News and Updates

SPACE News

  • SPACE Recommendations to MOE Budget 2010

    Provincial Budget Commitments to Enhance Community Use of Schools -
    While Minister Wynne and the Ministry of Education have taken steps to increase access to schools more needs to be done. See the SPACE Coalition’s recommendations to improve equitable access for all Ontarians.
    Final Space Budget letter Dec 18 09 SPACE Recommendations for the 2010 Budget

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  • A Testament to Community Power – SPACE in the Toronto Star

    On July 1st, 2009, Carol Goar wrote an article for the Toronto Star about Community Use of Space and SPACE Coalition’s successes.

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  • Provincial funding to support community access to schools is making a difference – but barriers continue

    The new study Progress and Pitfalls, by Social Planning Toronto and the SPACE Coalition, finds that while access to schools is improving, more action is required.

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  • 2007 SPACE Survey Released

    This year’s survey assessed changes to community groups’ ability to access schools resulting from the Province’s $20 million annual investment in the Community Use of Schools program.

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Community News on School Issues

  • TCDSB offering subsidized Community Use of Schools
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  • Free After-Hours Access to 77 TDSB Schools Priority Schools Initiative

    Community organizations can apply for free use of space in 77 Toronto District School Board schools to run programs under the Priority Schools Initiative (PSI) program. Find which schools are available here.

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  • School Closures and Social Spatial Justice

    Social Planning Toronto hosted a lively discussion back in September on the issue of public use of schools, community hubs and school board processes in school closure situations. The audience included not only students and community members, but also a number of senior politicians and school trustees. Here we present the slides from the presentation of Ranu Basu, from the Geography Department at York University, who has mapped school closings and analyzed for spatial justice.

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  • Creative Thinking on School Closings

    A recent Toronto Star editorial comments on the work of a group of rural citizens working together to try to change the way decisions to close schools are made.

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  • Retooling schooling

    Norm Beach and Tam Goossen ask “During this recession, will we sell public assets at fire-sale prices? Or mothball them for years to come? And what if those assets are schools nestled deep within communities in need of services?”

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  • Provincial Government Investing in Municipal Recreation Facilities

    The Government of Ontario recently announced that it would put $195 million over two years toward the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program in Ontario and the Ontario Recreation Program.

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  • Priority School Initiative

    77 Toronto District School Board schools identified for free use by Not-For-Profit organizations.

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  • Annual Report on Schools – 2009

    People for Education’s 2009 Annual Report on Ontario’s Public Schools, recommends Ontario expand its vision for education beyond test score targets and graduation rates.

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  • More Schools Open Doors After Hours

    In 2008 the McGuinty government announced it would increase funding to the Community Use of Schools program to $66 million by 2012.

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  • McGuinty government helps open schools to community groups

    In 2004 the McGuinty government announced $20 million in spending to help open schools to community groups through a Community Use of Schools program.

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