ÐÓ°ÉPro

The Violence Prevention Toronto office is a collaborative, multi-sector initiative that brings together embedded staff and dedicated leads from the ÐÓ°ÉPro, City of Toronto, Toronto Police Service, Toronto Community Housing, Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), and a range of community partners to support safety and student well-being.

During the past year, the Systems Navigation portfolio focused on strengthening school and system capacity to support safety, well-being, and equitable student engagement through four key initiatives.

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Joint Back to School Safety SymposiumÌý

In August,Ìýthe 2025ÌýSafety Symposium convened over 900 school administrators, professional support staff, community partners and dedicated leads from the City of Toronto, Toronto DistrictÌýSchoolÌýBoard, TorontoÌýCatholicÌýDistrictÌýSchoolÌýBoard, TorontoÌýPoliceÌýServices, TorontoÌýTransitÌýCommission, and TorontoÌýCommunityÌýHousingÌýto deepen understanding of safety protocols and collaborative problem-solving amongÌýschools and communities.Ìý

Sessions exploredÌýintegrated approaches to threat assessment, trauma-informed practice, and culturally responsive engagement with students and families. There was a featured Youth Panel discussion which centred a diverse range of student voices about ways to ensure increased student safety both in schools and in the community.Ìý

Overall, the symposium strengthened collaborative networks between local police divisions and community partners to enhance student engagement opportunities in addressing complex safety and well-being concerns prior to the start of the school year.

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Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) Training

In partnership with the Violence Prevention Toronto Office, Systems Navigation expanded VTRA training to include TDSB system administrators and advisors. This training enhanced system capacity to recognize early warning signs, conduct multidisciplinary assessments, and coordinate timely interventions.Ìý

As a result, five Caring & Safe Schools Administrators and Advisors are completing Level 1 and Level 2 Violence Threat Risk Assessment Training to provide support to the entire district.

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Restorative Practice Training for Administrators

To promote relational leadership and safe, inclusive school environments, a one-day session Restorative Practice session was launched for school administrators in the Spring of 2025. Leaders engaged in practical strategies for restorative conversations, circles, and reintegration processes, reinforcing the goals in theÌýBoard’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan and commitment to empathy, accountability, and safety. The goals for the professional learning were to:

· investigate traditional disciplinary interventions in the context of building a positive school climate;

· introduce and engage with applications and strategies to entrench Restorative Practice into your school culture

· investigate four domains of professional practice and their persistent outcomes and discuss the role of fair process in enhancing trusting relationships.

Approximately fifty administrators across the district completed the one-day professional learning session and received micro credit acknowledgment. While future requests have been made by staff and administrators for more restorative practice training for educators, administrators, and support staff, this year’s professional learning focused on:

• investigating traditional disciplinary interventions in the context of building a positive school climate;
• introducing and engaging with applications and strategies to entrench Restorative Practice into school culture;Ìý
• investigating four domains of professional practice and their persistent outcomes and discussing the role of fair process in enhancing trusting relationships.Ìý

Community Safety Fairs

In June 2025, two large-scale Community Safety Fairs were held. The east end held the Scarborough Community Fair, and in the west end of the city, the Grandravine Community Safety Fair was organized in partnership with three local schools – Driftwood P.S., Yorkwoods P.S. and Oakdale Park Middle school. Both events drew more than 700 participants and included community partners, student performers and presentations, as well as robotics demonstrations from David & Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute.

Both events brought together community partners, student performers and presenters. There were even robotics demonstrations from David & Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute. The City of Toronto’s Summer Safety Plan Guide was also launched at these gatherings, further reinforcing our collective focus on youth-centred prevention and safety.

The events offered meaningful opportunities for students and families to access safety resources and engage directly with local supports. This work further demonstrates the strength of multi-sector collaboration and the central role that schools play in building safer communities and positive outcomes for young people.