January 24, 2000
To: Budget Advisory Committee
From: City Clerk
Subject: Follow-up on Initiatives Addressing Youth Violence
Arising out of the Mayor's Action Plan on Youth
Violence and Gang Activity
Recommendations:
The Economic Development and Parks Committee recommended the adoption of the report (January 4, 2000) from
the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism and forwarded same to the Budget Advisory
Committee for consideration during the 2000 Operating Budget deliberations.
The Economic Development and Parks Committee reports, for the information of the Budget Advisory Committee, having
requested the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism to:
(a) report to the Budget Advisory Committee providing a detailed breakdown of the funding request in the amount of
$800,000.00 for the Toronto Youth Violence Prevention Initiatives;
(b) consult with the Ward Councillors whose Wards would be included in the Toronto Youth Violence Prevention
Initiatives, prior to the operating budget process;
(c) ensure some public input in the process; and
(d) provide a status report to the Economic Development and Parks Committee every four months, after the
implementation of the initiatives, the said report to include the number of youth using each centre and the programs
offered.
Background:
The Economic Development and Parks Committee at its meeting held on January 17, 2000, had before it a report (January
4, 2000) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, seeking Economic Development and
Parks Committee's adoption of the Toronto Youth Violence Prevention Initiatives and funding for the Parks and Recreation
Division's 2000 budget, and recommending that this report be submitted to the Budget Advisory Committee and the Policy
and Finance Committee for consideration in the 2000 Operating Budget process.
The following persons appeared before the Economic Development and Parks Committee in connection with the foregoing
matter:
- Mr. Ryan Teschner, Toronto Youth Cabinet; and
- Councillor Olivia Chow, Children and Youth Advocate.
for City Clerk
B. Henderson/mh
C:\in\it044b
c. Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
Mr. Ryan Teschner, Toronto Youth Cabinet
Councillor Olivia Chow, Children and Youth Advocate
(Report dated Janujary 4, 2000, addressed
to the Economic Development and Parks Committee,
from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism)
Purpose:
To seek Economic Development and Parks Committee's adoption of the Toronto Youth Violence Prevention Initiatives and
funding for the Parks and Recreation Division's 2000 budget.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Funding will be required in the Parks and Recreation Division base Operating Budget for 2000 in the amount of
$800,000.00 to support this initiative.
The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and concurs with the financial impact statement.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that this report be submitted to Budget Advisory Committee and the Policy and Finance Committee for
consideration in the 2000 budget process.
Background:
In March 1999, responding to the issue of youth gang violence in schools, the City adopted recommendations from the
Mayor's Youth Violence in Schools report. Although the majority of the recommendations were directed to the school
boards and the police, the report identified a number of program areas where the City plays a significant role in serving
youth.
A committee including representatives of the Toronto School Board, the Toronto Police Service, the Toronto Public
Library, Social Development, Parks and Recreation, Youth Police Action Committee, and the TTC is currently working
together to further the common goal of youth violence prevention.
The Youth Sub-Committee and Youth Cabinet held focus groups throughout the summer. The focus groups were intended
to look at young people's perception of youth violence and get their ideas for solutions to this issue. It was recognized that
the issue of youth violence is a complex one and in order to get some reasonable solutions, a wide range of stakeholders
need to be consulted. The groups looked at violence occurring in schools, how police might be integrated in schools,
barriers to programs, and services and suggestions on alternative justice models to address youth violence. The Youth
Sub-Committee will be considering the specific recommendations from the focus groups in the new year.
In addition to the focus groups, the Youth Sub-Committee requested Departments to identify specific initiatives that would
support youth violence prevention.
The recent death of a young man as a result of youth violence against youth highlights the need to move quickly and
provide the appropriate resources and initiatives to reduce violence in our communities.
This report identifies some immediate actions that this City can take to address this issue. It is anticipated that additional,
long-term programs will come forward to various standing committees in the future in the context of departmental service
planning. However, this report includes "quick-start" programs that can be implemented now.
Comments:
Recognizing the need for an immediate response to the issues of youth violence, City Departments have worked together to
propose the following programs to ameliorate the problem. These programs have been selected with regard to their costs,
location, effectiveness and ability to implement quickly.
Youth Worker Program
Parks and Recreation has successfully implemented youth workers in a few communities to date. Youth workers have
successfully increased access to existing facilities for youth. Youth are engaged in the constructive use of leisure time in a
safe environment and are encouraged to participate in recreational opportunities. Potential at-risk youth are allowed an
opportunity to run programs. This approach has been a very successful model in the Malvern community where more than
200 youth are active in recreation and youth development after school and in the evenings.
