For Immediate Release

Olympian inspires Toronto Community Housing youth to pursue post-secondary education at University of Toronto track meet

TORONTO, ON - More than 200 Toronto Community Housing youth competed in Toronto's Next Top Athlete, a track and field event at Varsity Centre on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 for scholarships to the University of Toronto Track Club (UTTC). Olympian Tabia Charles, Rosario Marchese, MPP for Trinity-Spadina, and David Mitchell, Chair of the Board, Toronto Community Housing, attended the track event sponsored by Toronto Community Housing and the University of Toronto.

"As Canada's largest social housing provider, we have a responsibility to provide quality housing for low- and moderate-income households," said David Mitchell, Chair of the Board, Toronto Community Housing. "We also have the responsibility to build healthy communities by improving opportunities for tenants. These scholarships help achieve that goal by providing scholarships to the University of Toronto Track Club."

Charles urged the youth participating in the event to establish goals. "Being popular, being cool in high school means nothing at all when it comes to success on the field or in life," she said.

Eight scholarships were awarded at the event to Toronto Community Housing youth ages 13-18. The scholarships give recipients access to professional athletic training, in-depth health workshops and clinics at the UTTC. They also fund registration and travel costs for competitions in which the athletes participate.

One of the program's objectives is to encourage youth from marginalized communities to pursue post-secondary education by introducing them to the university environment. Scholarships to UTTC are renewed annually if recipients maintain good marks.

Olympian Tabia Charles, who spoke to participants at the event and provided tips, placed 10th at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in long jump, is the 2010 Canadian Track and Field Champion in long jump and in triple jump, and is a hopeful for the 2012 London Olympics.

About Toronto Community Housing
Toronto Community Housing is Canada's largest social housing provider and home to more than 164,000 tenants, about 6% of the city's population, with low and moderate incomes. Toronto Community Housing employs 1,400 staff in a broad range of jobs who deliver its mandate to provide quality housing and build great neighbourhoods. Toronto Community Housing is one of Canada's 2010 Top 100 Employers.

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For more information:

Lori Bosworth
Media Relations, Toronto Community Housing
t. 416-981-4229
lori.bosworth@torontohousing.ca