Durham Region continues to implement Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan

Whitby, Ontario – Durham Region is committed to working toward the community safety and well-being of all community members through implementation of the Durham Region CSWB Plan.

Community safety and well-being describes a place where everyone feels safe and has a sense of belonging, and where individuals and families’ needs are met for education, health care, food, housing, income, as well as social and cultural expression.

The CSWB Plan involves approaching service delivery in an integrated manner by working across a range of sectors, agencies and organizations. Durham’s CSWB Plan identifies the priority risk factors in the region; the programs, strategies and resources needed to address those priority risk factors; and measurable outcomes to track the effectiveness of the Plan. The CSWB Plan also presents action items and a short-term path to implementation.

As the CSWB Plan moves toward implementation, the Region and Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) has engaged the public through workshops held with community organizations from different sectors, and service delivery agents, to understand how to collectively work together to create the type of community we want to live in. Workshops provided an opportunity for partners to network and share current community safety and well-being related initiatives underway or planned; to create a shared vision and identify collective actions that we can implement together as a community. Further information on the outcomes of these workshops will be shared at a later date.

Consultations with Durham Region residents are in the planning stages. For more information about the plan and to subscribe for project updates including upcoming consultation dates, visit durham.ca/CSWBplan.

Community safety and well-being includes addressing priority areas on many fronts at the same time. The Government of Canada is partnering with Durham Region to support local initiatives that support vulnerable community members to prevent gun and gang violence. This partnership will help address the underlying conditions that give rise to these crimes.

As the Region of Durham continues to grow, the CSWB Plan will be reviewed and updated. The CSWB Plan is a living document, designed to be responsive and flexible to community needs.

Quotes

“The safety and well-being of the Durham Region community is our top priority. It is encouraging to see the community coming together to tackle these challenging issues and to see the progress made to date to move toward implementing the CSWB Plan so that we can collectively build a community where everyone can feel safe and that they belong.”

- John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer, The Regional Municipality of Durham

“Our vision for Durham Region is a healthy, prosperous community for all. The work completed to date on the CSWB Plan strengthens the Region’s vision by aligning the actions and outcomes of the plan with our vision of a safe community where everyone can succeed.”

- Elaine Baxter-Trahair, Chief Administrative Officer, The Regional Municipality of Durham

“Teamwork and collaboration are key to developing a strong CSWB Plan. The strategies and frameworks being developed in the plan should reflect the diverse voices found in the Region of Durham. I am excited to see the plan come to life and make a difference for those living in our communities.”

- Peter Moreira, Chief of Police, Durham Regional Police Service

Quick Facts

• The online Community Safety and Well-Being Information Hub contains Durham Region’s CSWB Plan. The goal of the hub is to help get the right services to the right people at the right time.
• The GTHA Community Safety and Well-Being Symposium provided an opportunity for community partners and local GTHA municipalities to learn from one another; to continue the conversation on action for improved community safety and well-being in the GTHA and to work collaboratively to raise awareness about priority risk areas. These conversations will help to inform the implementation of Durham Region’s CSWB Plan.

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For media requests, please contact CorporateCommunications@durham.ca.