Community Safety Projects Honoured at the Mayor’s Community Safety Awards

June 14, 2024 Kelly

Toronto — Mayor Olivia Chow, alongside community members and Inspector Roger Caracciolo from the Toronto Police Service (TPS), celebrated the efforts of nine local community safety and well-being projects at the Mayor’s Community Safety Awards ceremony held today at Toronto City Hall.

The Mayor’s Community Safety Awards, established in 2002 by the City of Toronto’s Task Force on Community Safety, recognize innovative projects that help build safer communities. This year’s awards highlighted the contributions of community-led, youth-led, and for the first time, seniors-led groups.

Mayor Chow praised the award recipients for their dedication and impact. “My congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Community Safety Awards. The work they do to give young people hope is critical to making our city safer for all. Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods, and we want all communities to feel safe, and we couldn’t do it without our community partners.”

Last night was the Mayor’s Community Safety Awards! 🏆💙

We’re thrilled to announce the award winners and to share how they’re making a profound impact on our community.

Check out the thread below to see the champions that are transforming Toronto! 👇 pic.twitter.com/hSkvMuw8xl

— City of Toronto (@cityoftoronto) June 14, 2024

Community Safety Award Winners:

BAM Collective – #LetsEmpowerToronto: This community-driven response to gun violence in downtown neighborhoods integrates mental health workshops, art therapy, and job opportunities to empower youth and create safer environments.
Smile for Sache: Founded following the tragic loss of Abdulaziz Mohamed Dubet to gun violence, this organization promotes community-driven proactivity and positivity.
WST Foundation Wellness: A peer support network formed by racialized women to empower minority and marginalized families in Etobicoke.
Engaged Communities – Stars in the Night: This initiative addresses factors contributing to violence, with youth designers with lived experience acting as paid volunteers.
Friends from the Endz: A production house and multimedia collective that highlights stories from Toronto’s most resilient neighbourhoods, collaborating with vulnerable youth to provide a platform for their stories.
Y.A.A.A.C.E: Youth mentors run programs in schools and for newcomers, focusing on financial literacy, coding, postsecondary education, trades, and STEM. Workshops address decision-making, community violence, unity, education, poverty, and safety.

Honourable Mentions:

Silent Tears community space – community category
KDE mental health workshops – youth category
Oakwood Vaughan Oasis for Healthy Aging – senior category

Each award recipient received a commemorative certificate and a $1,500 award to support their innovative approaches to enhancing safety within their local communities.

The ceremony also introduced a new category to recognize seniors-led groups, acknowledging their contributions to reducing violence and supporting seniors who experience violence in Toronto.

These awards align with the goals of SafeTO, the City’s Community Safety & Well-Being Plan, which aims to engage residents, build community capacity, and strengthen collaboration.

For more information about the Mayor’s Community Safety Awards and a complete list of winners, visit the City’s website: Mayor’s Community Safety Awards.