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SafeCitySafer
COMMUNITY safety is more than the absence of violence. It is about social equity – ensuring that everyone, particularly youth in vulnerable communities, are treated with dignity and respect and have opportunities to achieve their full potential. It is also about community well-being.
Toronto’s Community Safety Plan, launched in 2004, continues to transform priority neighbourhoods across the city. The plan provides safety initiatives aimed at reducing violence – particularly gun-related violence – and supporting factors contributing to community wellbeing. In 2005, the City and the United Way identified 13 priority neighbourhoods in need of targeted social investment and support. “Our goal is a city where no one gets left behind and where everyone has the opportunity to create a better life,” said United Way president Frances Lankin. “In partnership with the City of Toronto, we’re working to change social conditions in our communities and build a stronger, safer city for everyone.”
Visit toronto.ca/community-safety
Neighbourhood Action
Neighbourhood Action Teams and Neighbourhood Action Partnerships have been established in 13 priority neighbourhoods to co-ordinate services and leverage resources with an emphasis on supporting youth training, employment, engagement and justice, providing community and family support, and improving service delivery. Since 2006:
- More than 30,000 youth opportunities have been provided as a result of a $15 million investment in youth employment, education and skill development.
- Close to $24 million has been invested in youth engagement, creating 247,000 youth opportunities.
- Approximately $25 million has been invested in community and family support programs providing 41,000 youth and family opportunities.
- Through the Mayor’s Partnership Opportunities Legacy Fund, the City and our partners are creating new community spaces and recreation facilities in all priority neighbourhoods.
Youth Employment
- Employer Access to Support and Employment (EASE) provides resources for employers to increase youth recruitment and retention.
- Partnership to Advance Youth Employment (PAYE) assists employers in filling entry-level positions with pre-screened applicants who have the necessary training and skills.
- The ProTech Media Centre provides youth in the Jamestown-Rexdale priority neighbourhood with free access to state-of-the-art digital arts training.
Youth Engagement
- Involve Youth is a community action and civic engagement program that helps build youth leadership in priority neighbourhoods.
- Recreation programs provide opportunities for youth leadership development, job readiness and volunteering. Program user fees were waived for 30,000 low income individuals under the Welcome Policy last year.
- The ARC (After-School Recreation Care) Program provides families with safe, quality, innovative after-school recreation programs for children between the ages of six and 12. In 2008, 11 additional ARC locations were added for a total of 30 locations across the city, serving 885 registered children and employing 90 youth.
- The Community Crisis Response Program provides co-ordinated supports and resources to communities across Toronto to respond and recover from violent and traumatic incidents.
- The Toronto Sport Leadership Program
One hundred youth from the 13 priority neighbourhoods received certification in coaching and leadership through this initiative in 2007.
Community Safety Secretariat
The Community Safety Secretariat supports the work of the Mayor’s Advisory Panel on Making a Safe City Safer and City Council by co-ordinating components of the overall Community Safety Plan. Initiatives include:
- The Toronto Area Interfaith Council (TAIC) was established to share best practices and develop recommendations to inform the faith sector’s role in making Toronto safer, stronger and more inclusive.
- Youth Liaison Committees were established to explore the legal sector’s role in improving police-youth relationships in neighbourhoods.
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