Greater Toronto Summit 2011 Breakout Session
The Challenge: The Pan/ParaPan American Games (“The Games”) are coming to the Greater Golden Horseshoe in 2015 – an incredible opportunity for the Toronto region to advance the value of sport, enhance economic development, host a world class event, showcase our strengths, and engage residents in a unique event right in their backyard. Through community engagement initiatives, The Games’ organizer, TO2015, aims to generate interest, excitement and community benefit by leveraging opportunities created by The Games. For TO2015, “community engagement” is the process of working collaboratively with groups of people that have been brought together by geographic proximity, common characteristics, or a special interest in order to address issues affecting their community (not unlike the CivicAction Summit). As such, engagement is central to the success of The Games. Children and youth in particular are a key pillar for TO2015’s community engagement strategy. How do we realize The Games’ commitment to youth?
Find the backgrounder for Youth Engagement: The Pan/ParaPan Am Opportunity here.
Moderator: Dave Meslin, Community Choreographer, Pigeonhat
Speakers
- Ian Troop, CEO, Pan/ParaPan Am Games Toronto 2015
- Tonika Morgan, Manager, Partnership, TCH & Founder, Medina Collective
- Medhat Mahdy, CEO, YMCA
- Joel Dembe, Wheelchair Tennis Athlete
Questions for Discussion:
- What are the key attributes of a successful youth engagement initiative? What does success look like (i.e., an engaged community of youth)?
- In an age of ‘everything now’, how do we build and sustain excitement over the next four years?
- How do we ensure inclusivity, not only in terms of cultural background but regionally, youth at risk, etc.?
- What’s the legacy (if there is one)?
