Community
Community Strategy
COMMUNITY STRATEGY
The creation of a community strategy was identified as a priority in the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc. 2016-2018 Strategic Plan.
The original Community Strategy was prepared in 2016 with consultation from the following groups:
- City of Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation
- City of Toronto Social Development
- University of Toronto Scarborough Athletics & Recreation
- University of Toronto Scarborough Partnerships
- East Scarborough Storefront
- Boys & Girls Club of East Scarborough
- Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities
- Catholic Cross-Cultural Services
- Mornelle Court
- Malvern Family Resource Centre
The resulting community outreach initiatives and interactions with these same groups, schools and users over the past five years have enabled a better understanding of our surrounding community and their needs.
The updated 2021 Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Community Strategy also incorporates insights from the 2020 Toronto Strong Neighbourhood Strategy. The resulting shift away from a focus on City Wards to “Priority Neighbourhoods” is based on updated Statistics Canada data from the 2016 census included in the Toronto Strong Neighbourhood Strategy. The updated strategy also adds much needed/requested programs to support groups and schools in Priority Neighbourhoods, which are classified as neighbourhood improvement areas and emerging neighbourhoods, as defined in the Toronto Strong Neighbourhood Strategy.
Community Strategy Goal
The goal of the community strategy is to provide programs that meet the physical activity priorities of the neighbourhoods served by the Centre, thereby fulfilling the mission to be recognized for providing world-class experiences in sport and recreation, for all, for life.
Community Strategy Objectives
- To identify the sports and recreation priorities of the consumers living in neighbourhoods served by the Centre and use this information to create new programming.
- To participate in community events to build relationships with key stakeholders, connect with and engage potential users, drive consideration and trial for the Centre, and heighten the profile of TPASC as an integral part of the community.
- To create a story that highlights the programs and best practices we have executed with residents, schools and groups from the neighbourhoods served by the Centre.
Community Fund
As part of the updated Community Strategy, a new community fund was launched in 2022 to allow groups & schools in Priority Neighbourhoods to access the Centre. Groups & schools that require financial assistance for existing Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre programs, or for programs they would like to facilitate at the Centre, are able to apply for financial support from the Community Fund provided they satisfy the eligibility requirements. Final funding decisions are based on the score the model calculates and assigns to the application, and available space and funding.
The Community Fund is financed through support from Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre Inc., new and existing corporate support, and individual financial contributions. One hundred percent of the money contributed to the Community Fund provides financial assistance to youth and families in Priority Neighbourhoods so they can access existing programs or for programs they would like to run, at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. That means any contribution made to the fund benefits youth and families located near the facility in the neighbourhoods served by the Centre.
Any business/individuals interested in becoming a financial contributor to the Community Fund can make a one-time or recurring monthly contribution by selecting the amount in the adjacent contrubition box or by contacting:
Steve McCormack
Manager, Partnerships & Community Outreach
Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre
smccormack@tpasc.ca
Community Fund Application
Updated November 8, 2022
Available Support
The community fund allows applicants in Priority Neighbourhoods* to access support for:
- Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre programs at the Centre
- Applicant single or multiple day programs that occur at the Centre
Funding can be used to pay for:
- The fees associated with TPASC programs
- The rental cost of TPASC amenities for applicant programs
To access funding from the community fund applicants must:
- Complete a TPASC Community Fund Request Form
- The Group or School must be willing to match the amount received from the Community Fund
- Groups and Schools are entitled to apply for money from the Community Fund once per calendar year
Application Process
- Complete and submit a TPASC Community Fund Request Form
- An independent committee evaluates request forms each month
- Program or amenity availability will be reviewed at the same time
- Applicants will be notified within thirty business days of when the committee meets
- The funding received from the Community Fund, by applicant, will be determined by TPASC Inc.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for money, applicants must satisfy the following requirements and achieve a score of 60% or higher:
- Group Fit: The group must be a school, registered charity, or not-for-profit organization
- Geographic Fit: The group or school must be situated in a Priority Neighbourhood*
- Participant Fit: The participants must reside in a Priority Neighbourhood*
- Size Fit: The Community Fund is available to groups, not individuals
- Segment Fit: The participants must come from one or more of these segments:
i. BIPOC youth;
ii. Girls and young women
*Note: ‘Priority Neighbourhoods are defined as Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs) and Emerging Neighbourhoods (ENs). The four Priority Neighbourhoods that represent a focus for the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre in the updated Community Strategy are: Malvern, Morningside, West Hill and Woburn.