Milestones in Community Safety
Safety Awards and Best Practices

Milestones in Community Safety

METRAC pioneered the Women’s Safety Audit, in 1989, to address specific issues of safety affecting women. We have since adapted the audit process to a more inclusive community action tool to evaluate environments from the perspective of women and other groups who feel vulnerable to violence (e.g. seniors, newcomers, people living with disabilities).

In 1999, the City of Toronto’s Task Force on Community Safety recommended that METRAC’s Safety Audit Process be conducted in every neighbourhood.

As part of the Safe City Committee, METRAC developed safety standards for lighting and signage, which led to the establishment of important safety by-laws in the City of Toronto.

METRAC developed best practices to reduce violence and the fear of violence in underground garages, including guidelines on signage, lighting, painting, and exit route standards. These best practices have been implemented throughout the City of Toronto.

METRAC adapted its Safety Audit Process to meet the needs of youth and children. As a result, in 1999, The Toronto Star printed and circulated 465,000 copies of KidSafe: A Kid’s Guide to Community Safety, in its newspaper.

In 1992, METRAC partnered with the Council of Ontario Universities and Colleges to adapt our audit process into a Campus Safety Audit Guide, kit, and educational video on campus safety, Safer for Women, Safer for Everyone. These tools have laid the foundation of METRAC’s current Campus Safety Audit Services.

Inclusive programs have evolved from METRAC’s audit services such as “safe space” campaigns, which have been established on numerous campuses to enhance safety for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) staff and students.

METRAC’s campus safety audit services have also resulted in emergency system improvements on campuses to prevent and effectively respond to physical and sexual assaults.

Safety Awards and Best Practices

METRAC’s Safety Audit Process© was declared a Best Practice and Strategic Direction for 2008-2013 by the UN Habitat’s Safer Cities Campaign

METRAC’s Safety Audit Process© was profiled as a Vital Idea by the Toronto Community Foundation (2004)

METRAC became a finalist for the Canadian Urban Institute’s Urban Leadership Award, City Livability Category (2004)

METRAC’s Safety Audit Process© was formally adopted by the Council of Ontario Universities and Colleges (1992)

The THRIVE Coalition was granted Women’s College Hospital’s 20th Anniversary Sexual Assult/Domestic Violence Care Centre Community Partner Award (2004)