Hello Princess Margaret Families,
I wanted to take a moment to update you on some important conversations that took place on Tuesday of this week. I met with representatives from Choices Shelter and Support Services (who operate the men’s and youth shelter on Town Line), a member of the OPP, and a member of Town staff.
Choices originally reached out to me in the fall to ask if I had any concerns, and at that time, I did not. We discussed this inquiry at the School Council and members were directed if there were concerns to reach out to the shelter or police.
Earlier this week, however, we received a community complaint indicating that some of our students were nearly harmed when stepping onto the road to avoid individuals from the shelter. This concern was taken very seriously. I immediately contacted Choices, the Town (Including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor), and the OPP.
The incident was promptly and thoroughly investigated by Choices staff and the OPP, and the accusation was found to be unfounded. Nevertheless, we met Tuesday to openly discuss concerns and how they can be addressed proactively moving forward. Everyone in attendance—including the Executive Director and Manager of Operations at Choices -expressed a strong commitment to responding to community concerns and ensuring a safe environment for all.
I was genuinely impressed by their dedication and by the proactive steps already in place to support both safety and communication. I also learned a great deal more about the shelter. For example, did you know that all of the men supported by the shelter are residents of Dufferin County? They are members of our own community and individuals who deserve support. We can all fall on hard times and some of us have found ourselves in similar circumstances. Most of the men at the shelter are someone's father, brother, husband etc. This shelter is also unique in that the men living there are actively working toward goals such as securing permanent housing, attending medical appointments, and improving their overall well‑being. Men are discharged from the shelter once re-homed, instead of living on the streets.
Both the Executive Director and Manager spoke passionately about the measures they have in place to protect the community, including exterior cameras, clear protocols for addressing inappropriate behaviour, work they do with the men to ensure community safety, and strong partnerships with local police.
The OPP officer who attended shared the OPP has conducted focused patrols in the area of Princess Margaret Public School and the Townline area, including RIDE programs as well as school patrols before and after school hours. In addition to the focused patrols, they have also conducted additional patrols specifically focusing on Choices Shelter, which is the area where the alleged incident took place, as well as children going to and from school. The interactions observed between citizens and children have appeared to be positive in nature. The OPP recently conducted a door-to-door campaign where they spoke directly with numerous businesses in our area, and no concerns were raised.
The shelter leadership acknowledged that, like all people, their residents are not perfect. However, they asked that if concerns arise, families contact the shelter directly rather than posting on social media. If a situation is criminal in nature, they emphasize that calling the police is always appropriate. This approach allows concerns to be handled promptly, safely, and constructively.
Here is the executive directors contact information: Jaime Edge, info@choicesshelter.ca 519-217-5302
Thank you.
Andrea Papavasiliou, Principal
Princess Margaret PS