To: Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford, Beaches-East York MPP Mary Margaret McMahon, TDSB Trustee Michelle Aarts,
Put Secord First: Rebuild Secord Elementary School and Community Centre
Rebuild Secord Elementary School and Community Centre.
Why is this important?
We Need a New Secord Elementary School
Secord Elementary School in East York is overcrowded and aging. Built in 1964, the school operates at 135% utilization, with 12 classrooms housed in temporary portables that have been in place for over 20 years. The school serves a rapidly growing community, with enrolment increasing 23% over three years. Projections show continued growth due to extensive residential development, including over 6,700 new units in the area, doubling the local population.
The school has been included in the TDSB's Top 5 Capital Priority Projects list since 2019, but funding is limited, and only a few projects are approved each year.
We urge the Ontario Government, the Minister of Education, and local MPPs to:
- Approve funding for the rebuild of Secord Elementary School without further delay.
- Recognize the urgent need to address overcrowding and infrastructure issues in light of the area’s projected population growth.
- Deliver on the commitment to provide equitable and sustainable learning environments and community services for Ontario’s students and families.
We need a new Community Centre
Secord Community Centre, serves the children and families of the Secord Ave. neighbourhood and is the only free community centre in our neighborhood. Yet Secord Community Centre is not included in the plans for rebuilding. Secord School. Secord Community Centre is an essential amenity for the area, offering free after-school and summer programming for children right in their neighbourhood. Demand for after-school recreation care, camps, sports and music programming consistently outstrips the availability. The exclusion of Secord Community Centre from any future redevelopment would be a huge loss for our community.
Secord Community Centre, serves the children and families of the Secord Ave. neighbourhood and is the only free community centre in our neighborhood. Yet Secord Community Centre is not included in the plans for rebuilding. Secord School. Secord Community Centre is an essential amenity for the area, offering free after-school and summer programming for children right in their neighbourhood. Demand for after-school recreation care, camps, sports and music programming consistently outstrips the availability. The exclusion of Secord Community Centre from any future redevelopment would be a huge loss for our community.
We ask Councillor Brad Bradford to:
- Ensure that community centers remain available for families in the densely populated communities at Main and Danforth and north of Danforth, so that no community is left behind in the face of new development.
- Work closely with community members to ensure that proper consultation takes place before any further decisions are made about the future of community centers and other services in our area.
- Identify resources that could assess the feasibility of building a joint school and community centre at Secord School, as he considered the 2025 City Budget.
With the Ministry of Education’s approval, we can make the Secord Elementary School replacement a reality, but only with cooperation between the Ministry, City Council, and the TDSB will our community receive the amenities it needs. Join us in advocating for the future of our children and our community. Ask the Ministry of Education, City Council, and the Toronto District School Board to put Secord First.
Secord First is facilitated and supported by the friends and families of Secord school and community centre.