Millennium Grants Program - Appeals Report

The Economic Development and Parks Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (July 6, 1999) from Councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, Chairman of the Millennium Task Force:

Purpose:

This report presents the recommended allocations from the $61,500.00 Millennium Grants Program appeal fund for organizations that made deputations at the June 30, 1999, meeting of the Millennium Task Force.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The approved budget for the Millennium Grants Program is $500,000.00. An amount of $438,500.00 was recommended for allocation to 105 applicants in the May 20, 1999 report to the Millennium Task Force, leaving an amount of $61,500.00 to respond to appeals.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the appeal fund of $61,500.00 be allocated as recommended in Appendix "A" of this report; and

(2)the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Council Reference/Background/History:

Through Clause No. 27 of Report No. 18 of The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, adopted by City Council at its meeting held on October 1 and 2, 1998, the City established a plan for its role in the year long activities to take place in the year 2000 as part of the global Millennium celebrations. In order to support community initiatives and potential legacy projects, Council created the Millennium Grants Program.

The Millennium Task Force received a report at its meeting on June 2, 1999, dated May20, 1999, from the Chairman of the Millennium Task Force recommending the allocations of the Millennium Grants Program totalling $438,500.00 to 105 applicants. Thirty four organizations appealed these grant recommendations.

In developing recommendations for allocations of the appeal fund, staff reviewed the original recommendations, considered the additional information presented in the deputations as well as direction provided through the Millennium Task Force.

Comments and/or Justification:

Community organizations submitted a total of 177 applications to the Millennium Grants Program. One hundred and five groups were recommended for support and 72 were not recommended. Of the 34 groups that appealed their recommendations, 23 had not been recommended for any funds and 11 had been recommended for funding.

During the appeals, some groups provided information on changes in their program plans and revised their requests for grants to address some specific component of their proposal. Clarification and additional information, revised budgets and supporting documentation were presented by some applicants. In making recommendations for appeals, staff considered the project proposals and the original recommendations as well as the revisions and comments made by the groups during the appeals. Consideration was given to the limited ability of the appeal fund to respond to the level of requests. The Millennium Task Force and staff also considered accessibility, financial support and viability, and the degree of community involvement in the new information presented.

Twenty six organizations are recommended for grants from the appeal fund of $61,500.00 as identified in Appendix "A" of this report. Appendix "B" lists additional information, recommendations and any conditions, if applicable. The appeal recommendations bring the total number of groups funded to 121 out of 177 applicants.

Conclusions:

The Millennium Grants Program enables a variety of community organizations to participate in the Toronto Millennium celebrations. Based on a review of the original recommendations and the information presented at the appeals, the appeal fund of $61,500.00 is recommended to be allocated to 26 organizations as outlined in Appendix "A".

Contact Name:

Cathi Forbes, Cultural Affairs Officer - 395-6192.

Appendix "A"

Millennium Grants Program

1999 Appeal Recommendations

Appendix "B"

Millennium Grants Program

Appeals Summary and Conditions

Applegrove Community Complex (#5)

This project will produce a video for educational purposes to provide a snapshot of boys and girls ages 11to13 in the Applegrove area. The original project targeted only boys, a small number of youth and involved only 10 sessions. The group will now hold 20 sessions and will document a wider range of experiences to go into the new Millennium. A grant of $2,000.00 recommended.

Burning Passions Theatre (#22)

This group is producing a play by Canadian playwright, Cathy Elliot. In the original application it was called a remount and as such could not be funded. At the appeal, the group clarified that is a new production and it has relevance to the Millennium. A grant of $2,000.00 recommended.

Cabbagetown Group Softball League (#25)

This group is hosting the Gay Softball World Series in the year 2000. As it is an annual event, no funding had been recommended but the group was encouraged to apply for a Minor Recreation grant next year. At the appeal, the funds were requested for the cultural and social events taking place during the 2000 Series, not the sports event itself. A grant of $2,000.00 is recommended and will be released conditional upon receipt of a satisfactory report outlining the planned cultural and social events.

Canadian Polish Congress (#31)

This group is hosting a five part celebration in September and October, 2000, and needs additional support to carry out all of the planned events. The original recommendation was for $3,000.00 and the group stated that they required a minimum of $2,000.00 more. To date, the Congress has raised $5,000.00 from the private sector. An additional grant of $2,000.00 is recommended.

Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto (#38)

This group will host a conference to celebrate the achievements of Chinese Canadian Youth. The original recommendation was for $1,000.00 and was conditional on confirmed deliverables. The information contained in their most recent Annual Report and presented at the appeal, provided substantial numbers and the documentation required. An additional grant of $1,000.00 is recommended. The original conditions have been fulfilled.

