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		All Council and Committee documents are available from the City of Toronto Clerk's office. Please e-mail clerk@city.toronto.on.ca.
		Date: 02/12/98 To: Urban Environment and Development Committee Re: Preventing Suicides on the Prince Edward (Bloor/Danforth) Viaduct Dear Colleagues, The recent tragic suicides of Martin Kruze and Kenneth Au Yeung have brought to light a disturbing fact: the Viaduct is contributing factor in a large number of suicides in Toronto. As you will see in the attached material, over 37 deaths have resulted from people jumping from the viaduct since 1990. This is half of all bridge deaths in Toronto during that period. Clearly, some actions should be taken. After discussions with Mr. Al Birney and Mr. Michael McCamus, two representatives of the Bridge Committee of the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario, the department as well as other Councillors, I would recommend the following actions be taken: Recommendations: 1. That the appropriate staff be requested to meet with the Schizophrenia Society and the local Councillors as well as the Historical Board to develop an options analysis with recommendations to submit to the committee within 90 days. 2. That the Chief Coroner of Ontario be requested to assist by providing detailed data on suicide deaths from bridges in Toronto, specifically at the viaduct. 3. That the report consider options in use elsewhere in the world, for example the netting and emergency phone service provided at the Golden Gate bridge, fencing as provided in New York state, and other options. 4. That the report consider both immediate measures and long term strategies. 5. That funding source possibilities be investigated. 6. That the Commissioner consider the advisability of entering into a modest contract with the Bridge Committee of the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario in order to draw upon its expertise in the conduct of these investigations and in the preparation of the report (estimate: 1 day/week for 12 weeks of report preparation @$400/day = $4,800). Thanks for your assistance. cc. Police Superintendent Aidan Maher Karen Letofsky John Wagner Dr. Paul Links Dr. Robin R. Richards Mr. Al Birney Mr. Michael McCamus
		Please note that council and committee documents are provided electronically for information only and do not retain the exact structure of the original versions. For example, charts, images and tables may be difficult to read. As such, readers should verify information before acting on it. All council documents are available from the City Clerk's office. Please e-mail clerk@city.toronto.on.ca.

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