Toronto backtracks on return-to-office plans for city employees as Omicron spreads its wings
As city employees return to the office Friday, the City of Toronto is likely to see a spike in traffic because of what’s in store for the agency.
By 4:45 p.m., Omicron Community Safety Director Tim McInnis, the city’s lead on police safety, and a dozen of his colleagues will return to the front of the City of Toronto Police Services Board — and city hall. It’s an annual ritual, a time to thank the men and women of city hall for their hard work and dedication to the safety of Torontonians.
“It’s an important annual meeting for Omicron,” said McInnis. “I’ve met a lot of people, and we’ve been meeting on a fairly regular basis.”
At a news conference two weeks ago, the first sign that Omicron, the police’s community outreach arm, was taking over city hall came with a press release from the organization, which announced that it would be moving out of its Toronto Street Division headquarters on Queen Street West to a modern and well-equipped building across the street that Omicron had not previously announced. The agency had been in the same complex since 1992, when it was founded.
“They’re moving out on a one-year lease,” said McInnis, who added that it could take about 12 months to move. “We’ll have a new building in early 2017. We’re thrilled with every aspect of the move, even with the traffic (for the building) and the time it takes to get there.”
A group of about 130 officers, staff and volunteers who work for the organization — dubbed the Omicron Crew — will move into their new space in the early morning hours of Monday, August 9. Omicron’s presence will continue to be felt in the City of Toronto, but the group has taken on the name Toronto Police Service.
“We’