RESIDENTS RECLAIMING THEIR NEIGHBOURHOOD

Community Wants To Keep Out Drug Dealers And Unwanted Solicitors

Local neighbours living in the Oakwood Avenue and Vaughan Road area
recently banded together to form a group with one primary mandate - to
reclaim their community from the drug dealers and unwanted solicitors.

"People were disgusted that they couldn't get past the corner without
feeling intimidated," said Tamara Massey, one of about 10 members
forming the 5 Points Community Action Committee just last year. "I
wanted my neighbourhood back."

But it wasn't easy, admitted Massey, who moved into the neighbourhood
two years ago, adding it took a well-co-ordinated effort to get all
the key players within the community involved.

First, they approached local Ward 15 Councillor Howard Moscoe
(Eglinton-Lawrence), who informed the newly formed group of the city's
Clean and Beautiful initiative, which provided a grant for a railing
to be installed at a hot spot for conspicuous loiterers.

"It's been working like a charm," Massey noticed.

So has Leanne Davies, a local artist and area resident of three
years.

And as a mother of two children, Davies happily noted the 5 Points
committee also partnered up with officers from 13 Division who applied
for a ProAction Cops and Kids grant to create a community art garden
project for kids.

"This is really exciting because we've canvassed the area and 15 kids
who live nearby are going to participate in this free program," Davies
said.

The program, which runs from July 4 to 15, will see the youngsters
work with police and community volunteers to beautify the area by
making banners and hand-painted floral gardens on a parcel of land on
Belvidere Avenue.

"What it means, ultimately, is that people will start to invest in
this neighbourhood because it has a lot of potential," Davies said.

To officially launch the art garden project, the community was invited
to attend a street party last Tuesday on Belvidere. Several
dignitaries, including Moscoe and Attorney General Michael Bryant
(MPP, St. Paul's) came out to lend their support.

It was also an opportunity for everyone living in the community to
celebrate their accomplishments to date.

But Massey noted the festivities on Tuesday represented more than a
mere celebration of what they've done so far to take back their
neighbourhood.

"This was our intent to move forward," she said, continually thinking
of ways to improve the safety of their community such as adding more
street lights for example. "This neighbourhood has been neglected for
too long by the city. We have so much left to do."