There has been a signifiant uptick of criminal activity, violence, and illegal drug use in Leslieville’s streets, laneways and too close to schools. Also, there has been an increase in used drug paraphernalia incorrectly discarded in public areas such as parks, public school playgrounds, streets and laneways. 

This escalation of activity, in conjunction with the fact that the local South Riverdale Community Health Centre houses a safe injection site and also distributes harm reduction supplies, has led many residents and local business owners to express their concern about the insufficient safety measures within the neighbourhood.

While there has been an improvement in safety measures around the SRCHC since the tragic shooting there on July 7th, 2023, the biggest worry is that many of these new safety measures are only temporary and that they are not enough to change the trajectory of increased criminal activity in the neighbourhood. 

In order to support community safety for all, we ask for the following changes implemented within Leslieville as quickly as possible:

1) Establish increased police presence throughout Leslieville on a regular basis, and including regular patrols of laneways. 

2) Dedicate four (4) community officers to the Leslieville boundary with the focus in and around the SRCHC neighbourhood (2 officers per shift).

3) The City of Toronto to enter into a contract with a needle disposal company such as Stericycle®.  The correct needle disposal boxes should be placed and mounted throughout the neighbourhood, and proper protocol for maintenance and servicing be done on a regular basis. To determine where the boxes are best located, it is critical that SRCHC and TPS are consulted, and incidence reporting by residents is considered. (**While there are public light posts in all lanes already, consider requesting permission from private property to mount boxes, rather then restricting the placement to public or city owned spaces, to help ensure the boxes are where they are actually needed**)

4) Ensure security outside of the SRCHC becomes a permanent service as long as the safe injection (CTS) site is housed within this building.  This is necessary for a safe walk to schools, less than half a block away. 

In light of the growing and rapidly changing opioid crisis and in order to maintain a safe community, we need to quickly move forward, not backwards. It is important to remember that while helping and protecting vulnerable people within the community who need programs such as the consumption and treatment services or harm reduction supplies, we also need to protect another vulnerable and important part of the community — our children. 

Toronto Police, South Riverdale CHC, City of Toronto, Province of Ontario and the Federal Government have been too focused on reactive measures. We need a greater focus on proactive measures with a concrete plan that reduces security risk and makes it more safe for all.