Regent Park Safety Network Champions Community Connections, Harm Reduction, and Public Spaces

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 The Regent Park Social Development Plan (RPSDP) Network’s Safety Working Group, also known as the Regent Park Safety Network (RPSN), convened on June 22, 2026, for its monthly meeting.

Facilitated by RPSN Co-Chair Leonard Swartz, the session brought together community organizations, residents, and public agencies to discuss neighbourhood safety, share vital updates, and confront complex local challenges by prioritizing community cohesion over heavy-handed enforcement.

A major focal point of the meeting was the evolving nature of local safety. Representatives from the Toronto Police Service noted that while many municipal resources are currently focused on FIFA-related traffic management in Toronto’s downtown core, Regent Park has remained relatively quiet.

However, frontline realities quickly shifted the conversation toward health and social support. Anthony Lamanna, representing the City's Community Safety Unit (CSU), highlighted a recent public health warning regarding a spike in drug overdoses. He urged residents to utilize local resources, such as the Toronto Drug Checking Service and accessible naloxone kits, emphasizing that substance use must be treated as a health crisis.

The dialogue also touched upon the provincial Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hub model, noting a newly introduced hub on Parliament Street designed to provide voluntary support for unhoused individuals seeking recovery.

Meanwhile, Chance Grandmaison from the Violence Intervention and Support Unit (VISU) noted that the unit is currently preparing its summer safety project planning to maintain low violence rates. Violence Intervention & Support Unit (formerly Community Crisis Response Program) works across Toronto providing support and resources to communities impacted by violent and traumatic incidents. By providing immediate supports, VISU mobilizes local resources to address individual/group needs, coordinates community debriefings and facilitates information sharing.

Amidst these safety discussions, participants celebrated new community opportunities while rallying to protect old traditions. Felicia Whyte from Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) announced the launch of the new Local Initiative Funding for Tenants (LIFT) program for TCH residents, which allocates funding to support resident-led initiatives such as community barbecues, gardening projects, financial literacy workshops, and other community-building events.

Conversely, residents expressed deep concern that the long-running "Sunday in the Park" celebration has not yet secured funding for this year, describing the uncertainty as a significant loss for the neighbourhood. Brandy Skinner, Regent Park Social Development Plan Network's Admin Coordinator, announced that a funding committee is actively pursuing grants and funds to revive the event, drawing immediate offers of ally-ship from TCHC and MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam’s office.

The most resonant portion of the meeting centred on the preservation of public spaces. Responding to concerns regarding public intoxication near the big park’s bake oven, long-time resident Mandy offered a vital perspective, urging participants to humanize vulnerable neighbours. She noted that historical communal spaces have vanished due to ongoing revitalization, leaving many old-time residents and seniors without backyards or balconies to socialize.

"We historically had so much space. I would hate to see tenants lose space and be pushed back and isolated," Mandy stated, emphasizing that these gatherings often foster mutual support, care, and a sense of belonging.

Affirming this empathetic approach, Anthony from the CSU noted that modern neighbourhood community officers are leaning into an updated policing model—focusing on relationship-building, safety checks, and rapport over automatic enforcement.

By blending health-focused harm reduction, newly announced tenant funding, and a fierce commitment to preserving local gathering traditions, the RPSN demonstrated that a safer Regent Park is built through structural inclusion, not social isolation.

The RPSN will take a brief hiatus for the summer months; the next monthly meeting is scheduled to take place in September. For more information regarding the safety network and the broader Regent Park Social Development Plan network, residents and partners are encouraged to log on to www.rpsdpnetwork.ca



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