Safe communities, confidence you can count on

What makes a community feel safe?

It’s not one single thing.
It’s a combination of systems, people and decisions that come together in everyday moments.

How an intersection feels when you cross it.
The tap you turn on without hesitation.
The sense that if something goes wrong, someone will be there to help.

Across York Region, that sense of safety is built through coordinated efforts, ongoing training and the systems that support communities every day.

On the road, safety is crucial in moments when decisions happen quickly. Intersections are a key focus of York Region’s Vision Zero Traveller Safety Plan, with changes designed to reduce serious collisions and protect everyone who uses the road. Protected left-turn signals, red light cameras, restrictions on right turns at certain locations and longer crossing times are helping make intersections safer and more predictable. 

The results are already visible. At five intersections reviewed between 2022 and 2024, collisions dropped to zero after improvements were introduced, including a complete reduction in left-turn collisions. Red light cameras installed at 55 intersections have helped reduce right-angle collisions by more than 18.5% over time. At locations where right turns on red were restricted, total collisions dropped by 75%. In areas designed with older adults in mind, reduced speeds are helping create safer conditions for everyone.

But safety is not only about prevention. It is also about response. 

York Region Paramedics bring more than urgent medical care to our communities. They bring calm, clarity and reassurance in situations that can feel uncertain. Emergency response ensures that no one must face a crisis alone. Paramedics responded to 95,511 incidents in 2024. In those moments, what matters most is the confidence that help will arrive.

That same readiness extends beyond emergency services. Across York Region, more than 760 staff and partners received emergency management training in 2025, strengthening coordination when it matters most. Programs like those offered at the York Regional Police Community Safety Village are helping residents build those skills early. More than 6,300 children and youth participated in safety education programs, learning how to recognize risks and respond calmly in real-life situations.

Because safety does not begin in an emergency.
It begins with knowing what to do before one happens.

It carries through the systems people rely on every day. 

York Region’s drinking water system received a perfect score in its most recent provincial inspection and was recognized for having some of the best tasting water in Ontario. For residents, this means confidence in something as simple as filling a glass at the kitchen sink, knowing it is clean, safe and reliable.

Building safe communities also means working alongside residents, not just for them.

Across 53 schools, more than 1,400 students took part in programs focused on injury prevention, healthy living and safer environments. Youth-led initiatives are helping address local needs, while advisory groups are contributing to conversations around issues like gender-based violence. When young people are involved, they bring perspectives that help make safety efforts more relevant and effective. 

And across the Region, community policing continues to build trust through presence, relationships and prevention. In 2024, York Regional Police responded to more than 261,000 calls for service. Behind those numbers are everyday interactions that help residents feel supported, informed and connected to those who serve their community.

Safety is something that is built, reinforced and sustained over time.
It’s what allows everyday life to carry on without hesitation and people to move through their communities with confidence.

Safe communities are not defined by the absence of risk.
They are defined by the confidence people have in the systems and services around them.

Across York Region, that trust is built every day.

Discover all the ways York Region works to support you at york.ca/RegionalServices