safety audit report card summary...safety audit report card – eglinton ave. e., mccowan rd.,...

Safety Audit Report Card – Eglinton Ave. E., McCowan Rd., Trudelle St., Danforth Rd. (Ward 38) 1

Audit conducted on 15th

of March 2013

SAFETY AUDIT REPORT CARD SUMMARY AUDIT DATE: March 15, 2013

AUDIT GROUP: Youth Living in the Area

AUDIT AREA: Eglinton Ave. E., McCowan Rd., Trudelle St., and Danforth Rd.

Ward 38 – 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 the City of Toronto’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 the Eglinton Avenue East, McCowan Road,

Trudelle Street, and Danforth Road area. The safety audit was conducted by youth who live in

the area on March 15, 2013 at 2:30 pm. Three youth participated in the audit and four youth

who live in the area completed the safety audit survey.

Ward 38 has a higher population of children and youth under the age of 24 compared to the

City.1 The Ward has a higher population of visible minorities (66.1%) compared with the City’s

population of 46.9%.2 There is a slightly higher number of new immigrants (25.6%) compared to

the City (21.6%) in the Ward and there is also has a higher percentage of people with low

income in comparison with the rest of the City.3 The Ward has a slightly higher number of lone-

parent families (22.6%) compared to the City (21.3%).4

The top three safety priorities identified by participants were as follows:

Accessibility

Maintenance

Isolated areas

1 http://www.toronto.ca/wardprofiles/pdf/profile-ward38-2011.pdf

2 http://www.toronto.ca/wards2000/pdf/2006/ward38_2006profiles.pdf

3 http://www.toronto.ca/wards2000/pdf/2006/ward38_2006profiles.pdf

4 http://www.toronto.ca/wardprofiles/pdf/profile-ward38-2011.pdf



of March 2013

WALKABOUT PHOTO SUMMARY



of March 2013

SAFETY PRIORITIES

AREA PRIORITIES RECOMMENDATIONS Eglinton Ave. E.,

McCowan Rd.,

Trudelle St., and

Danforth Rd.

1. Accessibility

The area needs to be

accessible to all people,

particularly having flat

sidewalks and ramps to

businesses and stores

located in the area.

Contact City Councillor about

ensuring sidewalks are flat in

the area and that there are

slopes at the curb between

the sidewalk and road

Contact local business and

property managers to ensure

entrances and stores are

accessible.

2. Maintenance

The area needs to be

better maintained.

This includes creating

a formal walkway

connecting the

apartment buildings to

Pringdale Public School,

maintaining stairs beside 400

McCowan and the ravine,

and maintaining the

walkways at 25, 35 and 45

Trudelle.

Contact City Councillor, and

building property manager

about creating a formal

walkway between the ravine

and apartment buildings

leading to the school.

Contact property managers of

buildings to maintain

walkways on property.

Contact City Councillor about

maintenance around the

ravine.

3. Isolated Areas

The informal walkway

behind the Trudelle

plaza on Danforth

(between the plaze

and apartment buildings) is

very isolated and narrow.

Contact City Councillor,

property manager of the plaza

and the property manager of

the apartment building to

suggest creating a formal

pathway in this area, including

adding stairs, railing and

lighting.



of March 2013

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 participants and based on promising practices that address participants’ concerns.

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

GENERAL

IMPRESSIONS

A majority of the participants stated they feel safe in the area.

SAFETY

FEATURES

SAFETY CONCERNS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION CONTACT

LIGHTING

A majority of youth (75%) reported

that the lights in the area work, while

25% disagreed.

Some youth participants stated that no

lights need to be added in the area,

while some stated that lights need to

be added in the area.

Ensure the area is well lit and that all

lights in the area are working.

Assess if any areas need to have more

lighting added.

Provide residents with information

about who to contact if they see lights

that are broken or burnt out in area.

Contact Toronto

Hydro about broken

lights and clearing

trees blocking lights

on City property.

Report this at this

website:

https://www.toronto

hydro.com/sites/elect

ricsystem/residential/

customercare/pages/

reportastreetlightout.

aspx

Contact Councillor to

distribute information

https://www.torontohydro.com/sites/electricsystem/residential/customercare/pages/reportastreetlightout.aspx








of March 2013

to residents about

who to contact when

property and City

lights are broken and

need to be replaced.

SIGNS and

TRAFFIC

Three-quarters of participants (75%)

stated there are signs missing or

damaged in the area.

100% of participants stated there are

no signs that show where to go for

help in emergencies.

100% of youth stated there are no

maps that show where major facilities

are located like schools, police

stations, etc.

Half of youth (50%) stated the area

needs more crosswalks or traffic lights,

while the other half disagreed. One

participant stated crosswalks need to

be added close to bus stops.

