Concerns over public drug use in Main and Danforth area raised by residents, local childcare centre

By MATTHEW STEPHENS

Residents near the intersection of Main Street and Danforth Avenue have expressed ongoing concerns regarding public and child safety following incidents of drug use in the area.

One resident recently shared an account of public drug use on Stephenson Avenue, at the bottom of the Main Street bridge stairs south of Danforth Avenue.

“Today, I witnessed five individuals actively using drugs less than 100 metres away from a community centre and a children’s park. This location is also a key crossing for GO Train access, used daily by commuters and families,” said a concerned resident in an email to both Beach Metro Community News and Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford.

“This is not only a serious health and safety concern – it is also highly disruptive and distressing to the community,” wrote the resident.

Also of recent community concern was an encampment and public drug use in Stanley G. Grizzle Park on Main Street, just north of Danforth Avenue. That park is located beside the Muppets Child Care Centre and across the street from the Main Street subway station.

In a statement to Beach Metro Community News, Bradford said he has been working with residents, city staff, Toronto police, and Muppets childcare, to address the issue.

“Since residents first flagged the activity near Main Station, my office has been actively engaged with residents, city staff, Toronto police, and the nearby daycare to find a solution to this situation,” he said.

“As of July 17th, there is no encampment present at Stanley Grizzle. Additionally, our office coordinated with Parks city staff to ensure that ‘no camping’ signs were installed immediately after to proactively help prevent the situation from reoccurring again.”

Bradford said recent city policies are making it more challenging for officials to deal with encampments in public spaces.

“In June 2024, City Council, led by Mayor (Olivia) Chow, adopted a new protocol (EC13.8) that prioritizes intervention only at the largest encampments. This policy makes it extremely difficult for city staff to intervene in unsafe or unsanitary encampments unless individuals voluntarily agree to accept shelter and leave. It also removes any meaningful consideration of the safety and accessibility of public spaces for the surrounding community,” said Bradford.

He said that protocol was not a “sufficient way for us to deal with the homelessness crisis” in Toronto.

According to a local resident, Stanley G. Grizzle Park had become a prominent encampment site for drug use in the area.

“Main and Danforth has become a haven for drug users and homeless people, and now they are taking over a public park next to a day care, throwing needles and used Kleenex over the fence,” said Lisa Bubas Vella, a local resident who brings her children to Muppets Childcare Centre, in an email to Beach Metro Community News earlier this month (prior to the action by the city).

“Our children have had to cancel their morning trips because the police will not disassemble a tent encampment in the park next to Muppets daycare across from Main Station. This has been going on since May, and the daycare has been given the run-around from police.”

Toronto Police Service’s Corporate Communications team said police have been working with the community to address concerns and dismantle the encampment in Stanley G. Grizzle Park.

“We are aware of the ongoing public safety concerns related to Stanley G. Grizzle Park and are actively working with the city to address them,” said police in an email to Beach Metro Community News. “While the city leads efforts related to encampments, we have been supporting them in offering alternative housing options for individuals living in the area, and to our knowledge, the encampments have been resolved.”

Police said a crime prevention officer from 55 Division recently visited the daycare to “offer safety advice” and ensure neighbourhood community officers are regularly patrolling the area, which has “resulted in several arrests related to criminal activities.”

At the time of reporting, no encampment currently exists at Stanley G. Grizzle Park. There is also now a sign prohibiting visitors from erecting any tents or camping structures on park grounds.

Lama Abou-Merhi is an early childhood educator and supervisor at Muppets Childcare Centre. She said the ongoing drug use in the area has presented a significant challenge for daycare operations.

“Staff have witnessed drug use in plain view, loud altercations, and, on a few occasions, individuals yelling at our children and staff while on our childcare playground. Some of our families also raised concerns of used needles appearing near the encampment while walking their children to the childcare,” said Abou-Merhi in an email to Beach Metro Community News.

“As a result, we’ve had to stop our neighbourhood walks, which is a core part of our curriculum. Parents are anxious and expressed safety concerns. Our staff are doing everything they can to maintain a nurturing environment, but the situation has taken a toll.”

Abou-Merhi said the situation has been a challenging one for the staff of Muppets Childcare Centre and parents who send their children there.

“Staff morale is already being affected, and we’re limited in delivering parts of our curriculum, such as outdoor neighbourhood exploration that is a key element of our learning model. Ultimately, it’s the children who are most impacted, losing safe access to nature and community-based learning experiences.”

In the broader scope, Abou-Merhi fears that the issue could present significant safety risks when children return to school in the fall.

“We are particularly concerned about the return to school in September, when many of our children will be walking through the community to nearby elementary schools. The safety of those routes is a growing concern for parents and educators alike,” said Abou-Merhi.

When asked about the homeless shelter planned for Gerrard Street East in southwest Scarborough, which will be located less than 2.5 kilometres away from Muppets, Abou-Merhi said providing access to essential services and ensuring public safety need to be prioritized when the site opens its doors in 2027.

“In principle, having a properly resourced and well-managed shelter could contribute to a more sustainable solution — especially if it includes supports for mental health, addiction, and housing transition. However, any solution needs to be part of a coordinated strategy that also addresses public safety and ensures spaces like childcare centres are protected,” said Abou-Merhi.