Tamara Shephard of the Etobicoke Guardian wrote about last week's meeting with City Of Toronto Parks & Rec. in the Wednesday edition. I have no problem with Tamara's article and have posted a link to it at the end of this post. It illustrates once again the lack of insight by people who won't have to live with a poor decision because most of them don't live here. The problem is that when the decision was made several years ago to build an extension the the Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School gym, the Lakeshore Lions Arena was not available. Since it is now available, common sense says that it should be looked at as a more appropriate site for a community centre. The city believes that cancelling the gym extension at Redmond would be embarrassing to them when the reality is that they should be embarrassed for trying to force something that the community doesn't want. They don't want to change horses in the middle of the stream. But that's what they should do.
I also want to respond to comments made by Franklin Horner Community Centre Executive Director Laura Latham. I can only speak for myself. There are two problems with your community centre. It's too far for most people in this part of the community. And as a disabled person living indepenently in the community, I am well aware that there are no services for the disabled in your community centre. And despite the bleating of city bureaucrats, there will never be services for the disabled west of Yonge St. unless it's privately financed. We are well aware of the scope of a community centre at the Lakeshore Lions Arena. It's not just about partnering with the United Way. Most of it would have to be privately financed and given the opportunity, fundraising could be initiated sooner rather than later. Your assumption is incorrect. So despite the naysayers and ignorant bureaucrats, we will continue to fight for what we believe in. Stay tuned for details of a rally on January 16. Here's the link to Tamara's article.
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