FOI request confirms past success of armouries as emergency shelter

Despite Mayor Tory's repeated assertion that the armouries are not "adequate or appropriate", a FOI request shows that a long time city housing policy staffer confirms what Cathy Crowe and advocates have stated for months: "I know the Moss Park Armoury was opened at least a couple of times before amalgamation and afterwards, Moss Park and Fort York armouries were opened I believe 4 times between them. The military were always a reluctant participant and the practice stopped because the military needed the space to train reserves for duty in Afghanistan. I remember that the people who sheltered in the armouries liked the safety and security and the high ceilings created a feeling of openness which was also appreciated." Simon Liston, Manager, Housing Development - City of Toronto