Presentation at Inaugural Meeting of SCRO - Feb 23, 2016
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This is a presentation that was delivered by Dave Hardy of Rotary Clubs in Scarborough and Jennifer McKelvie, Interim Chair of the Scarborough Community Renewal Organization (SCRO).
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Presentation at Inaugural Meeting of SCRO - Feb 23, 2016
- 1. Scarborough Community Renewal Organization Inaugural Meeting Tuesday, February 23, 2016 1
- 2. Scarborough Community Renewal Campaign • Campaign involved consulting thousands of people representing diverse interests, geography, ethnicities, age groups, genders, socio-economic status, and occupations. 2 • #1 recommendation of the Campaign was to develop a Scarborough Community Renewal Organization
- 3. 3
- 4. Social Development Committee • Marginalized population affected the most by lack of social and institutional infrastructure and investments • 25% of Toronto’s NIAs are in Scarborough 4
- 5. Social Development Committee 5 What can the Social Development Committee do? – Promote equity, diversity, and social well-being in Scarborough by supporting a network of resources and partners – Promote poverty reduction initiatives/programs
- 6. Economic Growth Committee • Employment areas are being converted into non- employment uses • Not capturing higher paid office type jobs • We have become a retail economy 6
- 7. Economic Growth Committee 7 What can the Economic Growth Committee do? – Support business incubators – Advocate/support development of a Scarborough-specific Economic Development Plan – Work with city staff to develop a plan for attracting head offices and investments – Coordinate with the Scarborough Business Association
- 8. Arts, Culture, Tourism and Sports Committee • We have a rich arts, multi-culture, tourism, and sports scene but with very few marketing opportunities. • Need additional community support to grow these programs. 8
- 9. Arts, Culture, Tourism and Sports Committee • Lack of branding of Scarborough • Working on building the arts and music scene 9
- 10. Arts, Culture, Tourism and Sports Committee 10 What can the ACTS Committee do? – “Put Scarborough on the map” – Advocate for/supporting development of Scarborough- specific Integrated Arts, Culture and Recreation Master Plan – Explore opportunities to host sports-specific events – Promote tourism-related places and activities in Scarborough
- 11. Health Promotion and Seniors Committee • Too much hospital infrastructure out of date • Need Provincial investment • Need improved coordination between hospitals and financial support for community health care providers. 11
- 12. Health Promotion and Seniors Committee 12 What can the Health Promotion and Seniors Committee do? – Advocate for funding for an improved health system in Scarborough and health care services and programs for seniors – Connecting various community-based health care initiatives – Work towards integration and collaboration between large health care systems and community-based health care programming
- 13. Suburban Planning Committee 13 • Toronto Official Plan need a lot of work for Scarborough • Poor public transit network
- 14. 14
- 15. Suburban Planning Committee What can the Suburban Planning Committee do? – Engage in a dialogue about transit/ transportation plans – Build a relationship with Toronto’s Planning Division – Advocate for secondary plans and master plans – Initiate dialogue between building/development sector with residents and relevant organizations 15
- 16. Natural Environment Committee • Vast amount of green space with potential for ecosystem enhancement and innovative uses 16
- 17. Natural Environment Committee 17 What can the Natural Environment Committee do? – Help make Scarborough most sustainable urbanized area in Canada – Advocate for/support the development of an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan – Develop public educational programs – Comment on projects/plans that affect Scarborough’s watersheds
- 18. Administration and Planning Committee Carry out the administrative and organizational tasks related to increasing membership, organizing fundraising and other events, and managing the finances. 18
- 19. 19 Develop and implement a strategic communications plan (incl. communication needs and priorities) to promote the mandate of the SCRO, rebrand Scarborough, and share updates on SCRO activities and events. Communications Committee
- 20. Today’s Purpose Form the Scarborough Community Renewal Organization by: • Introducing the Interim Chair, Interim Executive Committee, and Interim Committee Chairs • Making the committees more complete with your help 20
- 21. About SCRO • A coordinated voice for Scarborough on a wide range of issues • Big picture is community renewal across Scarborough • Focus on our commonalities • Includes individuals from all walks of life and organizations 21
- 22. Mandate The mandate of the SCRO is to continue the efforts of the Campaign. This includes supporting the implementation of the recommendations and identifying new actions and areas of focus for ongoing community renewal. 22
- 23. Support • Support will be provided by the Rotary Clubs in Scarborough to get SCRO started • Interim Executive Committee will be the backbone at the beginning 23
