losses associated with crime, injuries, accidents, health problems and hazards

Who benefits?

• The public
• Children and families
• Seniors
• City workers
• Emergency services departments

Why and when was it formed?

In 1998, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 416 contacted Crime Prevention Association of Toronto (CPAT) requesting the organization's assistance in developing a program called Neighbourhood Watch on Wheels. The Local 416 executive approved a proposal from Crime Prevention Association of Toronto that focused on overall community safety rather than crime.

Local 416 has approximately 9,000 members who work in the community and are well positioned to provide assistance. They felt strongly about having a grassroots initiative to formally acknowledge what their members were already doing to improve public safety.

In March 1999, City Council approved the final report of the Task Force on Community Safety called, Toronto. My City. A Safe City. The report identified community safety as a top concern of Toronto's residents.

The report recommended that the City implement a range of community safety initiatives, including the establishment of a program involving City workers. CUPE Local 416 had also presented its concept to the task force.

In June 2000, the Commissioner of Corporate Services extended invitations to selected agencies, boards, commissions, City departments and their labour partners to participate in a working group to explore, develop and implement the CityWatch program based on best practices (e.g., TTC's Transit Community Watch).

How does CityWatch work?

CityWatch encourages employees who, during the normal course of their work, observe unusual or suspicious activities affecting community safety to immediately report the incidents:

• through their work unit's normal procedures
• by phoning 9-1-1 or
• by phoning the police non-emergency number 416-808-2222.

Employee participation is purely voluntary.

Is CityWatch designed to fight crime in the City of Toronto?

Our emergency services departments are very clear that they do not want people taking risks or endangering themselves or others.

Who is involved?

The CityWatch program is supported by:

• City of Toronto Administrative, Professional & Supervisory Association Inc. (COTAPSAI)
• City of Toronto departments
• CUPE Locals 1, 416, 79 and 1600
• Emergency Medical Services
• The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
• Toronto Fire Services
• Toronto Hydro
• Toronto Parking Authority
• Toronto Police Service
• Toronto Professional Fire Fighters' Association
• Toronto Public Library
• Toronto Transit Commission
• Toronto Zoo