“Skating is one of Canada’s great pastimes. This revitalized rink will provide the Regent Park community with an opportunity to gather and learn to skate or even improve their skating skills,” said Mayor John Tory. “This is another great example of how we as a City can collaborate with outside partners to improve facilities and services for residents of Toronto. Thank you to the MLSE Foundation, Hockey Canada, Toronto Community Housing, and The Daniels Corporation for making this rink revitalization a reality.”
The Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC and Toronto Marlies (MLSE Foundation) and Hockey Canada Foundation hosted a Leafs Learn to Skate Clinic and alumni were on hand for autographs.
The skating rink is the latest step in revitalizing Toronto’s Regent Park area. Known as a high crime section of the city of poverty resulting in gun, gang and drug violence Toronto has made a focused effect in changing the image. Part of that change took place by tearing down old community housing developments to build new, modern buildings along side condo developments. As newer building rise the area is also becoming a home to community sporting facilities like the improved skating rink. The rink has been improved with new lighting, dasherboards and fencing along with an updated Fieldhouse. The rink is part of a vast athletic grounds scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2015.
“It’s exciting to see the first part of the Regent Park Athletic Grounds come to life,” said Councillor McConnell. “Once the entire project is complete, it will open up many new opportunities for the neighbourhood. Not only will the athletic facilities be well-used and help keep the children, youth, and adults active and healthy, but the athletic grounds will add to the social fabric of the neighbourhood.”
One of the partners of this project is The Daniels Corporation who has condo developments in the neighborhood. Alike with Toronto Community Housing and the other partnerships Regent Park is making strides to become a mixed income community with positive activities for residents. This doesn’t come cheap. The Hockey Canada Foundation invested $300,000 for the hockey rink and fieldhouse alone.
“The Hockey Canada Foundation is proud to partner and support the MLSE Foundation on this wonderful community initiative,” said Chris Bright, Executive Director, Hockey Canada Foundation. “Creating opportunities for our youth to enjoy skating, hockey and a healthy active lifestyle is an important mandate of our foundation and Hockey Canada.”
It is hoped that by having more sporting areas and community based projects that Regent Park will became a peaceful and active area of the city.
