SAFETY AUDIT REPORT CARD SUMMARY AUDIT DATE: March 15, 2013 AUDIT GROUP: Youth living in the area AUDIT AREA: Gilder Drive (Midland and Eglinton Ave. E.) Ward 37 – Scarborough Centre Neighbourhood 138 – Eglinton East

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

METRAC’s Safety Audit looks at how social and physical environments can make an area safe or unsafe. METRAC defines safety as ‘freedom from the threat, fear, and experience of all forms of violence, oppression, and discrimination.’

The Community Safety Audit was organized by Stephen Linton from the City of ’s Crisis Response Team. The audit was held as part of a larger project addressing community safety concerns in south-east Scarborough. The area audited for this report was Gilder Drive. The safety audit was led by youth who live in the area on March 15, 2013 at 2:30 pm. Four youth 14-15 years old youth participated in the audit.

Ward 37 has a higher population of people whom are: less than 5 years old (5.9%); 5-9 years old (5.8%), 10-14 years old (5.9%); 15-19 years old (6.8%), 45-49 years of age (8.5%); 50-54 years old (8 %); 55-59 years of age (6.5 %); 75-74 years old (3.1%); 80-84 years of age (2.9%); and 85 years and older (2.4%) compared to the City’s averages of 5.4%, 4.9%, 5.1%, 5.7%, 7.9%, 7.3%, 6.2%, 2.8%, 2.3%, and 2.1% respectively.1 The Ward has a higher population of visible minorities (56.8%) compared with the City’s average of 46.9%.2 The Ward has a slightly higher number of lone-parent families (23.8%) compared to the City (21.3%).3

The top five safety priorities identified by participants were as follows: Lighting Accessibility Reduce Garbage Maintenance

1 http://www.toronto.ca/wardprofiles/pdf/profile-ward37-2011.pdf 2 http://www.toronto.ca/wards2000/pdf/2006/ward37_2006profiles.pdf 3 http://www.toronto.ca/wardprofiles/pdf/profile-ward37-2011.pdf Safety Audit Report Card – Gilder Drive (Ward 37) 1 Audit conducted on 15th of March 2013

WALKABOUT PHOTO SUMMARY

Safety Audit Report Card – Gilder Drive (Ward 37) 2 Audit conducted on 15th of March 2013

SAFETY PRIORITIES

AREA PRIORITIES RECOMMENDATIONS Gilder Drive 1. Lighting Call City Councillor to add There needs to be more lighting in the area, increased and brighter including in the park and lighting in the area, alleyways. specifically in the park and alley.

2. Accessibility Contact City Councillor to The area needs to be more ensure sidewalks are flat and accessible including that there are cut-ins/slopes ensuring that all pathways on the curb between the and sidewalks are flat with sidewalk and road. no steps, having accessible Contact property managers entrances to all buildings and local businesses to install and having slopes between accessible entrances roads and sidewalks where there is a curb.

3. Reduce Garbage Contact City Councillor to There is a lot of garbage in organize a community clean- the area, including glass on up day and to add garbage and the ground and garbage on recycling bins in the area for the field in the park. people to throw out their trash.

4. Maintenance Ask the property and store Signs in the area need manager of Pizzaville to fix the to be fixed, including store’s sign. the Pizzaville sign. Ask City Councillor to ensure all signs in the neighbourhood are fixed and easy to read.

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OVERVIEW OF SAFETY AUDIT RESULTS

The information below is based on the results of the survey and comments made during the safety audit walkabout. Recommendations for action were stated by youth and based on promising practices that address participants’ concerns.

A - Very Good B - Good C - Ok D - Substandard F– Poor

GENERAL All of the participants (100%) stated they feel safe in the area. IMPRESSIONS

SAFETY SAFETY CONCERNS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION CONTACT FEATURES LIGHTING All participants (100%) reported that Repair lights in the following areas: Contact property the lighting in the area is not good and - Near buildings managers to add and that there are lights that need to be - Near convenience store repair lights. fixed. - All streetlights - In the alley Contact Toronto

All of the participants (100%) stated Hydro about broken

that lights need to be added in the Add lights to the following areas: lights and clearing

area. - In the park trees blocking lights

- Along Gilder Drive on City property.

Report this at this

website:

https://www.toronto

hydro.com/sites/elect

ricsystem/residential/

customercare/pages/ reportastreetlightout.

Safety Audit Report Card – Gilder Drive (Ward 37) 4 Audit conducted on 15th of March 2013

aspx

Contact Councillor to share information with residents about who to contact when property and City lights are broken and need to be replaced.

SIGNS and A majority of participants (75%) said Ensure there are enough signs Contact Councillor to TRAFFIC there are signs missing or damaged in identifying the area, such as street install more signs and the area. address, map of area, etc. to ensure signs are easy to find and read. Half of participants (50%) stated there Ensure all signs are easy to find, read are signs that show where to go for and understand, and are not blocked by help in emergencies, while the other trees. 50% disagreed.

A majority of participants (75%) stated Ensure there are signs in the area about there are no maps that show where who to call in emergencies, especially in major facilities are located like schools, parks. police stations, etc. Add signs in the area including: Contact Councillor Majority of participants (75%) stated - Near buildings about having a traffic the area does not need any additional - Behind buildings assessment done in crosswalks or traffic lights. However, the area to assess the one youth said there needs to be a Assess the need for a crosswalk or traffic need for crosswalk, crosswalk/traffic light at Gilder Dr. light at Gilder Dr. and traffic lights in the area.

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If new signs were added in the area participants stated the signs should be in the following languages; French (75%), Somali (25%) and Tamil (25%). FEELING A majority of participants (75%) stated Work with community members and Contact Councillor, ISOLATED they do not feel safe using shortcuts at Councillor to create safe, well lit walking local businesses and night. routes for people in the community. community members to create safer A majority of participants (75%) stated Install emergency phones in the walking routes and that there are not enough working following areas: create a community

payphones in the area. - Behind buildings watch group in the - On Gilder Drive area. A majority of participants (75%) stated the area is deserted at night. While all Create a community watch group in the Contact Councillor of the participants (100%) stated the area and with local businesses to form a and property area is not deserted during the day. network of places people can go to if manager about they need help. installing emergency A majority of participants (75%) stated phones in area. that if they were screaming someone Ensure community members know who would hear them and come to help. to call in case of emergencies in the Contact Crime area. Prevention Half of the participants stated they feel Association of safe walking across the parking lots in Ensure there is adequate lighting in Toronto for the area at night, while the other half parking lots and parks. assistance in creating stated they do not feel safe. community watch groups Participants stated that they would www.cpatoronto.org feel safer if there was more lighting, particularly in the park. Contact Councillor for help to assess lighting

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in and parks. Contact property managers and business owner about lighting in parking lots.

SURVEILLANCE/ All of the participants (100%) stated Hold a community meeting to discuss if Contact local SECURITY there are no security officers in the more community security features are Councillor, area. needed in the area, such as security community service officers and cameras. agencies and Half of participants (50%) stated that community members they would like to have security Hold a community meeting with youth to have a meeting officers in their area, while the other and police to discuss youth safety about the need for half (50%) disagreed. concerns in the area and to build trust more security with the police in the area. features in the area. A majority of youth (75%) stated that there are not enough cameras in their Contact Councillor, area, and 25% stated there are local youth groups enough. and police to host a meeting with youth Half of participants (50%) stated they and police in the feel comfortable talking with police area. officers, while the other 50% stated they were not comfortable.

A majority of participants (75%) stated that there are usually not enough police in the area, while (25%) stated there is a good amount.

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Half of participants (50%) stated there is not enough police in their school, while 50% stated there is a good amount.

A majority of participants (75%) stated that they trust the police to protect them and their community, while 25% stated they do not trust the police.

None of the participants had ever been approached and/or stopped by the police.

ACCESSIBILITY All of the participants (100%) stated Ensure that the area is accessible Contact Councillor to that it is not easy to move around the including having flat sidewalks and ensure area is area if you are using a wheelchair pathways, sloped curbs at intersections, accessible. and/or stroller. ramps to entrances, and wide and automatic doorways. Contact property A majority of participants (75%) stated managers to ensure that emergency exits are not easy to Ensure emergency exists are accessible all emergency exits use for people with disabilities. for all people to use. are accessible.

A majority of participants (75%) stated Ensure that all public buildings are Contact local that there are no automatic doors and accessible including having automatic property managers to ramps to the public buildings in the doors and ramps. ensure building area (i.e., library, school, stores), while entrances are 25% were unsure. accessible.

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YOUTH Half of participants (50%) stated that if Ensure that youth in the area know Contact City SERVICES they are assaulted they know where to where they can get help if they are Councillor, local get help, while the other 50% said they assaulted. youth organizations did not know where to get help. and schools to Participants stated they could get help Explain to youth about the services they provide information from the police. can access if they are feeling unsafe at to youth about school. services in the area. A majority of participants (75%) stated that they feel safe at their school, Tell youth in the area about the Contact all levels of while 25% stated they do not feel safe. community services that are available. government regarding increase in Participants stated the following Increase services in the area, including: community services services are in the area: community - Sports fields/courts and programming. centre (100%), afterschool programs - Leadership programs (100%), recreation centre (50%), and - Anti-violence programs Contact Councillor to employment centre (25%). - Employment centre provide residents - Walk-in clinic/health centre with information A majority of participants (75%) stated about the community they feel comfortable using these organizations and services, while 25% stated they did services that are not. One participant stated that these available in the area. services will help you in the future and you will learn new things. Another participant stated that they don’t know about the services.

Participants stated the following changes they would like to see in the services they use include having a good basketball court, having a movie

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theatre and shopping mall.

The services/activities that participants would like to see more of in their community are as follows: sports fields/courts (75%), leadership programs (25%), anti-violence programs (25%), employment centre (25%), and walk in clinic/health centre (25%).

