Toronto Star

Donation could launch skate-lending program

Businessma­n offers $3,000 to help cover city’s costs at Regent Park ice rink

- MAY WARREN METRO

A shed full of donated skates sitting in Dufferin Grove Park may get used after all, thanks to the generous offer of a Toronto businessma­n and a lot of persistenc­e from a local non-profit.

The Centre for Local Research into Public Space, which helped set up a successful skate-lending program at the Dufferin Grove rink, offered the city about 120 pairs of skates, donated by the NHL Players’ Associatio­n, for a similar program at another rink this fall. But the city passed on the offer, citing the work required to manage such a program.

Since then, local businessma­n David Rothberg has stepped up with the offer of a $3,000 donation to cover the costs at Regent Park rink.

“People could really use those skates,” Rothberg said. “It’s our national sport, it’s outside, it’s winter.”

His own son learned to skate at Dufferin Grove, where skates can be borrowed for $2, and he wants kids in Regent Park to have the same opportunit­y.

“You don’t have to be a genius to see that something was working there,” he said. “I hope the city listens.”

Ward 28 Councillor Lucy Troisi said she just learned of the idea late Monday and needs to meet with parks and recreation staff, but is “in full support of people being able to access equipment in areas of high need.”

“There’s certainly an interest on our part,” she said, but did not offer a timeline.

City spokespers­on Jane Arbour said staff will be “considerin­g how to use this donation” and working with the non-profit and Rothberg in the coming days to see how it would work.

Jutta Mason of the Centre for Local Research into Public Space is concerned about the lack of a concrete timeline.

David Rothberg’s son learned to skate at Dufferin Grove, and he wants kids in Regent Park to have the same opportunit­y

She’s been frustrated with the process so far and was contacted by a Kitchener councillor who offered to take the skates to set up a lending program there if Toronto doesn’t want them.

The skate library at Dufferin Grove helped attract more skaters and lit up the space, Mason said.

“It’s the most simple thing to run a skate lending program,” she added. “Setting this up would take two days or less.”

 ?? EDUARDO LIMA/METRO NEWS ?? A local businessma­n has stepped up with an offer to front $3,000 to help cover the costs of a skate-lending program at the Regent Park skating rink.
EDUARDO LIMA/METRO NEWS A local businessma­n has stepped up with an offer to front $3,000 to help cover the costs of a skate-lending program at the Regent Park skating rink.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada