March 11, 1998

To: Chairman and Members of the Scarborough Community Council

From: Bruce Fleury, Commissioner, Parks and Recreation, Scarborough Region

Subject: 41st Annual Recreation Recognition Night - Nominations for Individual of the Year, Group of the Year and Recreation Citations

Purpose:

Each year for the past 40 years the former City of Scarborough Council recognized the contributions made by individuals and groups for their volunteer service to recreation, parks and culture. At this reception, for approximately 500 guests, appropriate citations and the Individual and Group of the Year awards are presented.

Funding Sources:

Funding in the amount of $17,600.00 has been allocated in the 1998 Budget process in account number 26000 40200 61310 539.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(2) staff be authorized to proceed with the necessary arrangements to facilitate the event

(3) the Chairman, Scarborough Community Council, act as Master of Ceremonies for the event.

Council Reference/Background/History:

The former City of Scarborough Council has annually recognized through the Annual Recreation Recognition Night the contributions made by individuals and groups for their volunteer service to recreation, parks and culture in Scarborough. At this reception to be held on Friday, May 22, 1998 at Malvern Community Recreation Centre, the Individual and Group of the Year Awards will be presented along with the Citation Awards for 1998. This report identifies those proposed individuals and groups that are nominated and worthy of recognition.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

Conclusions:

The continuation of Recreation Recognition Night will ensure that the community volunteers who contribute so much to the recreation, parks and culture programs in our community are appropriately recognized.

Contact Name:

Paul McNabney

Special Projects Co-ordinator

Telephone: 396-7810

Facsimile: 396-5399

E-mail: mcnabn@city.scarborough.on.ca

Bruce F. Fleury

Commissioner

Parks and Recreation, Scarborough Region

PMcN/kcb

Appendix 'A'

Nominations for Individual and Group of the Year

Individual of the Year

Brian Linton

Brian has been actively involved with the Agincourt Lions Club for over 20 years during which time he has held many positions within the organization. He has assisted with many City events with the Lions Club including Snofest 1994-97 and the Bicentennial Celebration in 1996.

In 1997 and continuing into 1998, Brian brought together all ten Lions Clubs in the Scarborough community to assist with the Canada Day Parade.

Brian's involvement in the sport of Softball is also very extensive. In the early 1980's he was an umpire for the Malvern Softball Association while also serving as the Association's President.

In both 1984-85 and 1988-89 Brian served as the Director of "Boys' Ball' for the Scarborough Softball Association which involved organizing and overseeing the boys' competitive program.

During the 1990-1991 seasons he served as President of the Scarborough Softball Association.

In 1995-1996 Brian was the Umpire in Chief for the Scarborough Softball Association, recruiting, evaluating and disciplining Scarborough umpires. During this period he acted as Director of Operations for the 1996 Junior Women's Canadian Fastpitch Championships held at L'Amoreaux Park in Scarborough.

The above is just a sampling of Brian's exceptional volunteer contribution to our community.

Group of the Year

Scarboro Figure Skating Club

The Scarboro Figure Skating Club was founded in 1951. At that time The Canadian Figure Skating Association was just forming with only approximately fifty associated clubs across Canada.

The original home of the club was Scarboro Arena located at Birchmount and Kingston Road. The Club had approximately ninety members, with two coaches. Private lessons were $1.00 for fifteen minutes and group lessons $0.50 per fifteen minutes. The Club was kept afloat with the help of countless volunteers and many fund-raisers.

Many of the founders remained with the Club over the years, assisting in its growth. In 1967 the Club moved to the hockey arena at Scarborough Centennial Recreation Complex. With the ever growing membership and only twenty hours of ice per week it seemed like a good time for the Scarborough Figure Skating Club to start lobbying for more ice. The Club started by attending Recreation and Parks Committee meetings, sharing ideas and imprinting the existence of the Club in the minds of all the Committee members. It was soon learned of a plan already in the works to expand the facilities at Scarborough Centennial Recreation Complex.

Members had grown to over five hundred in 1972 and sharing the ice time with hockey was just not enough. Other possibilities had to be looked at. Art Thompson arena opened in 1972 and the Club was able to contract both ice surfaces for a few hours each Saturday. This was the same year that Scarboro Figure Skating Club was incorporated as a not for profit corporation.

In 1977 the Club's dreams had become a reality. Scarboro Figure Skating Club would be the first figure skating club in Canada to have the use of a municipally owned ice surface designed strictly for figure skating.

Now that the Club had the facility, Scarboro Skate was born. The first event was held in April of 1976 and they are still going strong, accommodating over 1,000 skaters in a three day competitive event.

With over fifty hours of ice time per week they were able to service all of their skaters with Spring, Summer and Fall schools.

Our 25th Anniversary found them celebrating all kinds of achievements for the Club, coaches and its skaters.

In 1980 they reached an all time high with 800 members. They became involved in skater development and just a few years ago with the approval of C.F.S.A. they changed their program to work in conjunction with the school year (September - May) and a summer school during the months of July and August.

Scarboro Figure Skating Club has been blessed with a coaching staff that has the development of our skaters at heart. A Volunteer Board, professional Coaches and the never ending support from the general membership all working together is what makes a club great.

Over the past forty seven years their Club has gone through many changes, all they feel for the betterment of figure skating on the whole. They take pride in being a club that offers everything - kids skate, learn to skate, test stream, competitive dance, freeskate and pairs, precision, adult sessions and special needs. They are still holding fund-raisers and every year they are looking for sponsors. Only by doing this can they keep the membership fees at a reasonable rate, allowing more children to participate in this ever changing and evolving structure of figure skating. After its all said, their greatest accomplishment would be to one day have a champion to call Scarboro Figure Skating Club their home!

Appendix 'B'

Nominations for Recreation Citations