8/11/2010 4:54:51 PM

August 11, 2010

Cricket sets donated for City day camps

Today, the City of Toronto received a donation of cricket sets from the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Under the Operation Cricket program, instructors will be visiting various day camps across the city this summer and bringing the cricket sets with them. They will be used by over 500 boys and girls aged six to 12 years of age at some of the following sites:

• Wellesley Community Centre
• North Kipling Community Centre
• Oakdale Community Centre
• L'Amoreaux Community Centre
• Miliken Park Community Recreation Centre
• Agnes McPhail Public School
• Port Royal Public School
• Scarborough Village Community Recreation Centre

"Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation strives to create programs that are meaningful, relevant and responsive to the needs of the city's diverse communities,” said Malcolm Bromley, Director of Community Recreation. “Working with our community and corporate partners it is our goal to ensure these recreation opportunities are accessible and give children and youth a healthy start on the road to lifelong active living."

The goals of the Operation Cricket program, run by the Parks, Forestry and Recreation division, are to improve access to the game of cricket, introduce the basic rules of the game to beginners, improve physical activity among youngsters, and build leadership skills among young cricketers. RBC illustrated its commitment to sharing the sport of cricket with young Torontonians by donating cricket sets to various City-run day camps.

“Our support of cricket in Toronto is part of our ongoing efforts to build deeper connections with multicultural communities in ways that are relevant and meaningful to them,” said Jennifer Tory, RBC’s Regional President, Greater Toronto Region. “We want to create a legacy that will enable these communities to build on their love of cricket and pass along a cherished tradition to their children.”

Last year, RBC sponsored the first ever Operation Cricket program which provided instructional cricket sessions to over 1,000 children in day camps throughout Toronto.