Province to fund community hubs program
Ontario pledges $2 million to help groups come up with viable plans to keep closed schools from being sold off.

thestar.com
By KRISTIN RUSHOWY
June 29, 2017

Communities that want to keep a closed school or other public building from being sold off will get their chance, with a new program that buys them time to make the case to keep them open as local hubs.

Infrastructure Minister Bob Chiarelli announced the $2 million fund on Thursday morning, which will cover the costs of the proposed buildings while giving groups 18 months to pitch a “business plan.”

“The province’s role is to help make it easier for communities to come together and offer services in an integrated and co-ordinated way, and to make the best use of public space,” he said in a statement.

“Our new initiative gives local communities the opportunity they need to use public properties, and build their vibrant and successful hubs.”

The hope is that the funding will prompt local governments and community, parent and Indigenous groups to work together to figure out what kinds of services could be offered in the facilities - such as daycares, health clinics or employment services - secure them as partners, and create a business plan.

The move comes after widespread criticism that as school boards in particular feel pressure to sell off unused space, there’s been no co-ordinated effort to allow communities to find ways to keep the buildings open and viable.

Last December, the provincial government announced it was contributing $20 million to a 30,000-square-foot community hub and school project in the Bloor-Dufferin area, with the school board contributing $121.5 million by selling off 7.3 acres of land at the site. The project is considered a model for the province, and residents there have asked for it to include affordable housing, child care, and even space for local artists.

“Schools are at the heart of our communities and they are already natural community hubs,” Education Minister Mitzie Hunter said at the time. “I am excited to see how the space at Bloor-Dufferin will be transformed to benefit their students and revitalize their community.”

The government has been promoting the idea of community hubs, and in 2015 the premier’s advisory group came up with an action plan to get them into more neighbourhoods.

The province’s special adviser on hubs, Karen Pitre, was also at Thursday morning’s announcement.

“This new initiative is another tool that is critical to supporting the community hubs movement in Ontario,” she said. “Having sufficient time and resources is critical to their success. The high level of engagement around community hubs is encouraging, and I look forward to continuing our work together.”

The announcement was made at the St. James Town Community Corner in downtown Toronto.

The $2 million is to help cover the costs of maintenance and upkeep of the buildings under consideration while plans are being developed, over the 18 months.