Regional Council endorses Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan

Whitby, Ontario – Durham Region Council has endorsed the new Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Plan. In accordance with provincial legislation, the plan will now be submitted to the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General and posted online. 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 bodies to address those priority risk factors; and measurable outcomes to track the effectiveness of the plan. The plan also presents action items and a short-term implementation plan. The CSWB Plan calls upon different sectors, institutions, and service delivery agents to share in the collective responsibility of creating the type of community we want to live in.

The newly developed online Community Safety and Well-Being Information Hub contains Durham Region’s first CSWB Plan, and resources to support the purpose and outcomes of the plan. The goal of the hub is to help get the right services to the right people at the right time.

The online information hub includes:

• CSWB Plan
• Interactive Map: Community Amenities and Services
• Searchable Program and Strategy Catalogue
• Link to Durham 211
• CSWB Plan Data Dashboard

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.

To access the plan, for more information about the plan or to subscribe for project updates, please visit durham.ca/CSWBplan.

Quotes

“On behalf of Durham Regional Council, I am proud of the Region’s first Community Safety and Well-Being Plan. This plan serves as a call to action for our leaders in Durham to work together to improve the lives of people and businesses in our community. It envisions a place where everyone feels safe and has a sense of belonging. Through the implementation of this plan, we can ensure Durham remains a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

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

“The Region’s first Community Safety and Well-Being Plan will serve to connect local plans and strategies, communities, people and efforts across jurisdictions and community partners. This plan brings together Durham’s resilient not-for-profit organizations, service providers and businesses to achieve the common goal of a healthy, vibrant, and prosperous region. The strength of this plan rests with the depths of its partnerships, strong leaders and vibrant communities.” 

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

“The Durham Regional Police Service provides a critical role in protecting the welfare of our citizens. Each and every day our officers put their own well-being at risk in making our Region a safe place to live, work and play, but community safety is a shared responsibility of many community resources across many sectors. The Community Safety and Well-Being Plan provides the vital framework to improve the co-ordination, communication and collaboration needed to meet this common mission of a safe and supportive community for all.”

- Todd Rollauer, Chief of Police, Durham Regional Police Service

Quick Facts

• Across the province, communities have developed CSWB Plans. The Police Services Act requires the CSWB Plan to be developed in partnership with Durham Regional Police Service and in collaboration with local area municipalities, community partners and the public.
• A CSWB Plan involves approaching service delivery in an integrated manner by working across a range of sectors, agencies, and organizations; assisting partners whose mandate is focused on community safety and well-being.
• The Region of Durham began work on the CSWB Plan before the pandemic. A comprehensive data review was undertaken using several data sources. A public survey was held pre-pandemic, and a second survey and virtual open houses were held earlier this year. Results from the community engagement determined the following priorities to be addressed by the plan: mental health, substance use, homelessness and basic needs, criminal involvement, victimization, social isolation and experiences of racism.

– 30 – 

For media inquiries, please contact Corporate Communications.