Thank you for your support! Our Community Centres are safe!
Recently, Mayor Rob Ford released the proposed 2012 budget cuts for services across the City of Toronto. One of the proposals was the closure of six Parks and Recreation Community Schools which are housed in six Etobicoke public schools. The two Community Schools proposed for closure or reduced services in our Ward were James S. Bell and John English.
Parents and community members rallied their support to fight these closures, sending hundreds of emails, organizing and signing petitions and calling the Mayor's and Councillor Grimes' office.
On 6 January 2012 14:09, Councillor Grimes <councillor_grimes@toronto.ca> wrote:
I am very pleased to announce that, after extensive consultation and discussions with the Mayor's office and city staff, the decision has been reached to continue funding for the Community Centres currently operated from Toronto District School Board sites.
This will include the programs delivered at both the John English and the James S. Bell School sites. Programming will continue uninterrupted.
I recognize that recreation programming is well used and well loved in Etobicoke Lakeshore. community members, including the Mimico Ratepayers associations and local parent council representatives, communicated to me concerning the need to keep our children active and engaged. Continuity in programming is important during a child's development. Programming that can be easily accessed at a reasonable cost is important to all of us.
Ward 6 residents enjoy a wide variety of recreation options , that is what makes ours a family friendly neighbourhoods where people choose to live. Our programs are always at their full capacity, and we enjoy our active, liveable neighbourhoods..
School Nutritional programs will continue to be funded at the current levels, as well. I had the opportunity to show to other City Councillors and the Mayor's office the great letter I received from children at the Twentieth street School . They wrote to me about how important these snack programs are to them. I have always supported these programs before and have worked in the past with the Ontario Food terminal to provide donations to local agencies to help support the needs of our children and community.
Best Wishes
Mark Grimes
Councillor Mark Grimes' Office Ward 6, Etobicoke Lakeshore City Hall
100 Queen Street West, Suite C48
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2Tel: 416-397-9273
Fax: 416-397-9279
www.markgrimes.ca
Links to find out more:
- Read the article from the Etobicoke Guardian
- "Like" the Facebook page "Save John English Community School"
- Join the Facebook Group "Etobicoke Parents for Public Education"
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