GENERAL COMMITTEE – FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Barbara M. Roth, Director of Recreation and Culture
	PREPARED BY:	Lori Wells, Manager, Programs
	DATE OF MEETING:	2006-Jan-23
	SUBJECT:	Great Canadian Skate – Sunday, February 19, 2006
		Requesting to Waive Public Skate Admission Fees

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report titled Great Canadian Skate report be received;

And that Mayor and Council approve waiving the public skate admission fees on Sunday, February 19, 2006;

And further that the donations collected go to the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families - Jump Start Program.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the report is to request waiving public skate admission fees in lieu of donations and to inform Council about the Great Canadian Skate to be held on Sunday, February 19, 2006, a fund raiser for the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families – Jump Start Program.

BACKGROUND:

The Canadian Tire Foundation for Families – Jump Start Program is a charitable program that helps kids in financial need participate in sport and recreation. The Jump Start Program is delivered by a local chapter in Markham. The chapter is made up of representatives from the Markham Family YMCA, Pathways, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Town of Markham Recreation and Culture Department and the owners of the two Markham Canadian Tire Stores. The Markham Chapter has been up and running since the spring of 2005. A total of 81 children have been funded. Forty-seven of the 81 participants have enrolled in the services offered by the Town of Markham, Recreation and Culture Services Department. The children funded are based on their financial need.

The Great Canadian Skate, Canada’s largest skating party is a nationwide skating celebration in support of the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families – Jump Start Program. On Sunday February 19, 2006 , the Markham Jump Start Chapter is requesting to host the Great Skate during the regular public skate time at the following arenas; Angus Glen , Centennial , Crosby, Milliken Mills, Mount Joy and Thornhill. We are requesting that the admissions on this day are waived and in place a donation to the Jump Start Program is given. The donation can be either cash or Canadian tire money; all funds raised go directly to the Jump Start Program. The funds raised will assist in sustaining the program which supports children in financial need to continue to participate in a sport or recreation programs.

OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:

The Jump Start Program supports children in financial need to participate in sport and recreation activities. The program recognizes that all children should have a chance to run, skate, and play and overall be physically active. The jump start program subsidizes 100% of the cost of eligible participants enrolled in our programs.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The admission charged for public skating will be waived on Sunday, February 19, 2006, and all donations collected will go to the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families - Jump Start Program. The total revenue collected at all facilities at a Sunday public skate averages $1,100.

Barbara M. Roth, Director, Recreation and Culture Services

Jim Sales, Commissioner, Community & Fire Services

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