City eyes alternative to cancelled summer camp programs,

CampTO would have capacity for half the kids

The city of Toronto has cancelled its summer camps while it works on a solution to allow some kids the camp experience — and give their parents a break. Mayor John Tory made the announcement at a city hall press conference on Friday afternoon.

“I know this decision will upset many families and it will cause hardship for those who rely on these camps and programs the most, but nothing is more important than the health of our children,” Tory said.

For the alternative plan to go ahead — what Tory called a more “modest” CampTO — Premier Doug Ford would need to allow day camps, which are now barred by provincial orders.

That plan, the city says, would have half the capacity of its normal summer camp program, with spaces for 5,300 kids ages 6 to 12 per week. CampTO would have smaller group sizes and adhere to other public health recommendations to reduce the risk of virus spread, including “daily health assessments,” according to a city news release.

The city says it will release camp and enrolment details at a later date, pending provincial orders lifting.

Refunds will be automatically issued for those that were preregistered in the coming weeks, Tory said. If parents are interested in the CampTO program, they will be required to sign up again.

The city says it will need four week to prepare activities and get facilities ready for camps. Tory said CampTO programs could start as early as mid-July.

There were 68,000 children registered for summer camps at 197 locations from June 29 to Sept. 7, according to the city news release. “We know how important these camps are to the health of our children and their families, and I know that they are a fun part of summer for many in our city,” said Dr. Eileen de Villa, the city’s medical officer of health.

“This is why my team is working with the city’s parks, forestry and recreation division to provide guidance on how they can provide a modified version of summer day camps this year that are safe for our youth if provincial restrictions are lifted and our local conditions allow.”

The city also announced it would be cancelling more major festivals this summer, including Salsa on St. Clair, the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, the Honda Indy, the Toronto Triathlon Festival, the Beaches International Jazz Festival, and Big on Bloor.

Any festival with more than 250 participants through July 31 and more than 25,000 through Aug. 31 will have their permits revoked, a city release said.

To help organizers cover the costs of those cancellations, the city will use grant funding to provide financial support to festivals.