- 24. Committees • 8 different committees • All committees will: – Focus mainly on Scarborough while staying up-to-date on relevant city-wide issues; Coordinate with other committees, as needed; – Carry out consultation and outreach activities to engage with the public and other stakeholders; 24
- 25. –Provide position statements on relevant issues (in coordination with other committees or organizations as necessary); –Continue building relationships with relevant individuals, groups, and politicians at all levels; and –Provide annual committee summary reports, including lessons learned for distribution to the public at large, including various organizations and all levels of governments and politicians. 25
- 27. Executive Committee Members • Dr. Jennifer McKelvie, Interim Chair • Gerard Baribeau, Vice Chair • Harry Hakomaki, Treasurer • Janise Smith, Communications Chair • Carol Baker, Membership Chair • Jamille Clarke-Darshanand, Member • Rick Gowrie, Member 27
- 28. Committee Chairs • Dr. Israt Ahmed, Social Development • Scott Hua, Economic Growth • Paul Bolton, Arts, Culture, Sports, and Tourism • Victoria Lecker, Health Promotion and Seniors • Mimi Lau, Suburban Planning • Arlen Leeming, Natural Environment • Janise Smith, Communications • Jennifer McKelvie, Administration and Planning 28
- 29. Interim Executive Committee’s Initial Priorities • Incorporate SCRO as a non-profit organization • Develop the SCRO terms of reference • Establish the Interim BOD 29
- 30. Initial Structure 30 Executive Committee Committee Chairs Members in Good Standing Board of Directors Social Development Economic Growth Arts, Culture, Tourism & Sports Health Promotion & Seniors Suburban Planning Natural Environment Admin. & Planning Communications
- 31. Interim Committee Chair’s Priorities • Organize the first committee meeting • Evaluate priorities and develop objectives • Draft a terms of reference • Identify key stakeholders & and recruit members 31
- 32. You Can Renew Scarborough! 1. Become a member Potential benefits: Discounted registration fees for events, monthly e-updates, ability to contribute to e- updates & networking opportunities. 2. Join a committee Potential benefits: Ability to make positive change for Scarborough, interact with members that share your passion, and develop your skills and interests Help us complete the committees, there is a role for everyone! 32
- 33. Next Steps 1. Become a member and join a committee! 2. Executive Committee will get started on their initial priorities 3. Committee Chairs will contact you about the first meeting 33
- 34. THANK YOU! 34
Editor's Notes
- Grew up in Scarborough Trained as an urban planner Raised my family Scarborough has been very good to me; it was the village that raised the child. I suspect many of you have the same circumstances. Wanted to do my part to help my community Joined Rotary as the best organization able to do that
- The five Rotary Clubs meet here once a month and take stock of what’s going on around the world and in our local community. In Scarborough, we have a rich multi-cultural community. We are a world within a City. That said, we saw indicators that were going the wrong way We set out to find our community leaders and say, we need to do something. And, frankly, we’ve grown tired of hearing condescending remarks about who we are as a community. Based on facts and research; we have published discussion papers and in the process started a research think tank in Scarborough called the Institute for New Suburbanism to continue to insure that the changes we are seeking is on solid ground. Extensive community consultation; talked to ever organization we could find and thousands of people over a 2 ½ period. Most common observation is, we were amalgamated but not assimilated. We live in Scarborough because we are proud to live in Scarborough. The Campaign can up with 14 recommendations The number one recommendation is to initiate a Scarborough Community Renewal Organization; and that’s why we are here tonight. So let me tell you what is it, how it is organized and how you can get involved.
- When we started to think about renewal, the first area that came to mind is poverty, homelessness, and marginalization. How are we taking care of our most vulnerable and how should we take care of them? We were once called the City of the Future and today it’s not working. Queen Elizabeth actually visited the Golden Mile Plaza Scarborough had most of the neighbourhood improvement areas in the City. That’s not new to the hardworking people who are helping Scarborough’s most vulnerable every day. East Scarborough Storefront and Ann Gloger Agincourt Community Services and Lee Soda Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities and Jeanie Joaquin Scarborough Local Integrated Labour Market Group led by the City and the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities Malvern Family Resource Centre The Caring Alliance and other faith groups These are the people making a difference to the lives of Scarborough residents every day, we should be proud of their service. They deserve a big round of applause. But they also need volunteer and financial support from the whole community.
