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Criteria that shape a Youth Friendly Community

Listed below are the 15 criteria that shapes a Youth Friendly Community.  The right column indicates Markham successes that fulfill those criteria.

Criteria	Successes
1.  Youth Have Options to play	-      Opportunities vary from Recreational, Arts, structure, non structured activities. -      29 volunteer workshop and leadership program (including Leaders in Training programs) -      51 Youth Drop In programs -      22 types of sport and physical activity -      12 types of arts and culture programs -      6 types of leadership and volunteer programs -      11 types of aquatic programs -      5 youth councils -      18 year round youth events -      12 Markham special events
2.   Youth are formally connected to the community	-      Mayor’s Youth Task Force -      4 Area Youth Councils
3.      Facilities are dedicated to youth play	-      Angus Glen Youth Centre -      Thornhill Youth Space (in development) -      East Markham Youth Centre (in development) -      Markham Village (Friday youth nights) -      Skateboard Park -      51 Drop in programs
4. It is easy for youth to find information about play activities in the community	-      Markham Youth Website: regular updates & chat room -      Economist and Sun: frequent articles -      4 x Seasonal Markham Recreation Guide -      3 x Markham Youth Newsletters. -      10842 newsletters are distributed to Gr 6-8 across Markham for each version in Fall, Winter, Spring -      4 x Area Youth Councils -      High school newspapers -      Designated youth display cases in each community centre
5.  The community supports public youth events	-      18 youth events -      International Youth week -      $25,000 funding from Markham for year round festivities for youth -      6 x Youth Dances (Crosby Arena & Thornhill) -      Games tournaments
6. The community commits funding for youth play	-      $4,700 is allocated to the coordinator of the four areas (Milliken, Markham, Unionville, Thornhill) for youth programming -      Youth event budget is $25,000 -      Local communities contribute over $6000 to Youth Week -      Basketball drop-ins at Armadale C.C. and Thornhill C.C. are free
7.  The community supports positive youth development	-      High Five certificates continues to increase annually -      Regular Staff Orientation (Youth Friendly Community Workshop) -      Volunteer Orientation Workshops -      650 volunteers in database since 2006
8.  The community support youth volunteerism and leadership development	-      Increased volunteer workshops to 6 per session and 8 sessions during summer season -      Leaders in Training Program that incorporates Standard First Aid and High Five training -      Youth make up for 70% of total volunteers -      Mayor’s Youth Task Force -      4 Area Youth Council -      350 volunteers for Milliken Children’s Festival
9.   The community has models of effective community partnerships	-      YMCA Markham -      York Region District School Board -      Ontario York Region Heritage Lions Club -      Street Kids International -      Pathways of York Region -      PowerStream -      Cadillac Fairview Markville Mall
10.  Youth activism and advocacy for play is nurtured	-      Youth Services Strategic Implementation Plan (2009-2011 plan in development) -      Mayor’s Youth Task force -      4 Area youth councils
11.  Youth feel comfortable in their own community	-      Parks and Trails -      Bicycle network -      Recreation department continue to host CANBIKE workshops for youth -      Dedicated youth space (Angus Glen, Thornhill, Centennial)
12.  Youth can get to the play programs that are offered	-   Even distribution of recreational facilities throughout Markham -   Development of the East Markham Community Centre will help target expanded population in the Cornell and Boxgrove communities in Markham
13.  Schools support the youth friendly approach	-      Representatives that sit on the Area youth councils and MYTF represents schools in the Markham area -      YRDSB will be used to help develop a new external youth service strategic plan
14.  Adults champion the cause for youth play	-      Mayor Frank Scarpitti -      Members of Council -      Mayor and Council continue to advocate the importance of youth in our community
15.  The community celebrates and recognizes youth	-      Annual Markham Youth Award (22 participants and 4 recipients) -      Remembrance Day Poetry Contest (64 entries, 3 winners) -      International Youth Week

 

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