Item - 2023.EC8.5

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1. Received the report (November 8, 2023) from the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, for information.

The purpose of this report is to provide a progress report on Parks, Forestry and Recreation's Regent Park swim pilot program.

The Regent Park swim pilot program was created in response to community feedback regarding local access to recreation services including aquatic programs at the Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre. In addition to providing access to aquatic instructional program opportunities for children aged 6-12 who reside within Regent Park, the pilot program was intended to provide youth employment readiness workshops and community engagement opportunities for local resident feedback on recreation programming in the Regent Park neighbourhood.

Given the success and popularity of the pilot program, Parks, Forestry and Recreation will continue offering it to local residents of the Regent Park community as part of the base service level in 2024. Staff will continue collaborating with the Access to Recreation Working Group as well as other members of the community to further understand recreational needs and interests, develop locally responsive programming and provide employment readiness opportunities within the community.