Establishing a Toronto Community Crisis Service Training Centre to Strengthen Toronto’s Fourth Emergency Service

The TCCS Training Centre establishes Toronto as a national leader in equity-focused crisis response, reducing reliance on enforcement-led models and addressing the disproportionate impacts of traditional emergency services on Indigenous, Black, racialized, and other equity-deserving communities. To be operated by Gerstein Crisis Centre in partnership with TAIBU Community Health Centre, 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations, Canadian Mental Health Association Toronto Branch, and Findhelp 211, the Centre will build sector-wide capacity by extending training to City staff, community partners and residents and embedding equity, collaboration, and consistency at the heart of Toronto's emergency response system. This report seeks City Council authority to: - negotiate and execute a nominal, long-term lease agreement (the "Lease") with Family Service Toronto, as landlord, for the fourth floor at 355 Church Street (the "Leased Premises") to establish the TCCS Training Centre; - negotiate and execute a funding agreement with Family Service Toronto, as owner and landlord, for the construction and fit-out of the Leased Premises to make the space fully functional for occupancy and use as the TCCS Training Centre; - negotiate and execute funding agreements with the Toronto Community Crisis Service training delivery partners for the provision of services for the TCCS Training Centre; - designate the Leased Premises as a Municipal Capital Facility; and, - negotiate and enter into a service agreement with Gerstein Crisis Centre and other partners to lead the training delivery and provide operational oversight of the TCCS Training Centre. These measures will enable immediate construction and support a Q4 2026 launch of a dedicated TCCS Training Centre that embeds excellence and strengthens Toronto's emergency response system.

2. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, to negotiate, enter into, and amend any required agreements, including funding agreements, with Family Service Toronto for up to a total of $2.5 million for the construction and fit-out of the premises located at 355 Church Street, to make the space fully functional for occupancy and use, on the terms and conditions acceptable to the Executive Director, Social Development and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor. 3. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Social Development, to negotiate, enter into, and amend any service and funding agreements with Gerstein Crisis Centre, TAIBU Community Health Centre, Canadian Mental Health Association Toronto Branch, and 2 Spirited People of the 1st Nations for the provision of the Toronto Community Crisis Service training services, on the terms and conditions acceptable to the Executive Director, Social Development and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor, subject to all related expenditures being funded within the Social Development operating budget. 4. City Council pass a By-law pursuant to Section 252 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, providing authority to: a. enter into a Municipal Capital Facility Agreement with Family Service Toronto, the landlord, which will lease approximately 7,500 square feet of space on the fourth floor at 355 Church Street (the "Leased Premises"), to the City of Toronto, used for the provision of social and health services; and b. exempt the Leased Premises from taxation for municipal and school purposes, with the tax exemption being effective from the latest of: 1. the commencement date of the Lease; 2. the date the Municipal Capital Facility Agreement is entered into; and 3. the date the Municipal Capital Facility By-law is enacted. 5. City Council direct the City Clerk to give written notice of the By-law to the Minister of Finance, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, le Conseil scolaire Viamonde, and le Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir.