Program highlights:
- Developed safety best practice standards for lights, signs and underground garages
- Worked with Toronto Transit Commission and supported development of Designated Waiting Areas, the Request Stop Program, transparent bus shelters, emergency intercoms and mechanisms to reduce harassment
- 1989: pioneered the first Women’s Safety Audit
- 1992: partnered with the Council of Ontario Universities and Colleges to create a Campus Safety Audit Guide and related resources
- 1999: the City of Toronto’s Task Force on Community Safety recommended that METRAC’s Community Safety Audit be conducted in every neighbourhood
- 1999: created KidSafe: A Kid’s Guide to Community Safety, 465,000 copies of which were circulated by The Toronto Star
- 2004: METRAC's Community Safety Audit declared a Vital Idea by The Toronto Community Foundation
- 2008: METRAC’s Community Safety Audit is deemed a best practice in the UN-HABITAT’s Safer Cities Campaign (2008-2013)
Tower Renewal Project
Through the Tower Renewal Project, high-rise buildings are being retrofitted to promote energy efficiency and strong community. Over 100 adult and youth residents in 4 neighbourhoods were trained to conduct METRAC’s Community Safety Audit in their buildings and surrounding areas. Neighbourhood Safety Report Cards will be created from audit findings to support resident safety action plans.
Pushed (back) into the Closet Project
Funded by Community One Foundation, this project assessed public safety needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, and two-spirited (LGBTTIQQ2S) women and trans communities. It was carried out in partnership with 519 Church Street Community Centre’s Anti-Violence Program.
Pushed (Back) Into the Closet research findings: PDF (415 KB)
Girls for Safer Communities Project
Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada received funding from Status of Women Canada to partner with METRAC and launch Girls for Safer Communities. The project focuses on leadership, community involvement and safety for girls and women. Community Safety Audits for girls will be developed and Pathfinders and Rangers will be trained to lead younger girls in conducting their own audits.
Press release about Girls for Safer Communities: PDF (27 KB)
Steps in a Community Safety Audit | Request a Safety Audit training or speaker
METRAC’s Community Safety Audit is a tool to help people assess the safety of spaces they use. It has been utilized to assess neighbourhoods, housing units, apartment buildings, parks, parking lots and garages. It is based on perspectives of people who live, work and play in an area and on the fact that they are safety experts of the area. It recognizes that women and other vulnerable groups most often feel unsafe and it helps people to come up with safety-enhancing ideas. The Community Safety Audit creates an opportunity for women and other individuals to share their experiences; helps people talk about their concerns and ideas for reducing violence; and considers how violence affects people based on their identities.
Steps in a Community Safety Audit
- Attend a METRAC Safety Audit Training Session. Check the upcoming page to find out when our next Safety Audit training will be or book a training session for members of your community. Everyone who attends a training will get a Community Safety Audit Kit.
- Organize a Safety Audit group in your neighbourhood to do an audit.
- Choose a date, place and time for the audit.
- Conduct the Safety Audit in your neighbourhood. Conduct it after dark to identify lighting problems.
- Collect and send Safety Audit results to METRAC. We will create a Neighbourhood Safety Report Card based on the findings, which includes information on follow-up and action.
- Discuss Neighbourhood Safety Report Card results with your group and implement a plan of action based upon it.
METRAC’s Community Safety Audit Kit is available in multiple languages (English, simplified Chinese, French, Punjabi, Spanish, and Tamil). Order it from the resources page.
Community Safety Audit brochure: PDF (190 KB)
Why Safety for Women and Marginalized Groups?: PDF (138 KB)
Audit Follow-Up fact sheet: PDF (113 KB)
Contact: 416-397-0258 | assistant@metrac.org
We provide trainings to raise awareness about safety, teach how to conduct audits and build the safety capacity of individuals and communities. Content is tailored to the needs of participants. We incorporate equity and inclusion practices into trainings. We also provide speakers for presentations and conferences.
In an analysis of feedback from 69 training participants in 2008, the following outcomes were found. On a scale of 1-10, 93% of participants rated the training session 7 or higher. The average rating was 8.28 and the median value was 8. Of participants who answered the question, “Do you feel prepared to conduct an audit?", 94% said "yes" or "somewhat".
