Community and officers welcome the modern police facility
By Andrew Russell
Police officers, political dignitaries and community members packed the entrance of the new home of Toronto’s 14 Division at 350 Dovercourt Road.
Minister of International Cooperation Julian Fantino, police Chief Bill Blair and councilor Frances Nunziata representing the absent mayor Rob Ford, were among some of the important figures attending the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new, modern police facility.
“The priority for the Government of Canada is providing the men and women in uniform with the resources and equipment the need,” said Fantino, a current MP and former Toronto police chief, who began his career working seven years at 14 Division.
The new building, which officially opened Nov. 2, sits directly across the street from the old precinct.
Toronto police services Chair Alok Mukherjee, Councillor France Nunziata, PoliceChief Bill Blair and Minister of International Cooperation cut the ribbon officially marking the opening of the 14 Division’s new headquarters. PHOTO BY ANDREW RUSSELL
14 Division is a unique police division in Toronto. Serving approximately 152,396 residents in a 15.7 sq./km, it is considered one of the smallest yet busiest divisions within the Toronto Police Services.
“The community came together with police to design this new station and that is truly extraordinary,” said Chief Blair.
Initial plans for the building, which rests on approximately 1.86 acres, began in 2008 when Toronto Police Services first took control of the land from the old Heydon Park Secondary School.
In 2009 the architecture firm Stantec, which has been involved in a number of recent construction projects for the Toronto police, was chosen to design the new facility and in 2010 ground was officially broken.
Throughout the planning process a group five community members worked with the police to ensure the building would be accessible to the public.
“The community had input every step of the way,” said Sergeant Jeffrey Zammit, who acted as the liaison between police and the community. “This is one of the only residential police divisions in the city, so we wanted to make sure we worked with the public as much as possible.”
One of the main features of the new building is the green technology employed throughout the building.
“It’s a much more efficient and greener building,” said Sgt. Zammit. “A clean place is a happy place for officers who look forward to coming to work and are happier when they’re out on the street.”
Some of the green technologies used at the new facility include low flow water systems, interior lighting that adjusts according to the amount of external light and a living roof that collects rainwater.
“The roof is made of moss that collects water so we can reuse it to water the lawn and other plants,” said Constable Gord Reid, a community relation’s officer.
Residents in the area will also no longer have to worry about police cruisers taking up valuable parking spaces.
“As part of the design we had to build down,” said Cst. Reid. “Parking is entirely self-contained. All police and emergency vehicles will occupy the bottom (two levels of the station).”