The Facts About 68 Sheppard Avenue West
There has been a lot of misinformation about 68 Sheppard Avenue West, so I want to make sure Willowdale residents have the facts.
This is not a safe injection site.
68 Sheppard Avenue West is planned as a shelter for Indigenous women and children. It is not a supervised consumption site, and it is not a site for handing out drug paraphernalia.
I know this is an important issue for families in our community, which is why I have asked City staff directly for answers and brought an Administrative Inquiry to City Council to clarify what services will—and will not—be provided at the site.
CLICK HERE: READ THE ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRY & CITY RESPONSE.
Why couldn’t Council simply cancel the site?
The site was selected by City staff under authority that City Council had previously delegated to staff. This means Council could not simply hold a vote to cancel the site after the selection was made. The reason for this is that politicizing shelter locations would likely result in no shelters being placed, leading to more encampments.
Rather than make a symbolic fight I could not win, I focused on what I could do for Willowdale.
I raised serious concerns about locating the shelter in a family-oriented neighbourhood with many children and pushed for stronger community protections.
I successfully brought forward a motion calling for better site planning, appropriate capacity, parking, outdoor space and stronger consideration of the surrounding community. I have also pushed for security, police coordination and ongoing community engagement.
Compassion and community safety go hand in hand.
I believe we can support reconciliation and build positive relationships between future shelter residents and the surrounding community.
With thoughtful programming, strong community partnerships and clear expectations, this shelter can become part of our neighbourhood, not something that divides us.
At the same time, supporting people experiencing homelessness does not mean ignoring the legitimate concerns of families and residents. We need both compassion and community safety.
As the shelter is implemented, community members will be invited to participate in a Community Liaison Committee so that local voices are heard and considered throughout the process of integrating the shelter into our neighbourhood.
We will work hard to make sure all concerns are heard and that the community has meaningful opportunities to engage with the City and the future operator.
The shelter is not expected to open until 2028–2030, giving us time to get the implementation right.
I believe we can make this a positive implementation for both the women and children who need these services and the Willowdale community around them.
I will continue to advocate for Willowdale and make sure residents' concerns are heard every step of the way.