Item - 2026.EC29.11

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council establish the Board of Management for the Lawrence Heights Neighbourhood Centre as a new local and city board comprised of 12 total members (11 public members and the Councillor for Ward 8 - Eglinton-Lawrence) operating in accordance with former City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 25, Community and Recreation Centres, and the Relationship Framework for the City of Toronto and Association of Community Centre Boards of Management, each as amended, for the property at 5 Leila Lane and 2A Flemington Road (Lawrence Heights Neighbourhood Centre), effective on the date of Community Council's appointment of public members by:

a. Amending former City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 25, Community and Recreation Centres, to add a new section 25-36, 5 Leila Lane and 2A Flemington Road (Lawrence Heights Neighbourhood Centre), as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (May 26, 2026) from the Executive Director, Social Development and General Manager, Parks and Recreation; and

b. Amending the Relationship Framework for the City of Toronto and Association of Community Centre Boards of Management to add a new Schedule 11, Lawrence Heights Neighbourhood Centre, as outlined in Attachment 2 to the report (May 26, 2026) from the Executive Director, Social Development and General Manager, Parks and Recreation.

2. City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development, in consultation with the City Clerk, to conduct the recruitment and screening of members of the inaugural Board of Management in accordance with the City’s Public Appointments Policy, and to make recommendations to Community Council for approval in 2027.

3. City Council direct the City Manager, in consultation with the City Solicitor and Social Development, to make any needed technical or stylistic changes necessary to update the Relationship Framework for the City of Toronto and Association of Community Centre Boards of Management, including to update and correct bylaw and statutory references, and titles of City officials in the first quarter of 2027.

4. City Council direct the Executive Director, Social Development and General Manager, Parks and Recreation, to report back in the first quarter of 2027 with amendments to the former City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 25, Community and Recreation Centres, to update references to statutory authorities, City staff positions and notice and appointment requirements.

The City of Toronto operates ten community centres, known as the Association of Community Centres (AOCCs), managed by volunteer Boards of Management appointed by City Council. These multi-purpose facilities serve as catalysts for neighbourhood transformation—providing inclusive spaces that strengthen civic engagement, build local leadership capacity, and advance equity-focused outcomes. All Board-approved programming is carried out by AOCC staff, who operate as City employees within the AOCC Relationship Framework, ensuring operational accountability and alignment with City standards. The Council-adopted AOCC Expansion Framework and Implementation Strategy affirm the AOCC model as essential social infrastructure that advances equity, social cohesion, and neighbourhood resilience.

This report seeks City Council approval to establish the Lawrence Heights Neighbourhood Centre as a new Board of Management under the former City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 25, Recreation and Community Centres, and the AOCC Relationship Framework. Early approval reflects the lead-time required to operationalize an AOCC, providing sufficient time to form the Board, recruit an Executive Director, develop governance policies, onboard staff, and advance critical financial planning and grant development.

The Lawrence Heights Neighbourhood Centre marks the first expansion of the AOCC portfolio in over 30 years, a generational milestone for the model. The Centre will be co-located within the redeveloped Lawrence Heights Community Recreation Centre and Child Care Centre, a major civic investment delivered as part of the Toronto Community Housing-led Lawrence Heights Revitalization. This integrated, co-located approach aligns community development, recreation, and child care services within a single neighbourhood hub, strengthening service coordination, improving access, and maximizing the public value of City-owned infrastructure.

A demographic and service analysis confirms that Lawrence Heights and the surrounding neighbourhoods exhibit elevated community need, limited access to stable community spaces, and significant population growth linked to ongoing redevelopment. 

A phased approach to activating governance, staffing, and resourcing is proposed and aligns with the AOCC Expansion Implementation Strategy. Operational costs will be incorporated into the forthcoming AOCC Facilities and Operations Plan, with an update to be reported to the Economic and Community Development Committee in 2028, including associated funding requirements for consideration through the City Budget process.