"Circle of Trees" (#167)

This application for public art in the new Woodbine Park was submitted by an individual and was therefore ineligible. However, Community 55 has become the applicant organization and the artist has partnered with the Parks and Recreation Division which will provide the majority of landscaping. Based on this new information, a grant of $5,000.00 is recommended and is conditional on receiving the supporting documentation from Community 55.

Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club (#47)

This project would establish the 1^st Annual Ball Hockey Tournament for youth ages 12 to 14 in the Greater Toronto Area. Costs are primarily for staffing and coaching, but the group will scale back to accommodate a smaller budget. An additional grant of $2,000.00 is recommended. The original $500.00 grant is to be used towards the purchase of the Millennium Cup and a plaque acknowledging the donation by the City of Toronto.

Friends of Fort York and Garrison Common (#59)

This group will stage a re-enactment of the landing of the American military force in 1813 that resulted in the capture of Fort York and Toronto. Three hundred re-enactors from Canada and the US will participate. This project is one of four major events to be held from July 1 to 4 and includes the Toronto Harbour Parade of Lights. These two projects were originally reviewed as one application. A grant of $7,500.00 is recommended.

Greektown on the Danforth (#68)

This project is to create signage on major highways to direct people to Greektown and to erect banners advertising festivals and a national conference. No new information was provided at the appeal. The group is directed to work with Public Works and the Province on the signage and banner programs. No grant is recommended.

Grey Tigers Senior Citizens Club (#173)

This application was received and date stamped well after the deadline for filing an application. It is one of three late applications. No grant is recommended from the appeal fund.

Heritage Skills Development (#76)

This group will host a trade show for women during Caribana next year. No other funding sources have been confirmed, but the applicant requested additional funds to demonstrate City support in order to generate support from the private sector. A grant of an additional $1,000.00 is recommended.

Heritage Toronto (#77)

Heritage Toronto proposes to create a two day weekend event in May 2000, which would have up to 30 architectural significant buildings in the City open to the public free of charge. Other sites and groups working on similar projects have been invited to join Heritage Toronto and so the number of buildings has increased to 50. Attendance estimates are upward of 10,000. A grant of $5,000.00 is recommended to be released upon matching funds from the private sector.

Historical Connexion (#79)

This group will produce an interactive Website that contains African-Canadian historical information and is primarily geared towards children in Grades 3 to 8. Additional information presented included confirmed funding from Access and Equity and the need to establish more links to other sites. A great deal of support has been generated to date. A grant of an additional $1,000.00 is recommended.

International Society for Systems Science (#82)

This application was made by a California based school and as such was ineligible. However, it is in partnership with Ryerson and the application has now been made by Ryerson. They will host an international conference of 500 scientists and 1000 students in the year 2000 in Toronto. A grant of $2,500.00 is recommended and will be released upon receipt of all supporting documentation by the new applicant Ryerson.

Intersection (#83)

This group will produce a cultural guide book to commemorate the Millennium. The project supports underemployed and underexposed artists. More funds were requested for the mock up costs to properly carry out the project. A grant of an additional $500.00 is recommended.

Le Regroupment des Jeunes Filles (#92)

Funds were originally requested for the consultation costs of a conference for young Francophone women to be held in the fall of 1999. The timing of the consultation was to take place prior to September which made it ineligible. The project has been rescheduled and will now be held in the year 2000 with the consultations to take place in January, February and March. No other funding has been confirmed. A grant of $1,000.00 is recommended and will be released upon confirmation of other funding.

Light Up Cabbagetown (#24)

This project proposes to provide Christmas lights to residents in Cabbagetown to beautify the area and make it a tourist and resident destination during the Millennium. Concern about honorariums to the Board have been removed and high project management costs have been scaled back. A grant of $1,000.00 is recommended and it is further recommended that this group work with the Special Events Office.

Mixed Company (#97)

This group will create a new production with homeless youth, and will tour for a year with a one week run at the Elgin/Winter Garden Theatre. The request was for ineligible costs. New information at the appeal directed the funds to the creation of the play and confirmed that funds have been received from the Canada Millennium Partnership Program and the Province. A grant of $2,500.00 is recommended.

Multicultural Carnival Arts (#100)

This project is a three day educational event which explores and explains the varied aspects of Carnival through learning events and live performances at Harbourfront in June, 2000. There is a large educational component involving the schools. No new information was given at the appeal. No grant is recommended.

Native Child & Family Services (#102)

The Pow-Wow applied for in the Millennium application stated that it was a remount of a successful Pow-Wow held in 1998 which would be ineligible for funding. However, additional information provided showed that the Pow-Wow would build on its success and become an annual event starting in the year 2000. It aims to start a new future for native people while celebrating their heritage. A grant of $3,000.00 is recommended.

