Jarvis Collegiate Pool

!!!!!!!SUCCESS!!!!!!!

Thanks to all of your efforts the Jarvis Collegate Swimming Pool will remain open for both Jarvis Collegiate students as well as residents of the neighbourhood. Please read the press release here. and Read the latest on our progress here .

Our job is not over. We have secured the commitment of the Toronto District School Board to keep the pool open for one more year. We must now work very hard to keep it open for the long term.

You can help by participating in the swimming programs which will be offered. Please come back to this page often to see the schedule. The YMCA will be starting free swim programs in mid October on Saturday and one week evening. Please come back here to get the details

Thank you again for your help in keeping our community alive.

.....it is vital for children to receive a broad and balanced education that embraces music, physical education, history, art, design and technology and geography”

On December 31, 2009 The Toronto District School Board Plans to CLOSE the Jarvis Collegiate Swimming Pool !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When this happens:

1100 high students will lose daily aquatic lessons as part of their education
Yet again a low income, newcomer community will be deprived of services. In a rapidly expanding area of the city.
Local summer programs will lose the opportunity for swimming
After school programs will lose swimming as part of their programs
Families with small children will be forced to travel far from their homes to be able to swim

"Learning to swim is essential to the safety of every child.............all children should be taught how to swim."

As you may know the Jarvis Collegiate pool is the only well maintained and supervised swimming pool available to the St. James Town neighbourhood, a community of over 25,000 newcomer and low income families whose density is increasing daily.

Now our kids' swimming lessons have become too expensive

The School Board has told us that we can save this pool for our kids by raising $ 69,000 before December 31, 2009.

To date Jarvis Collegiate has received a pledge of $ 20,000.

Now we as a community must come together to save this pool from closing.

HOW YOU CAN HELP SAVE OUR POOL

There are many ways that you can make a difference and save our pool:

Sign your child or yourself up to use the pool (click here) for free or fee based programs
Contact your Councillor (Kyle Rae or Pam McConnell) your MPP George Smitherman, your MP Bob Rae your School Trustee Sheila Ward and let them know you care about saving your pool. Cut and paste this wording into your email

I (We) are deeply concerned that the Jarvis Collegiate will be closed. Yet again another vital service will be lost to this community. I ( We) urge you to support us in our request that the TDSB work with us to keep the Jarvis Collegiate Pool open and with Aquatics Working Group for the ongoing operation of these pools. Thank you

Donate (any amount of money counts to show the community's interest)
Volunteer with us to help save this pool
Return to this page often to learn about our progress and how you can help
Print off a flyer and post it around your neighbourhood
If you are a swim club or other group and want to permit the pool contact us

I would like to receive email updates

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

THANK YOU

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Pool

About the Jarvis Collegiate Pool

The Jarvis Collegiate Pool was built when Imperial measure was used and as such is a 25 yd pool, (2 m short of 25M) but is wide (11M) and absolutely beautiful.

Jarvis was built in 1807, the oldest high school in our City and one of the oldest in the country.

The original pool was built in 1924 and was part of the 'palatial' -the 'finest collegiate in Canada".-'the latest in school design". It included a pool, a plush library with a panelled ceiling, an art room with a sky light.

The pool was re-fitted in 1971 but retained its character.

The list of important Canadians who graduated from this school is incredible, and includes: