Here’s when a new police station will be opening in Mississauga
Published February 5, 2020 at 8:29 pm
Late last year, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie and Ward 5 City Councillor Carolyn Parrish called for the reopening of a then-defunct police station in Malton after a high-profile, gang-related shooting rocked the neighbourhood and killed an innocent bystander.
The calls did not go unheard, and on Nov. 13, 2019, Parrish took to Twitter to announce that newly-appointed Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan (Nish) Duraiappah promised to re-open the station.
On Feb. 4, 2020, Parrish took to Twitter to announce that a lease has been signed for Malton’s police station in Westwood Square. Parrish thanked local advocate, Ann Barclay, and her team for getting more than 3,000 signatures on the petition that was presented to the Peel Police Services Board and Duraiappah.
“Renovations are almost completed. The Village of Malton is looking forward to a grand celebration after almost 2 years with no onsite presence. Thanks to 3000+ petition,” Parrish wrote on Twitter.
The station is anticipated to open in early March 2020.
In a later tweet, Parrish said the Malton BIA is planning a celebration that will include a ribbon-cutting, music and refreshments in Westwood Mall.
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The September 2019 shooting that ignited calls to reopen the station took place near an ice cream truck on Darcel Ave. The shooting claimed the life of 17-year-old Jonathan Davis.
Five other victims, including a 13-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy, two 17-year-old boys, and a 50-year-old woman, were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
“I’m incredibly sad for the victims and their families in last night’s Malton shooting. The isolation of the village requires our police station be reopened, expanded and staffed immediately and the $9 million Youth Hub under construction be completed ASAP,” Parrish wrote on Twitter the day after the brazen Saturday evening shooting.
“As Malton’s councillor, I fought along with the community, in 2018, to stop the closure of a police station 150 meters from last night’s shooting ‘for budget reasons’. How much is a life worth? We won’t be stopped this time,” she continued.
In early 2018, the Malton Community Station, which was found to be an inefficient use of resources, closed its doors for good.
In 2017, a review was conducted to examine the effectiveness of the community stations that support the operational divisions throughout the region. It was determined that the Malton Community Station was no longer being used to its potential, so plans were made to shutter the facility.
The closure prompted some residents to express worry that crime would increase in the area as a result.
While the police station opening will no doubt come as a relief to concerned residents, the community also has the aforementioned hub to look forward to.
On Dec. 11, 2019, the city announced that it has selected Services and Housing in the Province (SHIP) as the lead agency to manage the proposed Malton Community Hub.
The pool building that the project will take shape in is adjacent to Lincoln Alexander Secondary School (3545 Morning Star Drive).
The city says the facility could potentially include meeting rooms, offices, as well as program, event and multi-functional open space for social gatherings.
The hub could open as early as 2021.
Cover photo courtesy of Peel Regional Police’s official Facebook page
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