Oakwood Collegiate Institute (109)

This proposal is for the second half of the student music exchange from Oakwood Collegiate Institute and those students in Yellowknife in the North West Territories. The first part took place this year in May. No new information was received at the appeal. While this is a worthy cause, it does not meet the criteria for support. No grant is recommended.

St. Mark's Church Summer Day Camp (#131)

This church will celebrate its 45^th anniversary in the year 2000 and wants to start a subsidized day camp for 20 children. While this is a worthy cause, it does not meet the Millennium Mandate or eligibility and allocations criteria. Most summer camps next year will have a Millennium component. No grant is recommended.

St. Stephen's Community House (#133)

This group proposes to produce a book of local stories and local characters, among other things, from the Kensington Market area. There has been a lot of interest generated to date. The group requested an increase to its grant to assist in putting together a mock-up in order to find a publisher. Fundraising is underway and this additional money will help lever more support. An additional grant of $2,000.00 is recommended.

Sir William Campbell Foundation (#128)

This project is the creation of an exhibition to celebrate Toronto's architecture and design which will run from January 4 to March 31, 2000. Information presented at the appeal clarified that this is a special event and not part of their regular programming. It also meets the mandate of the Millennium Program by looking at past achievements of architecture and the future of it. A grant of $2,500.00 is recommended.

Swansea Historical Society (#134)

The Society proposes to complete a retro-fit of an unfurnished storage room at the Swansea Town Hall which will include viewing tables, light tables, cabinets and cupboards. This group was recommended for $5,000.00. Little new information was given but the group would like to maximize the amount of the grant to generate more from the community. An additional grant of $500.00 is recommended.

Tommy Flynn Playground (#138)

This is the re-development of a playground at Eglinton Park to make it accessible to all. The dream is to make it like High Park. It is in the formative stages. The group has received approval for the re-development from Parks and Recreation and the School Council. The Fundraising Campaign will start in the fall. A grant of an additional $1,000.00 is recommended.

Toronto International Film Festival (#147)

The project is for the 25^th anniversary of the festival. The use of exterior space to show films and interactive videos is new. Funding of $5,000.00 was granted, but the appeal was for increased dollars to leverage private sector funding. An additional grant of $2,000.00 is recommended.

Toronto Mainland Chinese Community Centre (#149)

The project is a performance to celebrate the Chinese community on December 11, 1999, at the JohnBassett Theatre. No funds were recommended as there was little detail in the original application and the additional information requested was not submitted. No further information was given at the appeal. No grant is recommended.

Toronto Sailing and Canoe Club (#174)

This group applied for capital improvements to the Canadian Yachting Association's parking lot, boat storage area, launch ramps, docks, etc. These were deemed ineligible as there was no Millennium focus or celebration. At the appeal, a new project was submitted requesting funds for a youth regatta involving 200 to 300 youth in the year 2000. This will become an annual event. A grant of $4,000.00 is recommended and is conditional on the receipt of other confirmed funding.

Toronto Sinfonietta (#150)

This group is producing a CD and the grant was directed to the concert at which the music would be recorded. At the appeal, the project was clarified and additional information provided. They are commissioning three new works and doing a lot of outreach through lectures, school tours and school packages. An additional grant of $3,000.00 is recommended. It is further recommended that this group liaise with Music 2000.

Toronto Yan Xin Qigong Cultural Centre (#153)

This group practices Qigong, an eastern method, free to all, to improve health and well-being. The application was for the development of three new centres to increase membership and participation. This did not support the Millennium Mandate. At the appeal, the applicant discussed a major activity to celebrate Chinese New Year. There was no supporting information presented. No grant is recommended.

Vietnamese Youth Centre (#158)

The request was to organize a National Youth Conference in July, 2000. Details of the event in the application were sketchy and no details were presented at the appeal. The majority of the participants would be from out of Toronto and the funding request was for travel subsidy. Since the Millennium Program dollars are to support Toronto residents, no grant is recommended.

What a Gift Productions (#162)

This group is proposing to establish a huge Santa's Workshop at the Automotive Building at the C.N.E. to run from November 19 to December 9, 1999. Substantial information was missing from the application and no funding was recommended. However at the appeal, the applicant provided much of the detail required. Charitable recipients are being reviewed as 90 percent of the revenue generated will be donated to charities. This group is also working with the Special Events Office to coordinate the Millennium celebrations. A grant of $5,000.00 is recommended and will be released upon the receipt of written documentation of the information initially requested.

Yung Kwang Fellowship Association (#176)

Very little information was included in the application on the proposed parade which would mark Chinese Heritage in Toronto. At the appeal, some detail, such as a video was discussed to mark the occasion. A grant of $500.00 is recommended as City endorsement for the event.