Lucy Troisi, a former manager in the city’s parks and recreation division and appointed councillor in the previously split Toronto Centre ward, says without at least $350,000 in additional funds the Cabbagetown Youth Centre will be forced to close by March 2020. The centre is now asking the city to step in to help after a substantial provincial grant ran out in March. Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam (Ward 13 Toronto Centre) has tabled a motion at council, to be considered Wednesday afternoon, asking that city staff evaluate the Cabbagetown Youth Centre’s programming and financial situation immediately. The youth centre was founded in 1972 as a boxing club in a vacant downtown east warehouse by Cabbagetown-area police officer Peter Wylie, the Star has reported, who later saw the space as a way to provide direction to at-risk youth. Of the $350,000 they hope to secure from the city, Troisi said $100,000 would go to maintaining core programs and $250,000 to salaries.

Source: thestar November 26, 2019 22:15 UTC