BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
Your Data Your Rights
Grace United Church and Regeneration Outreach say they want to work with the city on “safety for everyone” around their 156 Main St. N. address.
The church and the outreach group that operate out of it were responding to an unsigned open letter calling for Regeneration’s relocation from the site.
The letter — circulated to local media under the name “Concerned Residents of the Alexander/Union Neighbourhood” and listing no individual signatories — arrived as Peel Regional Police have shared new counts of calls for service and arrests tied to the area.
This follows a July 17 motion from the City of Brampton that threatened legal action against the church and outreach group if they did not take immediate action to address safety concerns in the area.
In an emailed statement, Peel police said they have launched Project Cathedral, a summer community safety project centred on the Main Street property. Police said officers have responded to 324 calls for service in the area since Jan. 1, 2024, recording 120 arrests over the past two years.
Among the reasons police were called were unwanted persons, medical assists, trespassing, disturbances, mental-health calls, assaults, drug-related incidents and proactive patrols.
Police did not provide a numerical breakdown by type, nor comparative figures for other downtown areas, and did not specify whether totals refer strictly to the church property, the immediate vicinity or a broader zone. The Brampton Guardian requested all these clarifications and comparisons; police referred the request to a Freedom of Information process.
Unsigned residents’ letter
An unsigned open letter circulated to local media on Aug. 15 under the banner “Concerned Residents of the Alexander/Union Neighbourhood,” with no individual signatories, alleges a persistent rise in “crime, open drug use, weapons, prostitution and loitering” near their homes, schools and parks.
The sender of the emailed open letter declined an interview request.
The letter said that families have experienced “frightening” incidents, including individuals fleeing police into backyards, visible overdoses in public spaces and acts of violence. Residents also alleged local business owners regularly face criminal activity.
The letter also said that the community includes families with young children, YMCA programs, recreation centres and daycares.
“No one, especially children, should have to feel unsafe and witness these things that occur on a regular basis,” the letter stated.
The letter said that while they have compassion for vulnerable populations, they also have “legitimate safety concerns.”
The letter critiqued Regeneration’s operational model, stating that when the program closes its doors, “their clients are left loitering and unsupervised, causing issues to escalate onto our private property throughout the day and night.” They said this model doesn’t work in a residential community.
“Institutions like the Knights Table and St. Louise Outreach are proof that it is possible to offer essential aid while maintaining community safety and cohesion,” the letter stated.
The letter urged the city, Peel Region and Regeneration to find a new site outside a residential area and to adjust the service model to include after-hours support.
Grace, Regeneration seek solutions
In response, leaders at Regeneration Outreach and Grace United Church said they share the goal of community safety. They stressed that the majority of their guests are respectful and they are open to collaboration on finding solutions.
In an email, Regeneration Outreach stated it has served the downtown community for over 20 years, and that its location allows it to remain accessible to those who need it most. The organization emphasized that “safety is a shared priority — for our neighbours, our guests and our team.”
The outreach group serves 150 to 200 people daily, providing community, referrals and crisis support.
“We remain committed to staying aligned to our mission, bridging the gaps and supporting vulnerable people in the community,” the organization added.
They concluded by stating they “look forward to working together with the City of Brampton to find a location that honours the needs of those we serve, while also supporting the well-being of the wider community.”
Chris Moon, Grace United Church trustee board chair, responded to the unsigned letter with a level of understanding.
“It sets out their legitimate concerns about lawless behaviour in the neighbourhood,” he wrote in an email.
He said that the church “suffers equally, with property damage and unsavoury activity on our grounds at night, despite enhanced security measures.”
Moon also emphasized the distinction between the offenders and the majority of service users.
“It is generally understood there are two or three dozen leaders in the lawless behaviour,” he wrote. “The other several hundred of Regeneration’s guests are well behaved, polite and grateful for the life-enhancing services and care they receive.”
He said the church fully supports all police and community activity to address the offenders, adding the other guests “should not be tarred with the same brush.”
Council passed a motion on July 17 directing the city solicitor to send a letter to Grace United and Regeneration regarding safety concerns, a move that prompted the responses from the church, outreach hub and residents.
The Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) is a federally funded program to add coverage in under-covered areas or on under-covered issues. This content is created and submitted by participating publishers and is not edited. Access can also be gained by registering and logging in at: https://lji-ijl.ca
You can support trusted and verified news content like this.
FIPA’s news monitor subscribers, donors and funders help make these available to everyone rather than behind a paywall. We appreciate every contribution because it makes a difference.
If you found this article interesting and useful, please consider contributing here.
