Circle K StreetART Program unveils Danforth mural

Let’s think about it, isn’t it always the simple things that bring people together. The Circle K StreetART program does just that, a simple out of the box initiative that brings the community together for a common cause to make the community and our stores a safer place.

On Friday August 10, 2018 we launched our twenty-third StreetART Mural at the Circle K Store located at 3075 Danforth Avenue.  However, this mural had even more of a special meaning. This mural was dedicated to the Danforth Community to create Unity & Peace as a result of the tragedy that took place weeks earlier. The #TorontoStrong #DanforthMural is a tribute to all the victims, all the first responders and to the entire City of Toronto with the message of “Unity”.

Thank you to the Toronto Police Service, Toronto Crime Stoppers, members of the media and all the community members who helped make this mural such a success.

History of the StreetART Program
The initiative was developed in 2012 to combat crime issues at stores and works to create strategic partnerships in an effort to help prevent crime and strengthen community relationships; while working diligently towards a community-based shared responsibility. Engaging the community, especially the youth will only empower them to develop a stronger ability to make a positive difference. Anyone can paint a wall, but If you don’t involve the community in the process of the mural and the police officers who live and work in their community then the whole intention of the program is pointless.

This forward thinking concept has seen positive results, not only in the reduction of crime at the locations where the murals have been painted — but also in the beautification the mural has within the community. As a result of this initiative, graffiti crime and overall crime at these locations have been virtually eliminated.

This unique concept caught the attention of Katy DeCelles, a Professor from Harvard University and University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management Centre for Criminology & Sociolegal Studies. In 2015, Circle K received an educational study grant from Harvard University to implement additional StreetART Murals. In November 2017, Harvard Business School released two Harvard Business Reviews on what Circle K Central Canada are doing in the prevention of crime.

 To better understand the program, please watch this documentary.

Sean Sportun in the manager of security and loss prevention for Circle K Stores. For more on this program, as well as DeCelles’ research, read the March issue of Canadian Security magazine.