If new signs were added in the area

youth stated the signs should be in the

following languages; Punjabi, Tamil,

Somali, French, Arabic, Tagalog, Italian

and Swahili.

Ensure there are enough signs

identifying the area, such as street

address, map of area, etc.

Ensure all signs are easy to find, read

and understand, and are not blocked by

trees.

Ensure there are emergency signs in the

area stating who to call in emergencies.

Assess the need for more crosswalks or

traffic lights, particularly close to bus

stops.

Contact property

manager to repair

and install more signs

and to ensure signs

are easy to find and

read.

Contact Councillor

about having a traffic

assessment done in

the area to assess the

need for crosswalk,

and traffic lights in

the area.



of March 2013

FEELING

ISOLATED

Three-quarters of youth stated they

feel safe using shortcuts at night, while

25% said they do not feel safe.

Half of youth stated that there are not

enough working payphones in the

area, while the other half said there

are enough payphones in the area.

A majority of youth (75%) stated the

area is not deserted at night.

Half of youth participants (50%) stated

the area is deserted in the day while

the other half disagreed.

All of the participants (100%) stated

that if they were screaming someone

would hear them and come to help.

Three-quarters of youth (75%) stated

they feel safe walking across the

parking lots in the area at night, while

25% stated they did not. One person

stated that more lighting would make

them feel safer.

Work with community members, and

Councillor to create safe, well lit walking

routes for people in the community.

Assess where residents would like

emergency phones installed in the area.

Ensure there is lighting in parking lots.

Contact Councillor,

local businesses and

community members

to create safer

walking routes and

create a community

watch group in the

area.

Contact Councillor

and property

manager about

installing emergency

phones in area.

Contact Crime

Prevention

Association of

Toronto for

assistance in creating

community watch

groups.

www.cpatoronto.org

Contact Councillor

about assessing

lighting in parking

lots.

http://www.cpatoronto.org/



of March 2013

SURVEILLANCE/

SECURITY

All participants (100%) stated there are

no security officers in the area.

100% of youth participants stated they

would not like to have security officers

in their area.

Half of the participants (50%) stated

that there are not enough cameras in

their area, while 50% stated there is a

good amount.

Half of participants (50%) stated they

feel comfortable talking with police

officers, while the other 50% stated

they were not comfortable.

100% of participants stated that there

are usually a good amount of police in

the area.

A majority of participants (75%) stated

there is a good amount of police in

their school, while 25% stated there is

too many.

Half of participants (50%) stated that

they trust the police to protect them

and their community, the other half

disagreed.

Assess the need for cameras in the area

and where residents would like cameras

installed.

Hold a community meeting with youth

and police to discuss youth safety

concerns in the area and to build trust

with the police in the area.

Contact local

Councillor,

community service

agencies and

community members

to have a meeting

about the need for

more security

features in the area,

such as cameras.

Contact Councillor,

local youth groups

and police to host a

meeting with youth

and police in the

area.



of March 2013

One youth was approached and/or

stopped by the police, as part of an

investigation.

ACCESSIBILITY


that it is easy to move around the area

if you are using a wheelchair and/or

stroller, while the other half disagreed.

Youth noted that the plaza at Danforth

and Trudelle near Happy Panda is not

accessible.

A majority of youth (75%) stated that

emergency exits are not easy to use for

people with disabilities.


there are no automatic doors and

ramps to the public buildings in the

area (ie. library, school, stores), while

the other half of participants

disagreed.

Ensure that the area is accessible

including having flat sidewalks and

pathways, sloped curbs at intersections,

ramps to entrances, and wide and

automatic doorways.

Ensure emergency exists are accessible

for all people to use.

Ensure that all public buildings are

accessible including having automatic

doors, and ramps.


ensure area is

accessible.

Contact property

managers to ensure

all emergency exits

are accessible.

Contact local

property managers to

ensure building

entrances are

accessible.

YOUTH

SERVICES

None of the youth knew where they

could go to get help if they were

assaulted.

Ensure that youth in the area know

where they can get help if they are

assaulted.

Contact City

Councillor, local

youth organizations

and schools to



of March 2013

Most of the participants stated they

feel safe at their school.

Participants stated the following

services are in the area: recreation

centre (100%), community centre

(75%), afterschool programs (75%),

health centre (50%), and employment

centre (25%).

All of the participants (100%) stated

they feel comfortable using these

services. Participants stated they feel

comfortable using the services because

they know it is safe and because of the

people.

The services/activities that participants

would like to see more of in their

community are as follows: sports

fields/courts (75%), recreation centre

(25%), anti-violence programs (25%),

employment centre (25%), afterschool

programs (25%), and walk in

clinic/health centre (25%).

