After-school program aims to provide opportunities for children in Windsor's west end
The program is specific to children living in community housing in the Sandwich community.
It will provide after-school support, homework help, financial literacy, and field trips, along with personal development and sports activities.
Senior Manager of Community Development and Engagement with Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation, Jennifer Cline, said they're launching the summer recreation program to get kids involved before the after-school program begins.
'We have around 100 kids who attend our summer recreation program every day, so we're aiming for around 60 to 100 kids who will access our after-school program,' she said.
Cline said it's a chance to give these kids different opportunities and perspectives.
'We have a lot of youth who grew up in our summer rec program who are now camp counsellors, who are not in university, and who are now going to college,' she said.
'We have some of our Windsor police officers who grew up in social housing and are now coming back and giving back to our communities. It really provides a lot of opportunities for them to see there's life outside of social housing.'
Cline said the grant is going to help them offer different field trips to help broaden the kids horizons.
'A lot of our kids in social housing with low socioeconomic status; the families unfortunately don't have the financial means to access those different resources that cost to go to the movies or to go to the art gallery; there's a fee associated with that. So a lot of times our families are having to choose between putting food on the table or doing an activity,' she said.
The program is in partnership with McBride Youth United and is being supported through a grant from the Gordie Howe International Bridge Community Benefits Plan.
- Written by Rusty Thomson/AM800 News.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
‘We had to continue and make them proud': Grassmere Church celebrates 150th anniversary
A historic Manitoba church marked a major milestone Saturday with a community celebration honouring 150 years of faith and local heritage. Located in the Rural Municipality of Rockwood, Grassmere Church was established in 1875 and is part of the Historic Sites of Manitoba collection, named by the Manitoba Historical Society. For generations, the church has stood as a symbol of community spirit in the region. To mark the occasion, residents gathered at the site for a day of festivities, food, and memories — reconnecting with the past while celebrating the future. Gordon Appleyard, who was baptized at the church in 1940, recalled fond memories of the church's summer picnics. 'I remember taking part in all the races, activities, fishpond, and chanting,' he said. 'The picnic was a big deal because there weren't many parties in the district or anything to go to. It was a big part of the summer — you looked forward to it.' Patti Matheson, one of the event organizers, said the turnout showed how deeply rooted the church is in the community. 'There was so much interest from people across generations,' she said. 'This event showed the connection the community has to this space — and it was very exciting.' For congregation member Gayleen Nixon, the day was about more than just a celebration — it was about carrying on a legacy. 'They all worked their little souls out to make this community work, and we had to continue and make them proud,' she said. 'It's very special because all our parents and grandparents are in the cemetery. We'll never not be a part of this community, with our families behind us there.'
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Excavator hits gas line, Enbridge Gas on scene
Enbridge Gas and the London Fire Department are on scene in Springbank Avenue in Byron for a gas leak in the area. According to London fire, an excavator hit a natural gas line into a home, leading to the leak. No evacuation is needed. Springbank Avenue is closed as crews rectify the situation.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Orphaned badger rescued after mother hit by car on busy B.C. road
The B.C Wildlife Park shared this photo of an orphaned badger on Facebook on July 4, 2025. An orphaned badger was taken into the care of a B.C. wildlife rehabilitation centre after its mother was hit by a car, prompting a reminder about how vulnerable the endangered species is to 'road mortality.' The BC Wildlife Park shared the story of the badger kit's rescue, which happened in Naramata, earlier this week. 'Its mother was struck and killed by a vehicle on a busy residential road. Seeing the badger was a lactating mother, provincial biologists canvassed the area in search of her young,' a Facebook post from the park said. 'One of the orphaned kits was found hiding in a marmot den and after several days of trying, the kit was safely trapped.' The young badger – named Maple – is being cared for at the Fawcett Family Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, where it will stay until it is strong and self-sufficient enough to be released. But the wildlife park also notes that the fate that befell this badger's mother is a common one. 'Road mortality remains one of the leading threats to badgers in British Columbia, with some populations experiencing losses of over 70 per cent,' the Facebook post said. 'Drivers are encouraged to slow down and stay alert in wildlife areas to help reduce these preventable deaths.' July is the deadliest month for badgers on the province's roads because highway traffic increases at the same time male badgers searching for mates, according to conservation group Badgers in B.C., The animals' natural habitats are grassy, relatively large and often span 'major transportation corridors,' the organization's website says. Anyone who spots a badger in the province – living or dead – is urged to report it online as a way to help conservationists track the animals.
