Action from the KGO Feet in Motion
West Toronto FC (blue) took on Young Stars FC (black) in a free Community Soccer Tournament for Youth held at UTSC valley fields on Sunday September 8th
1st Day of School
Mayor John Tory and Councillor Gary Crawford were at Oakridge Junior Public School in Scarborough to welcome students as they head back to school this morning. The mayor provided updates on the City’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan initiatives that support the safety, education and wellbeing of all students in Toronto.
The Vision Zero Road Safety Plan is a comprehensive action plan that aims to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries on Toronto’s streets. With more than 50 safety measures across six emphasis areas, the plan prioritizes the safety of the most vulnerable road users: pedestrians, schoolchildren, older adults and cyclists. More information is available at https://www.toronto.ca/services-
What this means for Scarborough drivers is photo radar is coming to a school zone near you. The city is planning on installing 50 of the units in school zones throughout the city by December. With more planned after that.
Wheels on the Danforth; was all lit up on Saturday August 17th with a spectacular performance by David Ito, a professional fire breather, who wowed the crowd with his act.
Hunting for Ford
After six years serving her Scarborough-Guildwood riding, MPP Mitzie Hunter is taking her expertise to the Premier’s office next year.
Hunter announced her bid for the leadership of the Liberal party in a press release earlier this month, outlining her vision for Ontario’s future and her eagerness to “take the fight to Doug Ford.” As one of only seven Liberal MPPs re-elected in June of 2018, Hunter hopes that a newly rebooted Liberal party will be enough for a win in 2022.
“As people lose trust in Doug Ford, they will look to the Ontario Liberal party,” Hunter said. “When they do they need to see that we are a new party with new faces, new voices and ideas for how to lead the province.”
In just over a year of being Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford has made large and abrupt cuts to funding for a number of different organizations, including: Legal Aid Ontario (losing $133 million in funding), the Ontario Arts Council (losing $10 million) and a program to plant 50 million trees lost $4.7 million in its funding.
OSAP and OHIP saw disruptive changes as well. A free-tuition program was cutback, meaning some students couldn’t qualify for grants to cover their tuition, and free prescriptions for Ontarians under 25 was removed from the OHIP-plus plan.
“It’s close to a billion dollars out of post-secondary education,” Hunter said, citing the OSAP changes as one of Ford’s first deep cuts in office.
“It’s devastating, particularly for students in Scarborough,” she said. “Many of them have spoken to me about the choices that they’re now facing … Some of them are questioning whether they can continue with their program.”
Hunter not only plans to revert Ford’s cutbacks, but to expand funding and policy in ways that future-proof Ontario. Her vision lists the achievement of a 90% graduation rate, financial support for at-home-caregivers and the expansion of OHIP-plus for mental health support of Ontarian youths under 30 years old, among other plans directed at rural Ontario.
“The focus is on growth,” Hunter said. “Making sure that Ontario leads Canada in GDP growth and that our youth are graduating … that they get the support that they need and are able to live a positive life.” “We need to make sure Ontario remains a strong province, competitive in Canada and competitive globally.”
Photos from Wheels on the Danforth 2019 Edition
New Funding for Variety Village
Monday, July 29th,
The provincial government
announced that it is providing $4.5 million to Variety Village for facility repairs, as well as recreational and competitive adaptive sport programs.
“Our government believes every person deserves the opportunity to enjoy sport at all levels and all abilities,” said Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “Variety Village does important work promoting inclusion and accessibility in sport and recreation, which is why we’re proud to provide them support to continue delivering physical activity and sport programs.”
Provincial funding will include $2.5 million in 2019-20 for facility repairs, as well as $2 million over the next two years to help deliver recreational and competitive adaptive sport programs. Some of the programming includes aquatics, competitive sports and introducing children with disabilities to parasports through education and outreach.
“The children and families that are served by Variety’s programming are very grateful for this historic investment of funding,” said Karen Stintz, President and CEO of Variety Village. “For over 70 years, Variety Village has been breaking down barriers for children with a disability and their families. This announcement is significant because it will mean the sustainability of the facility for the next 20 years. This is a government that understands the importance of investing in families and delivered on that commitment.”
“Ontario is one of the best places to play sport and be an athlete,” said MacLeod. “Variety Village is empowering children with disabilities and levelling the playing field through competitive adaptive sport.”
Variety Village is an inclusive family-friendly fitness, sports and life-skills facility in Toronto that has provided programming for people of all abilities, including those with disabilities, since the first facility opened in 1949.
Ontario has invested over $18 million in operating funding to Variety Village since 2002.
Variety Village has the largest inclusive summer camp program in Ontario, with 2,000 children attending last year.