Ensure youth in the area know about the

community services that are available.

Increase services in the area, including:

- Sports fields/courts

- Recreation Centres

- Anti-violence programs

- Employment centre

- After school programs

- Walk-in clinic/health centre

provide information

to youth about

services in the area,

including where they

can get help if they

are assaulted.

Contact all levels of

government

regarding increase in

community services

and programming.


provide residents

with information

about the community

organizations and

services that are

available in the area.

TTC


that TTC fares are affordable for them

and people in their community, while


Assess the need for a bus shelter in the

area.

Ensure all TTC bus stops are well lit,

Contact local

representatives about

the need for lower

public transportation



of March 2013

100% of the youth (100%) stated that

buses in the area are accessible.


there are no bus stops that need bus

shelters, while 25% stated there are

bust stops that need shelters.

Three-quarters of youth participants

stated that there is enough lighting at

bus stops, while 25% disagreed.

Half of youth knew what the Request

Stop Program while the other half did

not know about the program.


bus stops are not missing time

schedules, or have inaccurate

schedules, while 25% disagreed. One

person stated there needs to be

schedule at every street stop.


buses need to run later at night, while


have emergency signs, and time

schedules.

Ensure people know about the Request

Stop Program.

Assess bus routes to determine if there

should be an increase in bus frequency

in the area.

fares.

Contact TTC about the

need for lighting and

shelters at bus stops,

to add emergency

signs and schedules at

bus stops and to

increase service.

Contact Councillor

about the need for

more lighting at bus

stops in the area and

for emergency

payphones to be

located near TTC

stops. Also ask

Councillor to advocate

increasing bus service

in the area and to

provide information

to residents about the

Request Stop

Program.

SOCIAL

ENVIRONMENT

One youth stated that they had been

physically, verbally or sexually

harassed.

Have a community forum to discuss

discrimination and harassment in the

area. Work with local community

Contact community

members, Councillor

and community



of March 2013

One participant stated that they had

experienced discrimination based on

religion.

A majority of participants (75%) had

seen others be harassed or

discriminated against in the

community.

Participants stated their biggest

concerns about their community are:

poverty (50%), sexual violence (25%),

drugs (25%), police brutality (25%), and

discrimination (25%).

centre, organizations, police and

businesses to create safe spaces for

people to go if someone is being

harassed or feeling unsafe.

Work with Councillor, community

organizations and community members

to address issues such as poverty,

drugs, police brutality and

discrimination in the area.

organizations to

organize a community

forum about

discrimination and

harassment in area.

Contact local

organizations,

Councillor and police

to help organize

community meetings

and events to address

issues.



of March 2013

CONTACT INFORMATION

CITY CONTACTS

City Councillor: Glenn De Baeremaeker

Ward: 38 Scarborough Centre

Address: 100 Queen Street West, Suite B31, Toronto, ON, M5H 2N2

Phone: 416-392-0204|Fax: 416-392-7428

Email: [email protected]

Toronto Police Services Division – 43 Division

Address: 4331 Lawrence Ave. E., Toronto, ON, M1E 2T4

Phone: 416-808-4300|Fax: 416-808-4302

Website: http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/d43/

Community Response Unit Manager: Staff Sergeant Peter Moreira

Phone: (416) 808-4313

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.)

http://www.toronto.ca/311/

http://www.211toronto.ca/

http://www.toronto.ca/parks/

http://www.toronto.ca/transportation/

http://www.toronto.ca/garbage/

http://www.toronto.ca/licensing/index.htm

http://www.toronto.ca/apartmentstandards/home.htm

http://www.torontohydro.com/



of March 2013

LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICES

Action for Neighbourhood Change (ANC) Scarborough Village

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

Heritage Skills Development Centre (HSDC)

Address: 400 McCowan Road

Phone: 416-345-1613

Website: http://www.hsdconline.org/

Rosalie Hall

Address: 3020 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough

Phone: 416-438-6880

Website: www.rosaliehall.com

Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities

Address: 2660 Eglinton Avenue East

Phone: Community Health Centre 416-642-9445

Website: www.schcontario.ca

Youth Engagement Program

Phone: 416-642-9445 ext. 4473

http://www.redcross.ca/

http://www.emys.on.ca/

http://www.thestorefront.org/

http://www.griffin-centre.org/

http://www.hsdconline.org/

http://www.rosaliehall.com/

http://www.schcontario.ca/



of March 2013

Scarborough Housing Help Centre

Address: 2500 Lawrence Ave. E.

Phone: 416-285-8070

Website: www.shhc.org/

West Scarborough Community Legal Services

Address: 2425 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 201, Scarborough

Phone: 416-285-4460

Website: www.westscarboroughlegal.ca

http://www.shhc.org/

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