About the SPACE Coalition
Working in collaboration with SPT, SPACE is a strategic outreach and action research coalition composed of diverse community organizations in Toronto and across Ontario. Its aim is to ensure that the investments made by the Provincial funding of the ‘Community Use of Schools’ program is increasing access to schools and truly benefiting the broad, diverse community in an equitable manner. SPACE and SPT have reached out to over 300 groups across Ontario, and built a coalition of over 20 City and province-wide community-based and voluntary organizations serving thousands of citizens across Toronto and Ontario.
Beginning in 2000, efforts on behalf of the SPACE coalition have caused the community use of school fees to be reduced or eliminated in Ontario, ranging from 40% to 100% reductions (Office of the Premier News Release, 2005). The CUS program is in high demand and has high impact: 32% of permit users increased their use in 2006/2007 following funding for CUSP (SPT/SPACE Research Bulletin, 2007). Research and mobilization efforts resulted in a commitment in 2008 to increase annual funding of CUSP to $66 million by 2012 to continue reducing barriers to use school space.
For 2009 SPACE expanded its focus to include barriers and access issues in municipal spaces, in addition to school spaces.
SPACE aims to increase social inclusion, bringing affordable or free programs to marginalized groups, and to enable community engagement and participation, improving the quality of life for people living in Ontario communities.
Vision Statement
We believe that community use of public space is a cornerstone of healthy neighbourhoods and communities.
Mission Statement
SPACE will play a leadership role in providing maximum community use of public space across Ontario, particularly in schools, through affordable, equitable, and consistent access by:
- Building community connections and engagement;
- Conducting research;
- Assisting in public policy development;
- Providing education and public awareness activities;
- Engaging in advocacy with the appropriate authorities.
Revised by the SPACE coalition, February 2009