- Poverty raised the question in our minds, why do we have the most neighbourhood improvement areas. It also raised the question, when our children graduate, can they find a well-paying job in Scarborough? Post war, huge manufacturing community – Crouse Hinds, Frigidare, Hillman We are losing our employment areas – Comstock, Midwest, Howden are now turning into mixed use, churches and karate schools Scarborough Town Centre was supposed to be the core of the community and rival the North York City Centre and Mississauga City Centre in influence. But free trade hit us hard. We began losing jobs 2002 to 2012 statistics. We are now a retail economy characterized by thousands of small businesses. Why is that important? Who can you turn to when you are fundraising? When you organization needs financial support, is there a Scarborough Corporation that, as in other communities, can write out a cheque for $10 thousand, $1 million, $10 million? In other communities their head offices can write large and small cheques as part of their corporate social responsibility programs. But rarely in Scarborough. In contrast, we saw our neighbours in the City of Toronto obtain 68,000 new jobs as we lost 1,700 jobs. We are happy to see this prosperity in the core. There are good signs. We have some excellent City staff – Ian Brown, Neil Farmer and Ted Northcott. We now have a strong Scarborough Business Association We are slowly getting new investment – Oxford and Kevric will be investing in the Scarborough Town Centre and our Chief Planner is placing a lot of attention on the rethinking of the Town Centre. There are other developers who are interested in investing. We have Anchor Institutions that are growing. UTSC is developing a Master Plan that we need to get behind and have great outreach into the community. They are a very large employer. And, the whole community needs to get behind them. Centennial College 11,000 students and 3,000 staff at Progress Campus alone Trying to incubate new businesses and they welcome our help. The new Hospitality School will be the largest in North America and we need to give them our support. But there’s more to do.
- We need community support for business incubation; political support for an Economic Development Plan; residents who will work with the City to attract head offices. So we are looking for people to be on the ECONOMIC GROWTH COMMITTEE
- Let me end by sharing with you that John Stapleton – Open Policy and other people in this room got royally upset last year when we learned that Tourism Toronto’s Pan-Am publication included 650 restaurants in their list. Did you know that according to Tourism Toronto, Scarborough only has two restaurants worth noting – a Tim Horton’s and the Mandarin an Eglinton and Birchmount. We only have one tourism attraction and that’s the Zoo. However if you want to get there you can’t find It on the Tourism Toronto Map as the eastern border of Scarborough stops at Markham Road. We don’t need this from a publically supported institution. To describe this committee I’d like all of us to play a little jeopardy. The answer is: Des MacNuff, the producer and executive director of “the Jersey Boys” and writer and producer of The Who’s “Tommy” Carol Pope Doris McCarthy Bare Naked Lady’s Mike Myers Matt Duff Jim Carrey Peter Appleyard Two time Grammy Award winner The ‘Weeknd” Answer: who has Scarborough roots? I’d like to honour The Weeknd at a concert in Scarborough.
- With groups like Dinner and a Song, we have a great home grown music scene starting to happen. And a great rap and hip hop scene. We have a philharmonic orchestra that score Hollywood movies playing in a church and the Catherdale Bluffs Orchestra playing at the Chinese Cultural Centre Yet, in spite of being an incredibly talented community, our brand sucks. But it doesn’t deserve to. The population numbers for Scarborough are incredible. Did you know that at 625,000 people we are larger than Halifax, KW and larger in population than two Provinces. KW has three performing arts centres. We have incredible multicultural festivals and entertainment and great restaurants. Yet, we have no City scale level performing arts spaces, no exhibit spaces, stadiums, museums, art, galleries. In 1983, pre-amalgamation our developed a policy paper that would lead to Scarborough having a Living Arts centre, like KW and Miss and North York.
- If you join the ARTS, CULTURE, TOURISM AND SPORTS COMMITTEE you can support this area of renewal.