TTC All of the participants (100%) stated Assess the need for a bus shelter at Contact TTC about the that TTC fares are affordable for them Midland Ave. and Gilder Dr.. need for lighting and and people in their community. shelters at bus stops, Ensure all TTC bus stops are well lit, to add emergency All of the participants (100%) stated have emergency signs, and time signs and schedules at that buses in the area are accessible. schedules. bus stops and to increase service. Half of participants (50%) stated there Ensure people know about the Request are bus stops that need bus shelters, Stop Program. Contact Councillor while the other half disagreed. One about the need for participant stated there needs to be a Assess bus routes to determine if there more lighting at bus shelter at Midland Ave. and Gilder Dr. should be an increase in bus frequency stops in the area and in the area, particularly at night on the for emergency A majority of participants (75%) stated following route: payphones to be that there is enough lighting at bus - 57 Midland located near TTC stops, while 25% disagreed. stops. Also ask your City Councillor to Half of participants (50%) knew of the advocate increasing Request Stop Program while the other bus service in the area

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half did not know about the program. and to provide information to Half of participants stated there are bus residents about the stops that are missing time schedules, Request Stop or have inaccurate schedules. While the Program. other half disagreed. Participants stated this was at Gilder and Midland and on Gilder.

A majority of participants (75%) stated that buses do not need to run later at night, while 25% stated they do need to run later. One participant stated there needs to be frequent service for the Midland 57 bus.

SOCIAL One of the youth stated that they had Organize a community forum to discuss Contact community ENVIRONMENT experienced discrimination, based on discrimination and harassment in the members, Councillor, race and sexuality. area. Work with local community the police and local centre, organizations, police and organizations to A majority of participants (75%) had businesses to create safe spaces for organize a community seen other people be harassed or people to go if someone is being forum about discriminated against in the harassed or feeling unsafe. discrimination and community. harassment, drugs, Work with Councillor, community housing and gangs in Participants stated their biggest organizations and community members the area. concerns about their community are; to address issues such as drugs, drugs (66.7), discrimination (66.7%), discrimination, housing and gangs in housing (33.3%), and gangs (33.3%). the area.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

CITY CONTACTS

City Councillor: Michael Thompson Ward: 37 Scarborough Centre Address: 100 West, Suite B24, Toronto, ON, M5H 2N2 Phone: 416-397-9274|Fax: 416-397-9280 Email: [email protected]

Toronto Police Services Division – 41 Division Address: 2222 Eglinton Ave. E., Toronto, ON, M1K 2M2 Phone: 416-808-4100|Fax: 416-808-4102 Website: http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/d41/ Community Response Unit Manager: Staff Sergeant Wade Alphonso Phone: (416) 808-4119

Toronto 3-1-1 (formerly Access Toronto) Phone: 311 | TTY customers: 416-338-0889 Website: www.toronto.ca/311/

Toronto 2-1-1 (database of community services and organizations in Toronto) Phone: 211 | TTY customers: 1-888-340-1001 Website: www.211toronto.ca

City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Website: http://www.toronto.ca/parks/

City of Toronto Transportation Services Website: http://www.toronto.ca/transportation/

City of Toronto Solid Waste Management Website: http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/

Municipal Licensing & Standards (ML&S) Division Website: http://www.toronto.ca/licensing/index.htm

City of Toronto Apartment Standards Website: http://www.toronto.ca/apartmentstandards/home.htm

Toronto Hydro Electric System (Streetlights) Phone: 416-542-3195 Website: www.torontohydro.com Note: Contact about lights that are out and blocked by trees/shrubs. Also try to have exact location of light (ie. poll # or area/road description.)

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LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICES

Action for Neighbourhood Change (ANC) Address: 3600 Kingston Road, Scarborough M1M 1R9 Phone: 416-847-4177

Canadian Red Cross. Toronto Region. Scarborough Drop-In Address: 700 Kennedy Rd. Toronto Phone: 416-267-0115 Website: www.redcross.ca

East Metro Youth Services Address: 1200 Markham Road, Suite 200, Scarborough Phone: 416-438-3697 Website: www.emys.on.ca

East Scarborough Storefront Address: 4040 Lawrence Ave E. Phone: 416-208-9889 Website: www.thestorefront.org

Griffin Centre Address: 24 Silverview Drive Phone: 416-222-1153 Website: www.griffin-centre.org

Pathways – Scarborough Village Address: 3471 Kingston Rd. – unit 1 Phone: 647-351-0091 Website: http://www.youthlink.ca/pathways

Rosalie Hall Address: 3020 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough Phone: 416-438-6880 Website: www.rosaliehall.com

Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities Address: 3600 Kingston Road, Scarborough, Phone: 416-847-4177 Website: www.schcontario.ca Youth Engagement Program Phone: 416-642-9445 ext. 4473

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Scarborough Housing Help Centre Address: 2500 Lawrence Ave. E. Phone: 416-285-8070 Website: www.shhc.org/

The Hub mid-Scaborough Address: 2660 Eglinton Ave. E., Scarborough Phone: 416-642-9445

West Scarborough Community Legal Services Address: 2425 East, Suite 201, Scarborough Phone: 416-285-4460 Website: www.westscarboroughlegal.ca

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