TAKE ACTION
Ask Mayor Tory to Open
Emergency Warming Centres Now

January 31st, 12:30-1:00 PM
Nathan Philip’s Square
Interfaith Silent Prayer Vigil for:
- Open Warming Centres 24/7 Now!
- More Safe Shelters Spaces!
- Work with Province and Feds on Housing for All!
On January 5th, over 150 faith leaders signed a letter asking for an emergency meeting with the mayor to discuss solutions to the crisis. Since then, nearly 1700 people have emailed the mayor asking for a compassionate response to prevent freezing deaths and injuries. Other groups like Shelter Housing Justice Network and Health Providers Against Poverty wrote a letter that was signed by over 2000 Torontonians and the media has been talking about the crisis for weeks. With so many people crying out, now is the optimal time for us to put our faith into action. Please join in person or by posting a picture representing your prayer for compassion.
We’ll be praying for a compassionate response to our housing crisis, while the Executive Committee is meeting on January 31st.
Signs are welcome with messages:
*Asks for more Housing, Shelter, and Warming Centres
Write a letter to the Mayor and Toronto City Councillors
Toronto’s shelter system is overcapacity (168 people needing a shelter bed are turned away every single day). The emergency warming centres only open during extreme cold temperatures of -15 degrees or colder. On December 25th, while many Torontonians where celebrating Christmas and Chanukah, one person froze to death in their tent on our streets.
- increase the number of warming centres across the GTA
- make access to warming centres available 24 hours/day throughout the winter months
- end encampment evictions and the destruction of survival gear
- keep the current shelter spaces open, including shelter hotels
- add an additional 2,700 non-congregate spaces within the regular shelter system
Help us get to 1680 signatures this week so that 168 people needing shelter tonight will be safe.
Below is a letter template. You are invited to customize the content of this letter as much or as little as you’d like.
It will take a bit of time for your name to show up on the list of letter writers. Do not fret —
if you see the confirmation message, your letter has gone through.
What can I do now?
- Speak to people within your community about the importance of Immediately Opening Warming Centres to save lives this winter. Invite them here to submit their own letter!
- Share the Open Warming Centres NOW campaign to your social media. You can use the links provided at the bottom of the petition box, or share the graphics below.
TIP: You can copy and paste the following social media handles directly into your messages and tag the mayor and city councillors:
INSTAGRAM
@johntory @councillor.crisanti @cllrambermorley @cllrgordperks @jamespasternak @perruzza_to @mike.colle @bravodavenport @ausmalik @dianne.saxe @joshmatlow @chrismoiseto @paulafletcher @jaye.robinson @jon_burnside @shelleycarrollto @lilycheng.ca @bradfordgrams @cllrcrawford20 @councillor_thompson @nick.mantas @cllrjamaalmyers @paulainslie @mckelvieward25
Hashtags: #cityoftoronto #torontocityhall #openwarmingcentres #warmingcentres #Toronto
FACEBOOK
@TorontosMayor @stephenholyday2 @CllrAmberMorley @GordPerks @Frances.Nunziata.Ward5 @PasternakTO @AnthonyPerruzza @collemike88 @BravoDavenport @AusmaMalikTO @diannesaxe.mc @JMatlow @ChrisMoiseTO @paulafletcherTO @JayeRobinsonWard15 @ShelleyCarrollTO @/LilyChengTO @BradMBradford @cllrcrawford @MichaelThompsonTO @nickmantas.TO @CllrJamaalMyers @councillorainslie @McKelvieWard25
Hashtags: #cityoftoronto #topoli #openwarmingcentres #warmingcentres #Toronto
TWITTER
@JohnTory @vcrisanti @stephenholyday @CllrAmberMorley @gordperks @FrancesNunziata @PasternakTO @PerruzzaTO @MikeColleTo @BravoDavenport @ausmalik @DianneSaxe @JoshMatlow @ChrisMoiseTO @PaulaFletcherTO @JayeRobinson @shelleycarroll @LilyCheng @BradMBradford @CllrCrawford @Thompson_37 @nickmantas_ @CllrJamaalMyers @cllrainslie @McKelvieWard25
Media: @CityNews680 @CBCToronto @CP24 @CityNewsTO @GlobalNewsTO @CTVToronto @tvo @OMNITelevision @nowtoronto @TorontoLife @DailyHiveTO @streetsoftrnto @breakfasttv @NEWSTALK1010 @blogTO @TorontoStar @globeandmail @nationalpost @BroadviewMag
Hashtags: #CityOfTO #TOpoli #openwarmingcentres #warmingcentres #Toronto






- If possible, mail a paper copy of your letter to the Mayor and your local Councillor at:
100 Queen St. W.
City Hall, Second floor,
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
We hear time and time again from politicians that paper letters are still important.
Media
‘With lives on the line this winter,’ faith leaders urge Toronto to open more warming centre spaces: CBC News — January 10, 2023
Rev. Alexa speaking on CBC Metro Morning: CBC Toronto — Janaury 9, 2023
Calls to open more warming centres grow as second unhoused person dies in Toronto: CTV News — January 9, 2023
As Toronto celebrated Christmas, the guest of honour was freezing on the streets: Broadview Magazine — January 9, 2023
Campaign calls on city to open more warming centres as second unhoused person dies in Toronto: CP24 — January 9, 2023
Faith leaders demand meeting with Toronto mayor after unhoused person freezes to death: CityTV — January 5, 2023
Media Contact:
Rev. Alexa Gilmour
National Director, StoneSoupNetwork
alexa@stonesoupnetwork.ca
THANK YOU
for using your voice to tell the City of Toronto that vulnerable people having access to safe, warm spaces is important to you.
Lives are depending on it.