Office of the Chief Executive

Strengthening safety at the TTC

Yesterday (January 26), I joined Mayor John Tory, TTC Chair Jon Burnside, the Chief of Police Myron Demkiw, and Acting Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue for an important announcement at Toronto Police Headquarters to address safety concerns on the TTC.

Effective yesterday, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) will be significantly increasing their daily presence within our transit system. TPS will be adding upwards of 80 police officers throughout the city’s transit locations, across all 16 divisions. This is in addition to the existing regular patrols currently being done.

We are continuing to work with our partners at the City, including Streets to Homes, Toronto Police Service as well as our union partners, among others. We know we are dealing with complex issues and the solutions aren’t always easy.

I know you are all doing your part and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. There is already an increased presence of uniformed TTC employees throughout the system and it is deeply appreciated by myself as well as all our partners.

Mental health and wellness support is available
This past Wednesday was Bell Let’s Talk Day, a day where organizations around the country took the opportunity to help remove the stigma around mental health.

For more than a decade, the TTC has worked jointly with Distress Centres of Greater Toronto and Bell Canada on Crisis Link, an award-winning program that provides support for anyone on the system who may be in need of it. Payphones with a blue Crisis Link button are located on all station platforms. Crisis Link connects callers to a trained counsellor, who contacts TTC’s Transit Control Centre in high-risk situations to ensure they remain safe.

Bell Let’s Talk Day is also a good reminder for all of us to take care of ourselves and support those around us. There has been a lot going on at the TTC over the past few weeks and I want to make sure that everyone is taking time for their well-being. I know many of you are juggling a lot and the incidents on the system of late have only added new challenges.

Please know that the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), also known as Lifeworks, along with other supports are available to you and your family.

Mental health and wellness supports

Do not hesitate to reach out to your Manager or Supervisor if there are any additional supports that you need.

Stay safe and please take care of yourself and each other.

Richard J. Leary
Chief Executive Officer
January 27, 2023