Unifying with Faith Community

By Ron Fanfair

Ron Fanfair

Writer/Photographer

42 Division
52 Division

Led by Chief Myron Demkiw, Toronto Police Service officers joined interfaith leaders and community members in Prayer Walks across the city on October 24.

“We are doing this walk so we can focus on unity so that we can protect our communities, so we can heal in our communities and so we can have a sense of safety and security in our communities that we all so wish we deserve and want,” he said.

Group standing with a
Community members joined in the Prayer Walk Photo: Brent Smyth

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow joined TPS Chaplain Wendell Gibbs and Demkiw for the walk in 52 Division.

“We do have hope because of this showing of faith in action,” Chow said. “Every step of the walk is a step towards peace, more compassion and empathy. Through unity in purpose, we are stronger together.”

Group of people walking, including police officers
Chief Myron Demkiw and Mayor Olivia Chow led the way during the walk Photo: Brent Smyth

Inspector Richard Harris and Neighbourhood Community Officers led the walk in 42 Division.

“This is one of the many opportunities we have not only to celebrate faith, but the coming together of community members at our Division,” he said.

Jason Levy, the Lead Pastor at the Philadelphia Seventh-day Adventist Church, led the group in prayer before the walk through the Malvern community.

“It is important for the religious community to show solidarity with law enforcement,” he said. “I was assigned to another church during 2005 and saw first-hand the need for law enforcement and faith leaders to come together and be on the same page,” he said of the year, that saw a spike in shootings and homicides. “If not, our communities can unravel.”

Group standing together in a parking lot
Pastor Jason Levy leads the 42 Division group in prayer before the walk. Photo: Ron Fanfair

Pastor Peck Uy, of the Friends of Jesus Christ Church Canada, brought some members of his congregation to the walk.

“We need some peace in this community, and what better to try to work to achieve that than joining hands with police and community members,” he added.  

Every month for the last 19 years, Toronto Police Officers in 23 Division and Black faith leaders have walked through Etobicoke, meeting community members and engaging them in prayer.

Led by Andrew King and Carmen Lewis, the Etobicoke Strategy is now implemented in every Division across the city.

“Thank you for bringing us together in faith so that we can be united as a community,” Demkiw told the faith leaders.

Last April, officers and faith leaders walked in the TPS 16 Divisions.

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