Guardian Angels Continue To Face Resistance
Posted July 11, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Guardian Angels had their wings clipped at a graduation ceremony on Tuesday night after being shut out of the building the event was supposed to take place in.
The Angels’ first graduating class had to hit the pavement early because Toronto housing officials at the Denison Seniors Residence wouldn’t let them in.
“We were invited here by the residents many months ago to help assist the residents. These residents are under siege here,” responded Canadian president of the Angels, Lou Hoffer.
Tenant representative Robert Dixon backed that claim.
“This was a group that we were promoting to encourage them to be in our neighbourhood, and housing has shut them out of the building and cancelled their graduation here.”
51 division cops had to break up the gathering with threats of trespassing charges.
“I think it’s despicable that these residents are not allowed to have guests in their own home,” Hoffer added.
Local personality Spider Jones was on hand and voiced his support for the group.
“I think with the Guardian Angels patrolling this part of town at least it brings a sense of security for the people living here,” he said.
In the end councillor Jane Pitfield got the group permission to use Allan Gardens for the graduation.
When the ceremony finally took place, Angles founder and president Curtis Sliwa has some choice words for David Miller and Bill Blair.
“It’s unfortunate that mayor Miller and police commissioner Blair have opted to adopt a cold war policy against an organization that just wants to help the police.”
