Mayor Miller honours community safety projects at ninth annual safety awards

TORONTO, Nov. 22 /CNW/ - Mayor David Miller rewarded the efforts of five innovative grassroots projects at the ninth annual Mayor's Community Safety Awards event held at City Hall today. The Mayor was joined by Master of Ceremonies Hamlin Grange, President of DiversiPro Inc.; Jim Myers, Senior Vice President, Customer Service, Bell; Superintendent Jim Ramer, Community Mobilization, Toronto Police; Richardo Harvey, Toronto Youth Cabinet; Toronto residents and City staff to celebrate the award-winning projects.

"The 2010 award winners have provided us with innovative community safety ideas and models that make our safe city safer and can be adopted by neighbourhoods right across our city," said Mayor Miller. "Their inspiring efforts have made a difference in the lives of many Torontonians and they deserve to be celebrated."

The Mayor's Community Safety Awards were created by the City of Toronto's Community Safety Secretariat to recognize the work being done to help make Toronto a safer place to live, work, learn and play. Each of the winners was presented with a $1,000 cheque, sponsored by Bell, to help them continue the work they have started. This year's five winners are:

• Kingston/Galloway-Orton Park Youth Safety Audit
• Lead2Peace
• Mornelle Court Safety Walk Program
• Neptune Renewal Group (eNeRGy)
• 180 Change Street

More about the 2010 winners:

Kingston/Galloway-Orton Park Youth Safety Audit
Spearheaded by 20-year-old Doug Parker and a few local youth, a group of dedicated residents ranging from youth to seniors participated in numerous safety audits. By walking around their neighbourhood they identify safety hazards and concerns. They evaluate their findings over dinner and work together to solve the issues they have uncovered. This cross-generational, holistic approach to reducing violence effectively decreases isolation, builds community and makes people feel connected and safe in their neighbourhood.

Mornelle Court Safety Walk Program
Under the watchful eyes of local resident Angela Brackett and her team of dedicated volunteers, local children are chaperoned from Mornelle Court to and from school safely along an established walking route. The program ensures the children arrive on time, delivers all school-related correspondence to their parents and keeps the children away from negative influences.

Lead2Peace
This grassroots organization was created by five youth who wanted to help their peers in the Regent Park neighbourhood learn more about social issues and improve their personal health and well-being. Through an in-school program, participants were exposed to social issues and developed their own Service Learning projects to address them. Lead2Peace also started an after-school martial arts program that teaches dedication and discipline while improving both the mental and physical health of the children involved.

Neptune Renewal Group (eNeRGy)
eNeRGy is a grassroots group of women from the Neptune neighbourhood who, in response to serious safety issues, work together with their local city councillor, police and the City to address community needs, plan social events and develop solutions and ideas to help make their neighbourhood healthy, clean and safe.

180 Change Street
This 32-week transitional program is dedicated to inspiring positive change in youth who were incarcerated or are in conflict with the law. Growing out of the personal experience of Executive Director Samuel Egonu, 180 Change Street authentically tackles recidivism by equipping the participants with valuable life skills in a positive atmosphere that encourages personal growth and self improvement.

For more information about the Mayor's Community Safety Awards, including the past years' winners, visit http://www.toronto.ca/safetyawards.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents. For information about non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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