Previous Editions
Previous Editions
VOLUNTEER PORTAL
Our Community Assistants and Volunteers are the backbone of CMT. In three short years we now have close to 30 active volunteers who deliver and support our programs. We'd like to introduce them to you. We have developed a volunteer portal to introduce them to each other and to our Friends. So please check it out.
Community Matters Toronto
Community Matters Toronto is a charity providing direct services, education, training and research to develop the life and social skills of children, families and adults, and in turn, encourage their contribution to their community
Contact Information
Community Matters is an operating name of St. James Town Family Literacy Services, a registered charity.
260 Wellesley St. East, Unit 102, Toronto, ON M4X 1G6
Telephone (416) 944-9697
E Mail us
Our Web Site
Early on we decided on a two step approach, first to find a temporary solution to keep the pool from closing down and then to find a long term solution to keep the pool open for our community. The Boys and Girls club and Manulife Financial immediately pledged short term financial assistance and with additional funding the pool will stay open this year and in fact be available in the fall. So we are very pleased with this outcome and are now looking forward to developing a more permanent solution. You may also want to read a news release about this event here.
For over three years Dianna Jiang worked tirelessly helping hundreds of newcomers find the employment they deserved. Dianna recently secured a permanent position in the employment field and has been steadily accepting increased responsibilities.
Newcomer Women’s Services of Toronto selected Dianna as a recipient of the Catherine Parr Traill award which “pays homage to the hope, resolution, and perseverance of women who through hard work, courage and resilience, with integrity and a positive attitude have struggled through hardship in order to make a new life for themselves and their families in Canada”.
We are very proud of Dianna’s accomplishments and congratulate her on this recognition.
Ingred Cumberbatch has volunteered with us for over three She has participated in many of our training activities and has organized the 145 Mutual Street Kids Internet Café.Recently Ingred decided to return to school. She has been recognized for her efforts with the award of a $ 1000bursary.
So we would like to both thank Ingred for all her work and wish her well in her return to school.
Jarvis Collegiate Swimming Pool
We have been deeply involved in helping to keep the Jarvis Collegiate Swimming Pool open.
Until we tried to permit the pool for our summer program we were not aware that the pool had been scheduled to close because not enough permit fee revenue.
As part of our Healthy Living Initiative we are advocating for changes which will lead to healthier living conditions in St James Town and the “Pool Project” clearly provides this opportunity in a densely populated community.
Many things happened in short order. We started to attend the Aquatics Working Group meetings focusing on all of the TDSB pools we were appointed the Pool Captain for the Jarvis Pool. We held weekly meetings for the community at CMT, we set up a web page and survey asking the community what type of swimming activity they would prefer. Members of our community meeting went door to door in the community to generate interest.
Over 450 people responded to our survey in less than three weeks. Many people did not know the pool even existed and even more did not realize the pool could be available to the community.
Recognition
Last year we were very pleased when Ali was awarded the YMCA peace medallion. Over the summer three more of our present and former Community Assistants have been recognized.
A Busy Summer
It has been a busy summer for Community Matters as we prepare for the fall and winter seasons.
We have expanded our After School program to provide physical activity, healthy eating and nutrition, wellness and personal health education, homework support, arts and crafts and trip activities for 40 children from Rose Avenue School.. We are fortunate to be able to offer this program at Rose Avenue Public School. As part of this program parents will participate in tutoring training and contribute to the program to provide the best opportunity to integrate parents, children and the school activities for the student success.
We were awarded a Heart and Stroke Foundation Grant to provide training for the community to advocate for systemic changes which will improve conditions for healthy living in St. James Town. This important initiative provides residents with the opportunity and grounding to develop their own voice and be able to speak out for what is important for them in their community.
Our training will use practical issues as a way of learning. Our neighbours have decided to seek to create safer conditions for children as they go to and from school by installing a cross walk or stop signs on the road they cross to get to Rose Avenue School, we will continue to advocate for policies that will keep the Jarvis Collegiate swimming pool open, and we are seeking more equitable use of space in the community
Our calendar of activities demonstrates just how much Community Matters has grown and is impacting the St. James Town community. As a small organization with limited resources and space we are able to accomplish this through the financial support of foundations equally committed to our community and dedicated Community Assistants who know their neighbourhood well and are skilled at understanding and meeting the needs of their neighbours
We would like to gratefully acknowledge the financial committment made to Community Matters and the St. James Town Community. In particular we would like to recognize: