Community and Police united for a safer region
TORONTO – It seemed to this humble servant that sometimes “coincidences” do happen – and for “the better”. A case in point was the York Regional Police Appreciation Night 2026, held May 7. It is an annual event designed to bring community and the police services together to “inform”, “review” and offer “thanks to those who receive and those who give”.
For those who might be anticipating a comment like, “public relations exercise”, I recommend reading on. York Region is a dynamic and fast evolving suburban land mass north of Toronto (and 2.75 times its size) built up, and grown, from a [politically] loose collection of farms, orchards, hamlets big and small reaching to, and for, status as towns and cities.
Premier Ford, one of the guest speakers, quipped that, with a few minor adjustments it might be an ideal money saving device for the regional council to purchase a used airplane, at $28 million for its police services in stead of trying to service the area with two new helicopters at $ 36 million “a piece”. Only a few of us noticed the comparison.
Yet it matched the concept of need and cost for service in an intriguing manner – even if the infrastructure is not yet there. The Police services are the only – so far – practical unifying infrastructure in that area. York Police Services employes circa 2,800 staff to serve and protect the growing population with diverse needs of this immense area.
I used to go golf there as university student, and later as a young father to bring my children to the farms interspersed everywhere. It reminded me of an old Chinese saying that you cannot swim in the same river twice. Or for fans of Adriano Celentano, his 1966 song il Ragazzo della Via Gluck. That journey is difficult without modern security. Even then… if it is not connected to the people it serves…
Evenings, Appreciation Nights, acknowledging the interdependency among citizens, professional service providers and Philanthropists go an exceptionally long way to smoothening the growing pains and strains along the way.
The Corriere is pleased to have been associate with some community Leaders highlighted for their unselfish donations and inspirational community-building: the Cortellucci Group, Pizza Nova, Lido Construction, The Montesano Foundation and especially its founder, Dan Montesano (in the name of his late wife, Madeleine Brazeau Montesano and Family).
That type of altruism garnered approximately $1,160,000 for the York Region Centre for Community Safety (YRCCS). Well done.
Here below is a photogallery from the event with a short video (photos and video: Corriere Canadese)
