As we remember this success, we must also remember the hard work that drove it. The Encampment Office and their interdepartmental team worked around the clock to match people in Allan Gardens with the life saving supports that were needed. The encampment was resolved not by force, but by providing access to housing or indoor shelter accommodations to everyone in the encampment who needed it.
This was all possible due to the encampment protocol my council colleagues and I passed earlier this year. The strategy has since resolved the Clarence Park encampment in Ward 10 and, recently, the Moss Park encampment here in Ward 13. Encampments that have been resourced with an Enhanced Outreach Model—which I am proud to say was piloted in Allan Gardens—have been successful.
While I am celebrating the wins, there are other encampments in Toronto Centre that are, as of writing, still not resolved. The opening of the Better Living Centre as a seasonal shelter has provided an additional 300 indoor spaces until the first week of April - an extension from last year. These additional spots will allow us to move folks indoors and hopefully allow the City to resolve the encampments at St. James Park and Trinity Square Park..
It is wonderful that the City’s winter service plan will create hundreds of indoor spaces during the colder months, but we know that the summer will come again. We will require more permanent shelter space, affordable housing and supportive housing to meaningfully address the housing and homelessness crisis.
A Note on the Sacred Fire Program in Allan Gardens
The Sacred Fire program in Allan Gardens is currently paused. This decision was made due to the complications arising from the permitting of the space. It was originally intended to be a shared space for First Nations, Inuit or Métis community members to gather but has since become the site of an ongoing protest that has limited access to the wider community. There are no unhoused individuals living in the Sacred Fire Tipis.
I am keenly aware of the ongoing bylaw infractions at the site, especially as it pertains to noise. I have asked Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the Indigenous Affairs Office to resolve this issue in a way that respects the rights and traditions of our Indigenous communities–including the right to protest–while also ensuring that the needs and concerns of all residents are taken into account. In terms of Bylaw Enforcement, Municipal Licensing and Standards is the responsible body. If you notice bylaw infractions such as music playing overnight, I urge you to call 311 to report them.
The City's Indigenous Affairs Office is managing the Sacred Fire Program, and they are committed to aligning it with the City's Reconciliation Action Plan, which seeks to honor and respect the rights and traditions of First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities. If you have further questions or need more detailed information about the Sacred Fire Program, I encourage you to contact the Indigenous Affairs Office directly at [email protected]. They are best equipped to provide comprehensive insights and updates on the program.
