By Fred Alvarado Fred is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE

RPTV Weekly News Show Episode 68 (Dec4th to Dec14th) - in this weekly news show hosted by RPTV reporters Kedar Ahmed and Fred Alvarado, we present news that impacts on Toronto's Regent Park and the surrounding areas.

This week’s feature story:
Regent Park swim pilot program for children aged 6 —12 is now permanent.

The Regent Park swim pilot program was created in response to community feedback regarding local access to recreation services including aquatic programs at the Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre. In addition to providing access to aquatic instructional program opportunities for children aged 6-12 who reside within Regent Park, the pilot program was intended to provide youth employment workshops and community engagement opportunities for local residents on recreation programming in the neighbourhood.

The goals of the swim pilot program were to:
• Increase opportunities for inexperienced or new swimmers to learn aquatic competencies
• Provide greater access to those experiencing barriers to traditional means of program registration
• Provide opportunities for youth to gain pre-requisite certifications that lead to employment opportunities in Parks,   Forestry and Recreation.
• Provide ongoing engagement opportunities for the Regent Park community.

Given the success and popularity of the pilot program, Parks, Forestry and Recreation will continue offering the Regent Park Swim Program to local residents of the Regent Park community as part of the base service level in 2024. City staff will continue collaborating with the Access to Recreation Working Group as well as other members of the community.

On November 28th, 2023, City Council Economic and Community Development Committee chaired by Councillor Alejandra Bravo, discussed and accepted unanimously a progress report on the continuation of the Regent Park swim pilot program that reserves access to 60 regent park kids.

At the meeting, Regent Park residents had deputations to share support on the expansion of the swim program in our community.

Episode 68 features segments on:

0:00 Intro;
01:27 City of Toronto discusses progress report on Regent Park swim pilot program;
14:44 Nelson Mandela Park Public School students celebrate Community & Allyship Gallery Night;
17:33 Dixon Hall Community Services host Peer Job Fair for work program at their Warming Centre;
21:00 Regent Park Community Centre hosts Annual Pancake Breakfast;
23:44 City of Toronto announces winners of 2023 Access, Equity and Human Rights Awards; 33:53 Bond Place Hotel at 65 Dundas St East to become permanent housing;
35:32 KingSett Capital has offered to sell 214-230 Sherbourne back to the City of Toronto;
37:20 City’s outdoor rinks are now open in Regent Park and surrounding neighbourhoods for winter season;
38:25 Toronto Police 51 Division —Project Hope deliver donations to newcomers to Canada; 45:03 Events and Jobs in Regent Park.

This week’s story:
Regent Park swim pilot program for children aged 6 —12 is now permanent.

The Regent Park swim pilot program was created in response to community feedback regarding local access to recreation services including aquatic programs at the Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre. In addition to providing access to aquatic instructional program opportunities for children aged 6-12 who reside within Regent Park, the pilot program was intended to provide youth employment workshops and community engagement opportunities for local residents on recreation programming in the neighbourhood.

The goals of the swim pilot program were to:
• Increase opportunities for inexperienced or new swimmers to learn aquatic competencies
• Provide greater access to those experiencing barriers to traditional means of program registration
• Provide opportunities for youth to gain pre-requisite certifications that lead to employment opportunities in Parks,   Forestry and Recreation.
• Provide ongoing engagement opportunities for the Regent Park community.

Given the success and popularity of the pilot program, Parks, Forestry and Recreation will continue offering the Regent Park Swim Program to local residents of the Regent Park community as part of the base service level in 2024. City staff will continue collaborating with the Access to Recreation Working Group as well as other members of the community.

On November 28th, 2023, City Council Economic and Community Development Committee chaired by Councillor Alejandra Bravo, discussed and accepted unanimously a progress report on the continuation of the Regent Park swim pilot program that reserves access to 60 regent park kids.

At the meeting, Regent Park residents had deputations to share support on the expansion of the swim program in our community.