On Thursday, August 10th, dozens of community residents and members gathered in the Club Room of the Crescent Town Club to celebrate three years of tireless work and efforts to keep our city’s East End safe and healthy. It was an amazing in-person event where we got to see each other once again. As we celebrated, we received kudos and recognition from our local MPP- Mary-Margaret McMahon, and MP- Nathaniel Erskine-Smith. Thank you!
In April 2020, when communities across the city, province, and country were attempting to navigate the panic, confusion, and frustrations of a once-in-a-century pandemic, residents, community partners, and service providers assembled to respond to the very specific needs of residents living in the Taylor-Massey and Oakridge neighbourhoods in Toronto.
As two of the city’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, there were very localized and specific realities for those who lived here, including culturally sensitive health promotion and advocacy on behalf of many marginalized residents at decision-making tables.
As two of the city’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, there were very localized and specific realities for those who lived here, including culturally sensitive health promotion and advocacy on behalf of many marginalized residents at decision-making tables. What started early on as a decently organized virtual meeting with the expected technical awkwardness and lags turned into a trailblazing health promotion team, unlike anything any of the Taylor-Massey & Oakridge Community Response Team (TMOCRT) members would have ever expected.
Throughout the three years, TMOCRT provided integral support to tens of thousands of Torontonians through translations of public health guidelines, collaborating to advocate for and facilitate COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics, organizing culturally sensitive food hampers and vouchers, organizing mental wellness seminars, and most recently, organizing a community safety meeting after unfortunate gun violence in the community.
August 10th was an opportunity for many of the TMOCRT members, past and present, to share memories of the hard work and unity that went on to accomplish so much for so many in such a needed time.
Partner agencies included Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services, Bangladeshi-Canadian Community Services, Bangladesh Centre & Community Services, Bengali Information and Employment Services, Crescent Town Health Centre, Danforth Community Centre, Danforth Islamic Centre, Don Valley Community Legal Services, Health Access Taylor-Massey, Michael Garron Hospital, The Neighbourhood Group Community Services, TNO-The Neighbourhood Organization, South Riverdale Community Health Centre, and WoodGreen Community Services.
