CTI, the Canadian Training Institute, saves lives – helps people come together in urban, rural and remote First Nation and Inuit
Communities – “helps people helping people” – and works with those who are often oppressed or dismissed by society, including youth and families who struggle with addictions
and/or mental health issues, gang-involved youth, single mothers, youth caught up in family violence, ex-offenders, and people with physical or intellectual challenges.
Purpose
We are a National Organization with offices in Toronto and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Our purpose is to reduce criminal behaviour and violence through the direct provision
of services and by addressing the social determinants of health. To accomplish this, we provide training, consulting services, create resource materials, engage in collaborative
action, and undertake applied research demonstration projects. We deliver youth gang exit programs and projects such as the Breaking the
Cycle Programs in the Rexdale and Scarborough areas of the GTA.
CTI is committed to fostering inclusivity, equality and life-long learning by enhancing services which assist individuals to participate as responsible, valued and contributing members
of Canadian society. In this respect CTI assists in the development of knowledge, skills and services that reduce crime, promote active participation and ultimately contribute to
healthy individuals, agencies and communities. We have a special interest in working with First Nation, Inuit and Metis communities.
Mission
Our mission is to increase the effectiveness of client services delivered by “people working with people”, including criminal justice services and a variety of integrated
behavioural health and social service agencies. We do this through training, networking and continued collaborative action, as well by facilitating personal, professional
and organizational development provincially, nationally and internationally.
Breaking the Cycle: Youth Gang Exit and Ambassador Leadership Program
Last month, Kenneth Mark testified at the trial of a 16-year-old accused of trying to kill him. In mid-December, the teen was acquitted. Twelve days later, Mark was fatally shot in the back of
the head outside a Junction pizzeria. [...] Mark was known to confront thugs living in the area. Before the attempt on his life, he had a showdown with a neighbourhood teen who was rumoured to
be carrying guns. [...] Mark was one of eight children. His family is originally from Grenada. At the local Wal-Mart, where he worked as a night manager, he was known as the "gentle giant." In
his spare time, he volunteered with his community breakfast program and at kids camps. He had no criminal record and was by all accounts an activist in his sometimes-struggling community. Around
10 p.m. on Dec. 29, Mark stopped at a pizza and wings shop on Dundas St. W., when two men ambushed him. Security cameras in the area captured footage of a man police believe acted as a lookout.
[...]
With roots extending back to 1998 with their Beyond the Halls research program, CTI launched BTC in
December 2002, designed to reach males and females aged 15 to 30 involved with, or at risk of joining,
street gangs. CTI is headquartered in the Danforth area of Toronto and operates the BTC program in the
communities of Rexdale (Jamestown) and Scarborough (reaching communities including Malvern and
West Hill), both deemed by the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario as “priority”, high-risk
communities from the perspective of gang and related criminal justice matters.*
Breaking the Cycle is widely respected in local neighborhoods, and the program has been ranked by some criminologists as one
of the most effective in North America. The Rexdale and Scarborough programs have served 278 youth who were either gang involved or at risk of gang
involvement. Yet funding remains a problem.
In a bakery near the site of the shooting, CBC's Mary Wiens spoke with John Sawdon, Executive Director of CTI, and Gary Newman, Project Director of Rexdale BTC.
Metro Morning, Toronto, 5 January 2010. Gun Culture (runs 8:14)
In Partnership with CTI:
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, William Osler Health Centre, Markham Stouffville Hospital
More than five thousand individuals have received certified
training through CTI. They are predominantly staff members and volunteers in
residential and related programs addressing family violence, mental health,
addictions, ex-offenders, and the physically or mentally challenged. Our
challenge is to develop and to deliver high quality, relevant training at the
lowest possible cost. CTI also provides consulting assistance in a range of
areas, including organizational reviews, analysis and redesign, team building,
training needs assessment, and action research.
CTI has the training you need to:
Meet emerging accreditation expectations;
Reduce staff injury, absenteeism, and turnover;
Improve client and patient centered care;
Address government and union expectations for staff safety standards
proactively;
Enhance risk management outcomes; and
Reduce litigation
Workshops
Defusing Anger, Resistance & Hostility 25 September 2009
Learn how to cope and respond effectively to individuals who are acutely and/or escalating their anger, resistance or hostility with the potential to act out violently.
Three-Day Crisis Intervention with the Hostile/Aggressive Individual 7-9 October 2009
Develop effective verbal and non-verbal approaches, self-protection strategies and debriefing skills when responding to clients who verbally or physically act out.
Community Worker Safety Strategies 23 October 2009
Learn tools to minimize risk and maximize your personal safety when working on the street and/or visiting clients in unfamiliar or potentially dangerous community environments.
Five-Day Train-the-Trainer Program 9-13 November 2009
Learn to plan, design and implement in-house delivery of the 1, 2 and 3 day Crisis Intervention & Prevention Programs.
Prerequisite: Completion of CTI's Three-Day Crisis Intervention Program within the past three years.
Two-Day Defusing Anger, Resistance & Hostility 26-27 November 2009
Achieve enhanced understanding of effective defusing, de-escalation, debriefing and disengaging strategies when responding to hostile individuals in conflict or crisis situations.
Click here for more details and registration, or call 416-778-7056 or 1-877-889-6158, or email programs@cantraining.org.
*CTI can invoice your organization in the current fiscal year if desired, and provide services at your convenience in the new fiscal year.
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