Title
RECOGNITION OF RECREATION SERVICES FOR RECEIVING THE RECREATION ONTARIO PLAYWORKS YOUTH FRIENDLY SILVER AWARD
Mayor Lehman invited Steve Lee-Young, Manager of Recreation Programs and Jessica Gourlie, Recreation Programmer to the podium to provide details associated with the City of Barrie being awarded of the Recreation Ontario Playworks Youth Friendly Silver Award.
Mr. Lee-Young announced that the City of Barrie was presented the Recreation Ontario Playworks Youth Friendly Award at the Annual Parks and Recreation Ontario Conference held in Huntsville on March 30, 2017. He noted that Mayor Lehman was present to receive the award. Mr. Lee-Young acknowledged the collaborative efforts by the City of Barrie by Jessica Gourlie, City of Barrie, Jenny Wylie of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Chris Roos of Youth Reach, Stephanie Rayton of the YMCA, Natalie Banner and Nicole Barkley of Youth Haven, Lauren Wild of the Mayor’s Office and Cindy Pomery-Evans of the Barrie Public Library in preparing the extensive application submission for the award, resulting in three binders weighing 100 pounds.
Mr. Lee-Young described the Playworks definition of a youth friendly community and the 12 criteria utilized to determine the winning submissions. He advised that the City of Barrie held the bronze designation in 2010 and is working towards a platinum designation.
Mr. Lee-Young invited Mayor Lehman to the podium to present him with the Recreation Ontario Playworks Youth Friendly Silver Award. Mayor Lehman extended congratulations on behalf of City Council to the whole team, and acknowledged the value in cross community award programs. He noted that the City of Barrie has the highest population of youth under the age of 19 in Ontario and highlighted the importance of youth programs in the community. Mayor Lehman concluded by acknowledging the accomplishments of the partnering organizations.