By Dawar Naeem
Dawar Community Journalist Focus Media Arts Centre

The Safety working table of the Social Development Plan of Regent Park Celebrated the Safety Awareness day on the 30th

June 2022 to present Certificates to the Regent Park residents who participated and successfully completed the Safety Training Program. This event was in collaboration with Toronto Centre of Learning and Development, City of Toronto and Mothers of Peace, a grassroots organization in Regent Park. The Social Development Plan of Regent Park funded the whole program.

The goal of this program is to increase the capacity of TCH Regent Parkers to respond to crisis in their community, increase the confidence of Regent Parkers in actively getting involved in community building activities and events. The training focuses on nurturing Leadership, Advocacy and enabling the participants with Mental Health & Crisis response training.
 
Amanda Coombs, a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor was invited to conduct a workshop for the attendees. The theme of the workshop was Violence Risk and Suicide Prevention. The workshop provided information on how to deal with a mental health crisis situations appropriately.

Marci Ien, Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Youth presented the participants of the Safety Training Programs with certificates and acknowledged the work of various organizations and grassroots groups active in the Regent Park and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Light refreshments were available for all the attendees. The event took place at 150 River street, a TCH property. The Toronto Fire Department Representatives where also present at the event to provide information to the Regent Parkers regarding Safety.