Fairview Mall Community Hub Opens
A 33 Division community hub has opened in Fairview Mall that will allow officers to engage with community members, build greater trust and foster relationships.
“It is also a place where we can share crime prevention tips and strategies and host initiatives like ‘Lock it or Lose it’ which help prevent auto-related thefts or promote road safety,” said Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue at the launch on January 27.
“We know that police presence matters and that good policing is built on strong connections. We know that sometimes when people have safety concerns or questions, they may feel hesitant about approaching a police car or walking into a station,” Pogue said. “A community hub like the one we are opening today makes our officers more accessible and approachable, whether it is our Crime Prevention officers, Neighbourhood officers, Auxiliary officers or other police units.”
Pogue thanked Fairview mall management and security staff for their continued partnership and for offering a space to make the initiative possible.
Brian O’Horski, Cadillac Fairview’s (CF) Vice-President of Operations, said his company is dedicated to making strategic investments that drive and grow innovation while ensuring the safety and security of communities.
“This opening is an example of that commitment,” he said. “Over the years, CF has launched similar community safety hubs at retail centres across the country. At CF, we are proud to have strong relationships with the Toronto Police Service. We are thrilled to continue this longstanding partnership with TPS.”
Toronto Police Service Board Chair Shelley Carroll said that 33 Division, in which the hub is located, is the model of community policing.
“Anyone who lives in this Division knows that our police are really community driven,” said the city councillor, who is the ward representative. “By ensuring safety in and around Fairview Mall and throughout the areas around it, they have been the embodiment of what we want community policing to be throughout the city.”
Superintendent Donovan Locke and his team conceived the idea for the new hub which will allow officers to interact with the community in a non-law enforcement role and build trust.
“It was a collective idea,” said the Division’s Unit Commander. “We had a vision concerning the modernization of community policing when I came here two years ago. This was about leveraging a relationship with a longstanding partner and listening to the community. They wanted to have something where they could learn and be educated. We took full advantage of that and came up with the idea using a holistic approach.”
The hub, which will operate during mall hours for community programs, is not a police station. It will function as a direct way for the community to contact the police and share their concerns close to home.
To learn more about events at the Hub, you can visit the 33 Division webpage.