SafeTO Violence Prevention Symposium: Advancing Community Safety in Toronto
The inaugural SafeTO Violence Prevention Symposium, a pivotal event in Toronto’s ongoing efforts to enhance community safety and well-being, took place over three significant days from September 18th to 20th, 2024, at the esteemed Centennial College’s Progress Campus in Scarborough.
Symposium Overview:
The symposium, a gathering of diverse minds and perspectives, aimed to comprehensively understand the current state of violence reduction work in Toronto. It brought together a wide range of community organizations, policymakers, academics, and other stakeholders to discuss community safety and well-being.
Key focus areas of the symposium included:
1. Social determinants of health and equity
2. Violence prevention and intervention strategies
3. Data-driven approaches to community safety
4. Multi-sector collaboration for innovative practices
TO Wards Peace’s Involvement:
As a key initiative in Toronto’s violence prevention strategy, TO Wards Peace played a pivotal role in the symposium and shared experiences and insights on:
- Implementing a risk-driven, multi-sectoral model for violence prevention
- Successful strategies for violence interruption and intervention
- Collaboration efforts with community groups, local organizations, and health centers
- Effective youth engagement and empowerment programs
Partners:
The recent Safe TO Symposium marked a pivotal moment for TO Wards Peace (TWP) as it brought
together partners from both Northwest and Scarborough for the first time. This collaborative event
provided an invaluable platform for grassroots organizations to share insights into the impactful work they do within their communities.
A key highlight was the panel discussion on leveraging social media as a tool for violence prevention.
Partners shared innovative strategies using digital platforms to engage youth, promote positive
messaging and build safer communities. TWP Partners presented the program’s Three Methods of
Engagement and highlighted how essential each pillar of TWP’s community centric, trauma-informed approach to violence intervention, prevention and interruption.
Symposium Goals:
The event had several key objectives:
1. Grounding participants in the current state of violence reduction work in Toronto
2. Fostering engagement among diverse stakeholders
3. Showcasing innovative practices that enhance community safety and well-being data-driven approaches to inform strategies
5. Promoting multi-sector collaboration for comprehensive solutions
Impact and Outcomes:
The SafeTO Violence Prevention Symposium served as a crucial platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration among Toronto’s community safety stakeholders. It reinforced the city’s commitment to the SafeTO: Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, emphasizing a holistic approach to violence prevention and community well-being.
For TO Wards Peace and other participating organizations, the symposium provided an invaluable opportunity to contribute to the ongoing dialogue on creating a safer Toronto. Participants shared best practices, explored innovative strategies, and strengthened partnerships across sectors. The event’s impact was profound, leading to the development of new approaches and the enhancement of existing ones.
The outcomes were promising, with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to advancing community safety and well-being. This symposium marked a significant milestone in Toronto’s journey towards becoming a trauma-informed city, with TO Wards Peace playing a pivotal role in these efforts, showcasing its leadership in violence prevention and intervention.
