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Community Use of Schools Backgrounder

The Community Use of Schools (“CUS”) program was initiated on July 9, 2004, when the Ontario Ministries of Tourism & Recreation and Education under then Ministers Jim Bradley and Gerrard Kennedy jointly announced $20 million in new funding to lower fees and provide greater access to school facilities across Ontario. 

The funding announcement was the result of a province-wide lobby campaign launched in 2003 under the umbrella of the SPACE (“Saving Public Access to Community Space Everywhere”) Coalition.  As a significant user of school gymnasiums across the province, Basketball Ontario’s programs for children and youth had been heavily impacted by rapidly increasing fees and limited access to school gymnasiums which appeared to be the result of cutbacks to school funding during the seven year tenure of the previous government. 

Basketball Ontario lead the involvement of Provincial Sport Organizations which were users of gymnasiums (Ontario Volleyball, Gymnastics Ontario and Ontario Badminton Association were early contributors) and worked with the PSO Council in 2003 in order to conduct a province-wide research study with Provincial Sport Organizations.  The results were documented cases of high fees and reduced access with resulted in program cutbacks and children and youth locked out of school gyms. This data greatly  assisted in persuading the  provincial government to intervene with school boards in order to increase access to and reduce costs for school facilities so that community groups could continue to run important sports programs for children and youth. 

By June 2005, all 72 Ontario School Boards had signed User Agreements with the new Ministry of Health Promotion (successor to the sport and recreation portfolio from Tourism & Recreation) and the Community Use of Schools program funding applied retroactively to not-for-profit providers of community sports programs for children and youth in the 2004-05 school year.  In the Fall of 2005, the Community Use of Schools program was transferred to the Ministry of Education and funding continues for subsequent school years.  


Why is the CUS important?

  1. The original template User Agreements signed by Ontario School Boards with the Ministry of Health Promotion provided for not-for-profit community groups with first access to school facilities at the lowest fees for sport and recreation programs for children and youth.
  2. During the 2006-07 school year, a few community groups (PSO member clubs) have experienced school board policy changes which have negatively affected the intended purpose of the Community Use of Schools program.  
  3. In the event of such issues and concerns being experienced by PSO member clubs, PSOs that use school facilities should review the web pages of the Health Promotion and Education ministries below and follow the links for further information.
How to Get Involved 

Ministry of Health Promotion Backgrounder 

Go to:  www.mhp.gov.on.ca/english/sportandrec/schools.asp 

- Background to the CUS program
- Intent of the CUS program
- Contact Information
- Joint (Education and Health Promotion) Policy Statement on CUS
- Community Recreation and Use Agreement Announcements.

Ministry of Education Overview

Go to:  www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/community 

- Overview of CUS program 
- Permit Office of Local School Board (for fees) 
- Ministry of Education Regional Offices (for more information)


Get Current -Read the Recent Community Use of Schools Survey Results  

It All Begins with Space: Who Has It, How to Get It Summary of the Community Forum and Implementation Summit
On April 25th and 26th, 2013 the SPACE Coalition hosted a Community Forum and an Implementation Summit which brought together diverse groups and individuals from across Toronto to discuss ways we could work to increase access to a fundamental community asset – public space. The April 25th Community Forum provided an opportunity for 80 community... Continue reading

NEW Report from the SPACE Coalition 
The SPACE Coalition and Social Planning Toronto present new research on the importance of having access to safe places for youth (and all residents) to gather and play: It All Begins with Space: Maximizing use of public assets for engaged and healthier neighbourhoods in Toronto Access to space connects the pieces with regard to human... Continue reading

New Ontario-wide report from SPACE Coalition and Social Planning Toronto!
Public Space for Public Use: A Review of Community Access to School and Municipal Facilities in Ontario
This report reveals the connection between increases in permit fees for users of school and municipal spaces and the cancellation or reduction of community programs. Greater fees pose real threats to non-profit and community groups that strive to be accessible and inclusive while relying on limited resources. All levels of government need to come together and create an integrated strategy to address barriers to public space.

More about the SPACE Coalition
Site created August 2014 | Last updated October 2017
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