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TTC deploying 50 security guards, 20 community safety ambassadors

The TTC has updated its schedules to have an increased employee presence in the busiest areas during peak times.

Police cars surround a TTC streetcar on Spadina Ave. after a woman, 23, was stabbed in a random attack on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023.
Police cars surround a TTC streetcar on Spadina Ave. after a woman, 23, was stabbed in a random attack on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. Photo by Arlyn McAdorey /THE CANADIAN PRESS

The TTC is temporarily beefing up staff to improve safety for passengers and employees.

The transit system will temporarily deploy 50 security guards and 20 community safety ambassadors, the City of Toronto said in a release.

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“Community Safety Ambassadors work directly with people experiencing homelessness and liaise with the city’s Streets to Homes workers to provide outreach services,” the release said. “The outreach efforts focus on engaging with individuals experiencing homelessness to build trusting relationships, help address immediate needs and ultimately support the individuals in finding permanent housing.

“More than 50 security guards will be temporarily added across the system. The guards have daily experience dealing with underhoused people in crisis and have advanced training,” the city added.

The training include mental health first aid, overdose prevention, recognition, and response training, nonviolent crisis intervention, and de-escalation training to support TTC staff.

The TTC said it has updated its schedules to have an increased employee presence in the busiest areas during peak times.

“The TTC must be safe for everyone,” Mayor John Tory said. “At my urging, city officials have been working with the TTC to provide any required support to help keep our transit system safe. These immediate actions will help keep TTC employees and transit riders safe and the long-term work to keep our system and the entire city safe is continuing.”

The cty says it will work with the TTC to assist vulnerable people on the transit system to find shelter and connect to services.

“The safety of our customers and our employees remains our top priority,” TTC chairman Jon Burnside said. “Everyone should feel safe riding the TTC. We all know that solutions to these issues need to be multi-faceted. The ongoing collaboration with the City of Toronto is one more way we are addressing the security and safety challenges.”