After School Program Providing Fun and Safe Activities Across the Province
Ontario is providing opportunities for 21,000 children and youth to participate in sport, recreation and active living programs after school to help build self-esteem, promote success in school and boost wellbeing.
Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport and Arthur Potts, MPP for Beaches-East York, were at the Stan Wadlow Clubhouse today to announce that the province is renewing funding for its After School Program. The program gets students moving through activities like soccer, basketball or dance, teaches healthy eating habits and promotes relationship building. About 30 children and youth take part in the City of Toronto program at Stan Wadlow Clubhouse every school day.
This year, 122 organizations will deliver the After School program at over 400 locations across the province. Through participation in the program, children and youth gain confidence, have fun and achieve more in school. Ontario’s commitment to delivering high quality after school programming provides youth in priority neighborhoods an opportunity to stay active and engaged.
Investing in sport, recreation and active living in communities across the province is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.
Quick Facts
- Ontario is investing $13.5 million in the After School Program for the 2017-18 school year.
- 135,000 children and youth to participate in after school programming.
- The program is delivered by municipalities, Indigenous communities and organizations, non-profit and grassroots recreational organizations. Activities may include sport and recreation, arts and crafts, nutrition, and health and wellness education.
- Ontario’s After School Program supports Game ON – The Ontario Government’s Sport Plan, which aims to create opportunities for all Ontarians to get involved in sport.
- The After School Program also supports Advancing Opportunities for Women and Girls in Sport: Ontario’s Action Plan by providing accessible opportunities for girls to participate in physical activity and sport during the after school time period.
Additional Resources
Quotes
“Ontario’s After School Program plays a key role in keeping our children healthy and active, while developing confidence and learning skills that will empower them to succeed as they grow up. It was a wonderful opportunity to participate in the activities at the City of Toronto’s Stan Wadlow Centre and see the After School Program in action today. I am inspired by the organizers, providers and leaders for delivering this important program and making a difference in the lives of young people across the province.”
“It is important that children and youth have the opportunity to participate in activities that will keep them active, learn about healthy living and achieve more at school. Thanks to the government’s investment through Ontario’s After School Program, children in the Beach-East York community will have an opportunity to participate in safe and fun after school programming.”
“The City of Toronto is proud to partner with Ontario to deliver our After-School Recreation Care programs. Quality after-school programming is a vital link in the education continuum, and over 1,000 children in Toronto’s 13 priority neighbourhoods have access to arts, health, wellness, nutrition and physical activity in their community thanks to these programs. Together, we are investing in the future of each of these children, and in the future of our city and province.”
James Pasternak
“Thank you to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport for their continued support of the After School Program. As an Area Coordinator, I oversee eight of the City of Toronto’s 51 After School Recreation Care Programs in some of the busiest and most diverse communities. I look forward to coming to work each day to continually enhance the lives of the children in the program and make a difference in the community.”
Rob Spadafora
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