Training topics
| How to conduct a Community Safety Audit Addresses steps to conducting an audit and safety issues relevant to women and marginalized groups. | 3 hours, $375 fee |
| Youth Safety Audits Helps youth discuss and take action on safety in their neighbourhoods, schools, community centres and buildings. Participants share experiences, explore how power imbalances lead to unsafety and learn how to use METRAC's Community Safety Audit. A certificate of completion is provided to participants. As follow-up, participants can conduct an audit themselves or request support to do an audit up to 4 weeks after being trained. Audit results are then returned and a report on findings and safety recommendations is provided. | You will be contacted about length and fee |
Request a Safety Audit training or speaker
To request safety training or workshop, fill out the request form online or print and return to us.
Safety Audit training and speaker request form: online
Neighbourhood Safety Report Cards have been developed from the results of Community Safety Audits conducted in the City of Toronto.
| Ward 1 Etobicoke North | RJ Smith Apartment Buildings Report Card (August 18-31, 2009): PDF (155 KB) |
| Ward 2 Etobicoke North | Tandridge Crescent Report Card (November 10, 2009): PDF (160 KB) |
| Ward 6 Etobicoke-Lakeshore | Long Branch Report Card (November 6, 2006): PDF (219 KB) |
| Ward 11 York South Weston | Weston-Mt. Dennis Report Card (April 9, 2008): PDF (311 KB) |
| Ward 14 Parkdale-High Park South | King Street West and Jameson Avenue Report Card (April 22, 2008): PDF (313 KB) |
| Ward 15 Eglinton-Lawrence | Lotherton Pathway (Lawrence Avenue West-Caledonia Road) Report Card (September 30, 2009): PDF (165 KB) |
| Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina | Christie-Ossington Report Card (October 29, 2007): PDF (274 KB) |
| Ward 21 St. Paul’s (West) | Bathurst Street and St. Clair Avenue West Report Card (July 16, 2009): PDF (181 KB) |
| Ward 24 Willowdale North | Leslie Street and Finch Avenue East Report Card (October 24, 2008): PDF (243 KB)Sparrow Ways (Leslie Street and Finch Avenue East) Report Card (June 1, 2010): PDF (403 KB) |
| Ward 26 Don Valley West | Flemingdon Park Report Card (June 16, 2007): PDF (321 KB) |
| Ward 27 Toronto Centre-Rosedale | Allan Gardens Report Card (October 26, 2007): PDF (322 KB)Church Street and Wellesley Street East Report Card (October 15, 2008): PDF (170 KB)Gerrard Street East and Parliament Street Report Card (January 29, 2008): PDF (326 KB)Yonge Street and Bloor Street Report Card (April 28, 2008): PDF (267 KB) |
| Ward 30 Toronto-Danforth | Leslieville Report Card (March 22, 2007): PDF(243 KB) |
| Ward 37 Scarborough Centre | Victoria Park Avenue and Eglinton Avenue East Report Card (November 13, 2008): PDF (132 KB) |
| Ward 40 Scarborough Agincourt (South) | Dorset Park (Dundalk Drive and Glamorgan Avenue) Report Card (May 31, 2010): PDF (205 KB) |
Campus Safety Audits | Organizational and workplace Safety Audits
For over 15 years, METRAC has worked to build safety in neighbourhoods, workplaces, institutions, building sites and campuses. We examine all levels of a space – the physical and social environment, policies and practices, services and resources – and create recommendations to improve safety. Input of space users is integral, and we incorporate perspectives of women and other vulnerable groups. We are pleased to work with partners to tailor services to meet their needs.
Audits processes incorporate background research and fact-finding, a policy and practice review, training, audit “walkabouts” and development of safety recommendations. Our institutional audits incorporate an analysis of current best practices and relevant legislation such as Bill 168 on workplace violence and harassment.
Contact: 416-392-3137 | safety@metrac.org
Campus Safety Audits
METRAC has conducted Safety Audits on many campuses across Canada, including Centennial College; Queen’s University;St. Thomas University; University of Guelph; University of New Brunswick; University of Toronto; Women’s College Hospital (Toronto); WoodGreen Community Centre; and York University. Campus audits integrate the feedback, needs, concerns and ideas of diverse campus space users and stakeholders, such as students, staff, educators and administrators.
Campus Safety Audit Services package: PDF (418 KB)
Organizational and workplace Safety Audits
METRAC has conducted Safety Audits with many workplaces and organizations, including Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto); New York Transit; Prisoners HIV/AIDS Support Action Network; Royal Bank of Canada; Talisker Corporation; Toronto General Hospital; Toronto Transit Commission; Women’s College Hospital (Toronto); and WoodGreen Community Centre.
The Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children
Phone 416-392-3135 | Fax 416-392-3136 | info@metrac.org
Charitable Registration Number 1300 69123 RR0001
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