- Where do you go when you want the best health care? We looked at, how are we doing in terms of being a health community? And, how are we taking care of our seniors? And, people with disabilities? The need is great. And the statistics are disturbing. You’ve seen the new hospitals (Humber, Bridgepoint, Peel Memorial) providing excellent care for their residents. Their communities have got behind these institutions. And the Government of Ontario is investing $11.4 billion in capital projects across Ontario – but none in Scarborough. More than anything our health providers in Scarborough need the community to get behind them. The Centenary Rouge Valley Hospital needs significant capital investment. Emergency room alone designed for 25,000 visits and is getting 65,000 visits. The Birchmount Campus of the Scarborough Hospital system is designed for 20,000 emergency room visits an is getting 50,000 visits. In terms of Facility Assessments is scores in the bottom 10% in Ontario. Both my daughters were born at the Scarborough General Hospital, and when I learned of the need for capital investment I was shocked. Constructed in 1957, Scarborough Hospital has the oldest operating room in Ontario; in a post-SARS world, is not designed to keep the clean areas separate from the dirty areas. Neither it nor Scarborough are on Ontario’s list for capital investment. What really concerns me is that the Scarborough Hospital is being asked to cut back on their budget. And, now, they are losing a subway stop. The good news is the Province through the Scarborough Durham West Panel has recognized that support is needed and we need to contribute to and support capital investment. We understand there is a need to strengthen the relationship and collaboration between healthcare institutions and community health care providers
- Planners have also created great neighbourhoods and communities in Scarborough – C. D. Farquharson, Dorset Park, Wexford, Curran Hall, Midland Park, St. Andrews. And, we don’t want that to change. City planners have done a great job in planning the core area of the City and these areas are getting lots of investment and great design. However, over the next generation Scarborough will be facing significant growth pressure. We call it the flattening of the City as Core area land becomes too expensive and urban uses shift outward. How to plan for growth is centred on the Official Plan and frankly, when it comes to Scarborough and the suburbs, the Official Plan needs a lot of work. In other parts of the City I see the City supporting the change process by providing access to planners, architects and people skilled in public consultation. Too often, we are seeing townhouses as the solution to the replacement of schools and old plaza’s. We see residents fighting change where it might be better to have dialogue before change occurs. To work with developers saying your give us your best and we’ll give you our best. Scarborough residents need to get much more involved in the planning process both in Scarborough, but more importantly, Scarborough needs to have a voice on planning issues across the City. If core area politicians are voting to spend $35 million to provide transportation to the people living in 100 homes on the Toronto Island and the same politicians say that they want no expenditures for transit for 625,000 Scarborough residents representing ¼ of the City’s population, we need to know. Rest of the city needs to know, Scarborough is watching
- We need to keep our eye on the ball. So if you have this interest in renewal, please join the SUBURBAN PLANNING COMMITTEE.
- We have great ravines and parks, with the bluffs wonderful water front and with the Rouge Park, Canada’s largest urban natural park. Did you know that Scarborough is also Canada’s largest urbanized watershed? With such wonderful natural features, other Canadian communities have something called Integrated Community Sustainability Plans – a tool that helps us think about sustainability in all we do. Did you know that five of our ratepayer groups are about to appear at the City’s Public Works Committee to make the case for the most sustainable climate options and least expensive option at the Highland Creek Treatment Plant. And, they are being opposed by Toronto Councillors who feel that public policy is about having politically correct positions whatever the facts.
- Scarborough residents and students are already involved in looking after Scarborough’s natural environment and the NATURAL ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE will bring together the whole community.
- To make all of this happen we are going to need talented people. If you have talents in these areas please join these committees too.
- To make all of this happen we are going to need talented people. If you have talents in these areas please join these committees too.
- We’ve asked everyone here tonight to join the Scarborough Community Renewal Organization; so what is it and how is it structured? (REFER TO HANDOUT) It is a Scarborough wide organization open to everyone. It is an organization that will bring people together and talk to each other so that we get to know our needs and aspirations. It will take action on the remaining recommendations for change and identify new ones. It will be completely separate from Rotary – although Rotary will insure that it is strong and sustainable. It will support our political leaders when that is required and give them a nudge when that is required. It will incorporate as a non-profit and lead action toward community renewal.
- We thought we’d initially organize the SCRO with Committee that would take action on areas that need renewal. SO LET ME FINISH BY INTRODUCING YOU TO THE SCRO. Rotary asked Dr. Jennifer McKelvie to serve as the interim chair.
- Do you have any questions at this point?
- Dr. Jennifer McKelvie is a professional environmental geoscientist who has lived and worked in Scarborough for more than thirty years. She is a proud graduate of University of Toronto Scarborough Campus and has committed both her professional and volunteer activities to promoting community engagement. Her current volunteer work in Scarborough includes serving as President to the Centennial Community and Recreation Association, serving as an Executive member of the Scarborough Hospital Women in Philanthropy, serving as Community member on the University of Toronto Campus Council and serving as a citizen member on the Toronto and Regional Conservation Authority. JENNIFER – INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- Gerard Baribeau, Vice Chair. Gerard is the President of the Rotary Club of Scarborough and the founder and Past President of Probus-Guildwood. He is an active member of the Guild Park resource committee and the guildwood village community association. Gerard has been a resident of Scarborough for the past fourty-four years, including a business owner. Harry Hakomaki, Treasurer – Harry sends his regrets that he could not attend this evening. Harry has served as President and Treasurer of both the Scarborough Twilight Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Scarborough as well as Commodore and Treasurer of the Highland Yacht Club at Bluffers Park. Janise Smith, Communications Chair - Janise is the publisher for snapd Scarborough and has an absolute love for Scarborough. She is looking forward to being a part of SCRO and forming a communication committee that will develop a communication plan to promote SCRO's mandate. Carol Baker, Membership Chair - Throughout the 25 years Carol has lived in and loved Scarborough, she has played a key role in community organizations ranging from community associations, legal clinics, health care providers, political activists and environmental groups. Jamille Clarke-Darshanand, Member – Jamille is a lifelong Scarborough resident who's worked on social policy and welfare issues in the public and non-profit sectors. Jamille says she’s “energized by the opportunity to develop creative projects that promote local art, food and innovation!” Rick Gowrie, Member - Rick Gowrie is a Vice President at Rouge Valley Health System where he has worked since 2005. He has over 25 years of progressive and specific experience in healthcare planning, facilities planning, facilities construction and renovations, hospital line management, strategic planning, and support services.
- Dr. Israt Ahmed, Social Development – Israt is a Scarborough resident who is interested to make Scarborough a better place to live, work, rest, raise a family or take a break Scott Hua, Economic Growth - Scott is owner for a number of businesses, an advocate to form a business association in Scarborough, currently executive board member of newly established Scarborough Business Association. Paul Bolton, Arts, Culture, Sports, and Tourism – Paul moved to Scarborough at age 10 and attended St. Rose of Lima and Cedarbrae Collegiate before heading to the Univeristy of Indiana. Paul is manager of a local Canadian Tire in Scarborough. For ten years, he has been President of the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, a local non-profit orchestra. Victoria Lecker, Health Promotion and Seniors – Victoria is an alumni of UTSC who has lived in East Scarborough for 17 years and has 10 years experience with Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities delivering client focused community health services. Tentatively filled, Suburban Planning Chair has been tentatively filled by a planner Arlen Leeming, Natural Environment - Arlen Leeming is a Project Manager at TRCA. His projects focus on the implementation of watershed management initiatives that maintain a strong emphasis on stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, technical implementation, and community based connections. He is proud to be leading the Hydro Corridor Revitalization Project in Scarborough, and is excited to be a part of the Scarborough Community Renewal Organization. Janise and myself will also be chairing committees in addition to serving on the Interim Executive.
- The Executive committee will form the backbone for the organization and will be responsible for incorporating the SCRO as a non-profit organization The Executive will establish the terms of reference , coordinate with the committees, and setup a process for making all positions elected. All positions are considered “Interim” until formal elections are held. The Executive will establish the Interim Board of Directors, with the goal of reflecting a wide diversity of interests, ethnicity, age, genders, socio-economic status, and occupations.
- We thought we’d initially organize the SCRO with an Executive Committee to manage the logistics of the organization and with eight committees that can immediately start to take action to Renew Scarborough. Our goal is to establish a Board of Directors that consists of the executive committee, plus the committee chairs and is complimented by additional members in good standing. We have started to reach out to Scarborough residents about joining SCRO and our Interim Board of Directors. Once the executive has incorporated SCRO as a non-profit and established the Terms of Reference, we will launch the Interim Board of Directors.
- Organize first committee meeting, ideally within a month Evaluate priorities and develop objectives Draft a terms of reference for the committee Identify if key stakeholders are part of the committee and recruit new members if necessary Take action!
- You Can Renew Scarborough and Have Fun Doing it! Become a Member! Your membership will support initiatives to Renew Scarborough. You can also receive discounted registration fees for events, monthly e-updates about news and events, ability to contribute to e-updates & networking opportunities Join a Committee! Joining a committee is your way to help make positive change for Scarborough. As a committee member, you can share your skills and interests, while interacting with members that share your passion for Scarborough. We’re also always looking for meeting space, so in kind contributions to the committees are welcome.