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Toronto is marking a major shift in public safety—one rooted in care, not enforcement. On Tuesday, July 8th, city leaders, frontline workers, and community organizations gathered at the YWCA Toronto auditorium to celebrate one year since the city-wide expansion of the Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS).

Fred Alvarado – Local Journalism Initiative

TCCS is Toronto’s fourth emergency service and was created to respond to mental health crises without relying on police. In its first year, the program has responded to over 29,000 calls, dispatched more than 23,000 mobile crisis teams, and resolved 78% of 911-transferred calls without police involvement.

The event, titled Beyond the Call, opened with an African ancestral ceremony and a traditional Indigenous prayer—honouring the cultural roots of healing. Deputy City Manager Denise Andrea Campbell and Executive Director of Social Development Mohamed Shuriye offered reflections on the program’s growth and success.

Five Community Anchor Partners—TAIBU Community Health Centre, 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations, Gerstein Crisis Centre, CMHA Toronto, and Findhelp | 211—shared the impact of their collaboration.

Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik spoke in support of expanding this model of compassionate care. For residents in Regent Park and across Toronto’s Downtown East, TCCS is more than a service—it’s a lifeline grounded in dignity, community, and trust.