July 9, 2009, 2 e-mail

A. A. wrote:

First, thank You so much for your work and advocacy and mobilization in combating the City’s use of Christie Pits Park parks space as a dump. The Nook children and their families greatly appreciate that someone is speaking out on behalf of the park space.

I am writing regarding another urgent Christie Pits Park community matter. As you know I am with the Nook Children's Program, an operation that is part of the Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre. We serve many of the families in our neighbourhood and recently our membership has increased due to many families facing financial instability and needing access to free quality programming. This summer our children’s program is operating at capacity with 75 children enrolled. We are facing a challenge with the City of Toronto – Parks and Recreation Department ourselves, and we are hoping you can help us. We have a staff team of only 4 and provide FREE experiential educational after-school, summer, community arts, cooking club, bicycle share, special event, and suspension help programming for over 1300 children annually in this area.

As well we provide Parenting Workshops on issues such as the Effects of Sugar, and Healthy Discipline, etc. We also run many events including community dinners and movie nights. Currently we are in the midst of Summer Program and are in the process of reviewing application for our Program Coordinator; this position is to be filled for the Fall 2009. However, we have just received word that as of September the City Parks and Recreation Department, specifically Bob Abate Community Centre, will cut one of the two positions they fund for us.

This is extremely devastating to our program - especially in these times where we have had huge increases in users due to the financial vulnerability faced by our community families. Many of our families are working families trying to find ways to provide opportunities for children while making ends meet, and many are newcomers who desperately need help with Literacy. The Nook also provides services to many families with children with special needs who require properly invested after-school programming. We have been so fortunate that our staff team is so dedicated to community building and helping inspire the next generation of community members that they work for nominal wages provided by Parks and Recreation and Bob Abate Community Centre. Below is what the City of Toronto- Parks and Recreation Department felt was a reasonable wage for these workers who contribute so much to our community:

Recreation Worker 15 hours a week @ $9.50 per hour

Literacy Worker 25 hours per week @ $10.50 per hour

Now they have cut the Literacy position @ 25 hours per week. Many of our schools will be affected, including Essex Public School, Dewson Public School, Hawthrone Alternative, St. Raymond’s Catholic School, and Montrose Public School. As well, many of our community events will either be reduced in scope or completely eliminated.

Our community members are faced with tremendous pressures: the City is on strike, the Park is being used as a dumping ground, and now a huge part of The Nook’s program is being cut regardless of the fact that our program is one of the few operational community summer programs running and the only FREE program of its kind. Many of our community members would be outraged and devastated to hear that one of the most joyful, useful, and free programs in Christie Pits Park is being cut.

We desperately need the help of the Friends of Christie Pits to secure this position for the fall. We are hoping that your mobilization skills and advocacy work for the spirit of community in Christie Pits Park can help us voice our concerns for such an obvious display of disregard for community needs.

Please let me know if you can help us with this cause, and if you would be able to meet to discuss any ideas you may have of ways to help us ensure the quality and momentum of this amazing program. I hope you can help,

C. A. wrote:

Hello B.

Personally, I am alone with three small children this weekend and can't participate in your walk. But I do recognize the frustration in your email. I feel it as so many others do. I also feel it's time to take some action, however symbolic, to illuminate the absurdity of the situation and the poor choices that have been made since this strike began. And to go public with a vocal disapproval of 'negotiations' that aren't really happening and periodic news reports about there being 'no end in sight' to the strike. That's not alright.

Is there another way we can make this point besides your walk on Saturday? Can we come up with a creative idea that might empower the community and send a message at the same time? Is it out of the question to get the dump site assessed as a health hazard? I know CUPE said they would not allow a private contractor to pass the picket line but would they change their minds if hundreds of community residents, kids, friends, supporters AND the media showedozens of families and community residents and the media showed up? I think they might step aside.

I really think it's time we stood up and said 'enough' in whatever way is appropriate. I'm sorry I can't join you on your walk. It's a great idea. Maybe it will be the first of many.