Making our communities safer, stronger and more vibrant for all residents
From October 25th to 31st, 2015 the Toronto East Quadrant Local Immigration Partnership (TEQ LIP) in collaboration with local and regional partners has organized its 3rd annual Scarborough Community Safety Week. The event aimed to create more opportunities for service providers, newcomers and the community in Scarborough to work together in addressing safety issues and improving neighbourhood safety measures for Scarborough’s diverse immigrant resident groups through collaboration.
Target Groups:
The Scarborough Community Safety Week aims to reach Scarborough’s newcomer/immigrant residents, newcomer civic leaders, the community at large as well as settlement and community service providers.
Expected Outcomes:
The followings are expected outcomes of the Scarborough Community Safety Week.
- Service providers are more aware of different types of safety issues newcomers face and have the ability to guide newcomer clients.
- Newcomers are more aware of safety issues and are able to access service providers that can assist them with their safety concerns.
- Stronger relationships among service providers and newcomers are developed, building on effective models of collaboration and community engagement.
Major Themes of the Safety Week:
- Road Safety – Includes pedestrian safety including schoolchildren, seniors and youth, cyclists and commuting issues, vehicle safety, etc.
- Community Safety – Includes violence, fear of violence, crimes, safety of children, seniors and women in the neighbourhood/ public space, community relationships and neighbourhood matters
- Family Safety – Includes domestic issues and family safety, resistance techniques, gas and electrical and fire safety, safety of children at home, senior abuse/ safety, distracted theft, sexual health and safety, emergency preparedness, etc.
- Financial Safety – includes financial safety for newcomers, senior financial safety, common scams and fraud that target newcomers, consumer safety, documentation and legal awareness
- Youth Safety – Includes dealing with youth related issues i.e. bullying, cyber vigilance, drug activities, gangs, gun violence and homelessness
The week started with the Crime Conference on Sunday, October 25, 2015, 02:00-05:00pm at Milliken Park Community Recreation Centre, 4325 McCowan Road, Scarborough Ontario (just South of Steeles Ave E).
The event, organized by Toronto Police Services 42 Division and 42 Division’s Community Police Liaison Committee, will offered an understanding of cyber crime trends on the internet and in social media, including financial crimes and social crimes, cyber bullying and hacking, and what you can do to protect your privacy.
It featured a keynote address by a representative of 42 Division and a panel of experts, including:
- Claudiu Popa, Informatica Corporation – Protecting yourself from financial Cyber Crimes.
- Detective Jeff Bangild, Toronto Police Service, Cybercrime Unit – Cyberbullying and social media issues.
- Shaharris, Hackernest – Protecting your email and privacy from hackers.
Workshops and information sessions on financial, youth, family and community safety took place in locations across Scarborough from Monday, Oct. 26—Friday, Oct. 30, 2015
Considering recent increasing crimes rate targeting seniors and housing breaking, the planning committee gave more attention to house breaking, distracted theft and gun violence. Emergency preparedness was also another focus area this year. Youth-focused workshops will held in the community and in schools in Scarborough. Other sessions focused on financial, community, family and road safety.
Check out the full Calendar of Events for more details.
Scarborough Community Safety Week concluded with an interactive Road Safety Event on Saturday, October 31, 2015 from 11:00am to 3:00 pm at Centennial College Scarborough Campus, 941 Progress Ave, Scarborough.
6Toronto Police Services Divisions from Scarborough and North York in partnership with Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Toronto Fire, Paramedics, Toronto Public Health and other stakeholders have organized an interactive event on Road Safety. Participants got a chance to learn about how to be safe as driver, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian. Interactive displays and stations will allow participants to learn about car (child) seat installations, bicycle safety, distracted and drunk driving and many other topics related to being safe on the road. Distracted driving session was the centre of attraction of the day.
Organizing Committee Members
- Catholic Crosscultural Services
- Centre for Information and Services (CICS)
- City of Toronto – CCRP
- MADD Toronto
- TDSB – Newcomer Services
- Toronto Police –42 Division
- Toronto Public Health
- Toronto East Quadrant Local Immigration Partnership
- Victim Services Toronto
- Warden Woods Community Centre