The recommended locations for the youth work program are Flemingdon and O'Connor Community Centres (North
District); Mid Scarborough Community Centre (East District); Runnymede High School/Rockcliffe Middle School (West
District); St. Jamestown/Rose Avenue Community Centre (South District); and John Innes Community Centre (Central
District).
The estimated cost is $45,000.00 per year per youth worker per location.
Police Youth Basketball
The Police-Youth Basketball program, a program for 13 to 15 year old youth, has been very successful in six locations in
the City. The program addresses the lack of long-term, constructive programs to encourage positive-youth police
relationships and the need for life-skills development for youth.
The recommended location for expansion of this program for the year 2000 is Flemingdon Community Centre in the North
District. This expansion site has the support of the Toronto Police Unit Commander in 54 Division.
The estimated costs are $5,000.00 for uniforms, trophies, T-shirts and supplies and $1,700.00 for part-time staff who act as
score keepers, referees and substitute coaches.
TTC Youth Outreach Project
The TTC Youth Outreach Project has operated with great success at the Kennedy Subway Station and in various stations
across the Bloor Street subway line. The youth outreach worker provides information and referral service to youth and
other customers about community programs and services during peak hours for youth. The worker and TTC security work
together to head off problems during peak hours. The youth outreach worker provides non-traditional counselling to youth
regarding employment, housing, health and recreation.
Some of the key benefits of this project are increased safety for TTC ridership, decreased vandalism, fewer altercations
between riders, youth development, counselling and education.
The estimated costs for the expansion to the east (Warden, Victoria Park and Main stations) and to the west (Kipling,
Islington and Royal York stations) is $45,000.00 for each of the two locations.
Mall-based Youth Resource Centres
Two programs at Dufferin Mall and Scarborough Town Centre have proven the success of these non-traditional youth
programs. Youth gain access to education, employment, housing, fundraising, leadership training, mentoring, and tutoring
resources through the partnerships between Parks and Recreation, community agencies, local government and local
businesses.
The benefits expected from these programs include cross-cultural learning and awareness, more female programs, reduced
vandalism, violence and gang activity, positive role modelling, peer mentoring programs, improved relationships between
youth and mall merchants and staff, and youth leadership development.
The recommended locations are Gerrard Square (South District); Woodbine Mall (West District); Eaton Centre (Central
District); Sheridan Mall (North District); and Morningside Mall (East District).
The estimated costs for each of the five mall-based programs are $45,000.00 per location.
Late-Night Youth Drop-Ins
Three locations in Scarborough have successfully operated late night youth recreation opportunities. Youth 16 years and
older have access to structured and non-structured activities until midnight. Local Councillor Brad Duguid, Scarborough
City Centre, and the Toronto Police Service are supportive of expanding the late-night hours until 2:00 a.m. in the existing
three Scarborough locations. Additional expansion to other areas within the City is recommended.
This program offers a safe, supervised program for youth. Programs offer a variety of options for youth that include social,
physical, creative, and educational activities. Youth have asked for expanded hours of operation to meet the needs of youth.
The estimated costs for this program include $16,000.00 per location for full-time and part-time staff wages for 40 weeks
of programming, two nights per week, and an additional three hours per night.
The recommended locations are:
South District - Regent Park Community Centre
- Masaryk Cowan Community Centre
- Trinity/Bob Abate Community Centre
- Wallace Emerson Community Cente
- Joseph J. Picinnini Community Centre
Central District - John Innes Community Centre
North District - Chalkfarm Community Centre
- Driftwood Community Centre (Summer Only)/Flemingdon Community Centre (Fall, Winter and Spring)
- Antibes Community Centre
East District - Mid Scarborough Community Centre
- Malvern Community Centre
- L'Amoreaux Community Centre
West District - Yet to be determined
Conclusions:
The City of Toronto has a significant role to play in addressing the issue of youth violence. The Youth Committee and
Youth Cabinet have been exploring actions the City can take in this regard. It is critical that the City act now. This report
identifies a number of quick start programs with a proven track record of success. It is recommended that these initiatives
be implemented as quickly as possible. The Children and Youth Action Committee encourages Council to support these
initiatives and provide the funding for them in the 2000 budget process.
Contact Name:
Ms. Claire Tucker-Reid, General Manager of Parks and Recreation Division,
Telephone: 392-8182, Facsimile: 392-8565 , Email: ctucker@mta1.metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca.
(A copy of the report (November 26, 1999) from Councillor Olivia Chow, Children and Youth Advocate and the follow-up
Initiatives Addressing Youth Violence (February 19, 1999) prepared by the Community and Neighbourhood Services
Department attached to the foregoing report was forwarded to all Members of Council with the January 17, 2000 agenda of
the Economic Development and Parks Committee and a copy thereof is on file in the office of the City Clerk.)