Updates From the SDP Network’s Safety Working Group

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The Regent Park Social Development Plan (SDP) Network’s Safety Working Group, also known as the Regent Park Safety Network (RPSN) is one of the four working groups of the SDP Network, The Safety Network, facilitated monthly by co-chairs, Leonard Swartz and Ina Labauschagen, brings together key agencies and community stakeholders who are working in the area of safety including the Toronto Police Service, Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Community Housing Community Safety Unit and elected representatives.

At the March 16, 2026, monthly meeting of the Safety Working Group, Leonard Holder, the District Chief of Toronto Fire Services highlighted important fire safety issues, with a strong focus on the risks associated with e-bikes. Residents were advised not to store e-bikes inside residential units due to the potential dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries. According to Leonard even lithium-ion batteries on cell phones can be hazardous. Fire officials noted that clearer policies and guidelines are currently being developed to promote awareness and help residents store these devices safely.

TCHC Community Safety Unit representative Anthony Lamanna raised concerns about a recent spike in opioid-related overdoses across Toronto’s downtown core, including the presence of dangerous substances such as veterinary-grade narcotics. In response, community members highlighted available resources, including overdose awareness and response training sessions held on the last Tuesday of each month at the Regent Park Community Health Centre.

The March 16, 2026, meeting ended with residents raising concerns around Pride Month safety and hate-related incidents. Sergeant Rob Chevalier, a representative of police service, encouraged members to report these incidents as police takes these concerns seriously and will send police officers to
investigate. At the April 20, 2026, monthly meeting of the Safety Working Group, Sergeant Rob Chevalier, shared the latest crime statistics from 51 Division related to Regent Park. According to the update, crime levels from January to April 2026, are trending downwards compared to the same period last year.

Accordingly, Regent Park is in good shape, say’s Rob. Rob reported that there has been no shootings in Regent Park in 2026. Last year there was 2. Robbery in Regent Park is down 60%, however there has been 11 Break and Enters, which is up 37% from last year. There has been 42 assaults in Regent Park
which is a decrease of 2.3%. Unfortunately there has been 3 Sexual Assaults which is up from last year. There has been 2 auto thefts in Regent Park which is down from 3 or 4 last year.

Rob also reported that Regent Park is now fully staffed with Neighbourhood Community Officers (NCO’s). Officers Yasmin Aziz and Alexander Maj introduced themselves to the network and talked about their motivations for becoming NCO’s.

The April meeting ended with discussion around doing a Safety audit of the
community.

By Dawar Naeem

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