When Rosaline Sonshine first noticed in the late ‘90s that many houses in her neighbourhood near Bayview Avenue and York Mills Road had been reporting break-ins, she helped establish a community neighbourhood watch program.
Since then, Sonshine has spent more than 6,000 hours volunteering to keep the streets of Toronto Police Service, 33 Division safer. It started with small tasks delivering flyers to increase awareness of current police programs, safety tips and possible scams. But she proved that small things add up, and she ended up helping bring many troublemakers to justice simply through helping her neighbours keep vigilant. How many, she can’t quite recall because there has been such a high number. “Over the years, I’ve lost track,” she said.
In 2002, Sonshine became a trained volunteer with 33 Division, spreading awareness to children at local fairs and partaking in initiatives such as “purse patrol” with seniors at shopping centres to help them keep their pocketbooks safe. “It makes you feel much better to know that your neighbours are looking out for you and that you’re looking out for them,” she said.
