Junction Triangle

Vote for the Perth Schoolyard Project

A group of residents is working to improve the playground behind Perth Avenue Public School and St. Luigi Catholic School. The playground is currently covered in paved asphalt. A plan to build a rubberized running track could become a reality this summer if enough people vote to support the initiative in a $50,000 grant competition called ‘Team Up’ offered by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Voting continues until February 20. You can make it better for all the children in the neighbourhood by showing your support with a vote!

The MLSE Team Up Foundation is introducing a new grant program this year – the Team Up Foundation Fund (TUFF) with a total of $200,000 available across four charitable grants. Four charitable organizations will each receive $50,000 at the end of March. Winners are selected based on VOTES!

With this grant we hope to attain a poured rubber track for approximately 600 students from Perth and St. Luigi Schools as well as 140 children from the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club. Perth Avenue Public School and St. Luigi Catholic School are a joint TDSB/TCDSB schools servicing students from JK -Grade 8. See more about this project at tinyurl.com/6UOPHC2

The Villager / Inside Toronto has an article about the new location for the Junction Triangle Boys & Girls Club, on Bloor St. between Symington and Lansdowne.

A few quotes from the article:

Junction Triangle members of the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club are just months away from moving into a new home base.

Operations Manager Justin Hanna confirmed the club is about to sign a lease for a new space on Bloor Street West between Dundas Street West and Lansdowne Avenue.

Plans to move into a new renovated warehouse space on Ernest Avenue were derailed last year, much to the dismay of area residents. Community activist and former Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club board member Kevin Putnam said he is frustrated by the club's lack of communication with the neighbourhood and its lack of accountability. The Bloor Street West location, at 2,600 sq. ft., is a far cry from the 7,000 sq. ft. 45 Ernest Ave. warehouse, said Putnam.

"It's no replacement for the club house they promised us," said Putnam.

Hanna explained that the 7,000-sq.-ft. warehouse with 18 foot ceilings would have cost the organization $100,000 in operating costs after taking care of rent, utilities and maintenance. However, Putnam said the club had to pay $90,000 to settle with the landlord of 45 Ernest Ave., who was going to rent his space to the club at cost.

The new Junction Triangle club house will be located within a condominium complex and features a kitchen, various rooms and an elevator. The condo's developer was required to provide community space within the complex and has thereby leased it to the city for 99 years, said Hanna. The Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club will lease the space from the city for three years.

This new home will allow the club to continue and grow its homework club, its nutritional cooking class and provide a technology room and an arts and culture program.

"We'll be starting a teen program in a teen lounge that will concentrate on leadership, social responsibility and volunteerism," said Hanna.

February 14, 2011

Office of the Ombudsman
City of Toronto
375 University Avenue
Suite 203
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 2J5

Re: Junction Triangle Boys and Girls Club

To Whom It May Concern:

We are writing to you about the ongoing problems at the Junction Triangle Boys and Girls Club which is managed as an outreach location of the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club located at 180 Westmoreland Avenue. This organization receives substantial financial support from the City of Toronto and its Westmoreland clubhouse is located in a city-owned building.

An update from the Boys & Girls Club, sent out on February 8 2011. You can download the original PDF file of this letter here.

Community Update: February 8, 2011

Dear members of the Junction Triangle community:

On behalf of the Dovercourt Boys & Girls Club and the Board of Directors I would like to update you on key developments related to our work in your community.

Dear Neighbour:

You are probably aware of the on-going problems at the Junction Triangle Boys and Girls Club which is managed as an outreach location of the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club located at 180 Westmoreland Avenue.

The Junction Triangle Boys and Girls Club has been operating in a temporary location and offering a limited after-school program for children since the lease expired at their Randolph location in March 2008. A new clubhouse location was found and the Club began leasing a facility in August 2009 at 45 Ernest Avenue. The new clubhouse would have provided additional space for 120 children and brought the services for young people back to pre-existing levels when the Club was located on Randolph.

After a year of renovations, the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club abandoned the Ernest Avenue location without notice or any neighbourhood consultations. The Club’s departure resulted in the loss of several hundred thousand dollars worth materials, rent and donated goods and labour. Because the Club had no legitimate reason to abandon the new facility they now face the additional expense of tens of thousands of dollars to settle a legal claim by the landlord for breaking the lease. With on-going legal negotiations with the landlord, the Club is refusing to hold a public meeting or consultations with Junction Triangle community.

More info about this event here.

Photo by Justin Hanna, 2010-06-03.

Photo by Justin Hanna, 2010-06-03.

Photo by Justin Hanna, 2010-06-03.

The following announcement comes from the Junction Triangle Boys and Girls Club. You can download a PDF version of the announcement here.

MEDIA ALERT

GAP Inc Joins the Dovercourt Boys & Girls Club in Renovating our new site for the Junction Triangle Boys & Girls Club

Junction Triangle Boys & Girls Club Renovations at 45 Ernest Ave

Toronto- June 3rd 2010: The Dovercourt Boys & Girls Club is proud to announce that Gap Inc will be joining the Club in renovating our new Junction Triangle Boys & Girls Club on June 3rd, 2010 from 9am-4pm.

Over 40 employees from Gap Inc will be coming to the new Club at 45 Ernest and assisting us in renovating the new space that will be the new permanent home for the Junction Triangle Boys & Girls Club at 45 Ernest Ave, Toronto, ON. Gap is one of the Club’s biggest supporters and we are extremely proud that they have come on-board as a partner in completing this project.

The new location at 45 Ernest Avenue is a 7,000 sq foot building, which is currently being renovated. The new location will open up an additional 120 spaces for community youth to attend a safe and positive after school and day camp program. The Club has been appealing to corporations and individuals to donate building materials and labour to complete the renovations as a community “Barn Raiser” and is proud to announce Gap as a new partner.

We invite the media to join us on June 3rd between 9am-4pm to see the Gap team in action as they spend all day working tirelessly in making the Junction community a better place to live.