Unity in Our Community Prayer Walk

For the first time, Toronto Police Service members and faith leaders simultaneously walked in every Division in the city on April 11. “I am happy to be participating in this interfaith initiative to promote spiritual support, prayer, peace and reconciliation,” said Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue, who joined Toronto Police Chaplain Wendell Gibbs in the 52 Division walk from Yonge & Dundas Square to First Baptist Church. “Happening across every Division in our city, the Toronto Police is committed to fostering our partnerships with faith leaders to promote our collective commitment to community safety and well being for all Toronto communities.” Established in 1826, First Toronto Baptist Church is the oldest Black institution in Toronto and the oldest in Ontario. Gibbs, who has been part of pastoral networks for the last 25 years, is the church’s Pastor. “We have a city, nation and world that is experiencing unrest,” he said. “We want the faith community that has probably the most possibility of sharing what it means to be peaceful, forgiving, gracious and loving group to help build that bridge. “By walking hand in hand with law enforcement, we want to show that humanity needs to get back to a place of togetherness, tolerance, patience and unity.” During the walks, groups stopped to pray. The inter-faith initiative theme is ‘Unity in Our Community’.