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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
Safety Audit Report Card – Eglinton Ave. E., McCowan Rd., Trudelle St., Danforth Rd. (Ward 38) 2
Audit conducted on 15th
of March 2013
WALKABOUT PHOTO SUMMARY
Safety Audit Report Card – Eglinton Ave. E., McCowan Rd., Trudelle St., Danforth Rd. (Ward 38) 3
Audit conducted on 15th
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.
Safety Audit Report Card – Eglinton Ave. E., McCowan Rd., Trudelle St., Danforth Rd. (Ward 38) 4
Audit conducted on 15th
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
Safety Audit Report Card – Eglinton Ave. E., McCowan Rd., Trudelle St., Danforth Rd. (Ward 38) 5
Audit conducted on 15th
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.
Safety Audit Report Card – Eglinton Ave. E., McCowan Rd., Trudelle St., Danforth Rd. (Ward 38) 6
Audit conducted on 15th
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.
Safety Audit Report Card – Eglinton Ave. E., McCowan Rd., Trudelle St., Danforth Rd. (Ward 38) 7
Audit conducted on 15th
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.
Safety Audit Report Card – Eglinton Ave. E., McCowan Rd., Trudelle St., Danforth Rd. (Ward 38) 8
Audit conducted on 15th
of March 2013
One youth was approached and/or
stopped by the police, as part of an
investigation.
ACCESSIBILITY
Half of the participants (50%) stated
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.
Half of participants (50%) stated that
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.
Contact Councillor to
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
Safety Audit Report Card – Eglinton Ave. E., McCowan Rd., Trudelle St., Danforth Rd. (Ward 38) 9
Audit conducted on 15th
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.
Contact Councillor to
provide residents
with information
about the community
organizations and
services that are
available in the area.
TTC
Half of the participants (50%) stated
that TTC fares are affordable for them
and people in their community, while
the other half disagreed.
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
Safety Audit Report Card – Eglinton Ave. E., McCowan Rd., Trudelle St., Danforth Rd. (Ward 38) 10
Audit conducted on 15th
of March 2013
100% of the youth (100%) stated that
buses in the area are accessible.
A majority of participants (75%) stated
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.
A majority of participants (75%) stated
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.
Half of participants (50%) stated that
buses need to run later at night, while
the other half disagreed.
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
Safety Audit Report Card – Eglinton Ave. E., McCowan Rd., Trudelle St., Danforth Rd. (Ward 38) 11
Audit conducted on 15th
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.
Safety Audit Report Card – Eglinton Ave. E., McCowan Rd., Trudelle St., Danforth Rd. (Ward 38) 12
Audit conducted on 15th
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.)
Safety Audit Report Card – Eglinton Ave. E., McCowan Rd., Trudelle St., Danforth Rd. (Ward 38) 13
Audit conducted on 15th
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
Safety Audit Report Card – Eglinton Ave. E., McCowan Rd., Trudelle St., Danforth Rd. (Ward 38) 14
Audit conducted on 15th
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