Strong Towns Richmond Hill (STRH) took part in the recent Community Safety Event hosted by Ward 6 Councillor Michael Shiu, joining a range of organizations and companies offering tools, services, and advice to help residents prevent car theft and home break-ins. The event, held in Richmond Hill, focused heavily on traditional crime prevention strategies, but STRH brought a different angle to the conversation.

Representing the group, Chris Naegel delivered a presentation emphasizing the importance of designing safer streets—not just to prevent theft, but to protect all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders. Naegel highlighted how street design can play a critical role in community safety and called for more equitable use of public space.

A panel discussion followed, featuring Richmond Hill Mayor David West, York Regional Police representatives, and MPP Daisy Wang. The panellists answered residents’ questions and addressed concerns about rising property crime and public safety.

STRH’s involvement added a valuable layer to the event’s focus, reminding attendees that safety goes beyond locks and alarms—it’s also about how we build and share our streets.

You can read this article which is based on Chris Naegel’s presentation.