After 2 men shot 'indiscriminately' in Jane-Finch, leaders pledge support for at-risk youth

Police, community and city leaders pledged on Wednesday to tackle gun violence and increase support for young people in Toronto's Jane-Finch neighbourhood following a pair of shootings last month.

The move comes after a 39-year-old father and newcomer to Canada was killed and a 16-year-old boy critically injured after being shot in the face in two separate shootings within 24 hours of each other near a bus shelter at Jane Street and Driftwood Avenue in February. 

Police have said both victims were shot "indiscriminately" while innocently going about their day.

Andrea Tabnor of the grassroots organization Jane and Finch Unity Organization said more needs to be done to support youth at risk of gun violence.

"We're all here because of vulnerable youths and at-risk youths," she said. "We need to get to the root of the situation in order for us to make a difference."

Tabnor spoke after taking part in a roundtable discussion on gun violence in the neighborhood. Around 30 people attended the meeting, including the local councillor, police officers, community housing workers, social workers, city staff and people impacted by gun violence. 

The area around Jane Street and Finch Avenue — a historically low-income neighbourhood — has seen improvements in community safety in recent years, with police saying last month that gun violence was at a 10-year low in 2023.

Tabnor said she felt "voices were heard" at the meeting, but stressed the importance of supporting the work of grassroots organizations that have built trust with youth.

"At-risk youths, they come with trust and they come with loyalty and they come with familiar faces," she said.

She said while the city provides funding for such organizations, it's not always communicated to the right people.

"Funding is really an issue for grassroots organizations that need the funding in order to reach the at-risk youth."

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Coun. Anthony Perruzza (Humber River-Black Creek) said the meeting featured a "frank conversation" about what can be done to further increase safety, and led to the outline of an action plan featuring both immediate and long-term items. 

Perruzza said some of the immediate asks from the community include better information sharing about city programs and how to access them, a more visible police presence and better lighting in and around the community centre, at Toronto Community Housing buildings, and on local streets.