TCHC and partners host virtual award ceremony for recipients of a new scholarship program in the Don Summerville community

TORONTO, December 4, 2020—Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) and its partners in the Don Summerville revitalization project honoured the first recipients of a new scholarship program to benefit community youth at a virtual award ceremony held last night.

The Don Summerville Scholarship Program is open to all tenants living in TCHC's Don Summerville community who are entering or studying at a postsecondary institution. Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, financial eligibility and community leadership.

Participating in the virtual ceremony were Ward 14 Councillor Paula Fletcher, MP Julie Dabrusin, MPP Peter Tabuns, representatives of scholarship donors Context Development and RioCan Living, and TCHC's Chief Development Officer Vincent Tong. Messages from recipients' families were also included via prerecorded videos.

The five scholarship recipients—Hamid Abdo, Iman Abdo, Sami Abdo, Zunaira Khalique and Shawna-Kay McLean—are enrolled in university or college programs for science, mathematics or medicine. All are tenants of Don Summerville, a TCHC revitalization community which has begun a transformation that will include new community spaces and amenities, rebuilt social housing, new market housing and new affordable housing.

All five scholarship recipients have developed pay-it-forward initiatives to give back to the community. Two of the scholarship winners are active members of Don Summerville's tenant advisory group—a voluntary, community building role where they offer advice and guidance to TCHC on revitalization engagement. And four of the winners have obtained jobs through Don Summerville's community economic development program.

The scholarship program awards recipients with up to $3,000 in financial assistance to help with tuition and up to $500 in bursaries to support school-related expenses.

Quotes

"I could not be prouder to support the vibrant Don Summerville community and these exceptional students through scholarships and other community economic development initiatives in this vibrant community."

—Ward 14 City Councillor Paula Fletcher

"Toronto Community Housing congratulates this year's first Don Summerville scholarship winners, whose leadership as community volunteers and commitment to building the future supports their local community and helps build a better Toronto for all."

—TCHC President and CEO Kevin Marshman

About the Don Summerville revitalization project at Queen and Coxwell

Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), the City of Toronto and Context Development in partnership with Riocan Living, have agreed to redevelop TCHC's property at 1555-1575 Queen St. E. in the Queen Coxwell neighbourhood. The project will result in the creation of quality rent-geared-to-income, affordable rental, and market rental housing and market condominiums. Read the news release on our website to learn more about the project.  

About Toronto Community Housing

Toronto Community Housing (www.torontohousing.ca) is Canada's largest social housing provider. We are owned by the City of Toronto and provide homes for nearly 60,000 low- and moderate-income households in more than 100 of the city's neighbourhoods. Our buildings represent a $10-billion public asset.

Media contact: TCHC media line 416-737-1352 or media@torontohousing.ca