At the S.T.A.R. (Skills Through Activities and Recreation) Christmas party, Christie Lake Community Centers received a cheque for $35,000 from the Royal Bank After-School Program. Dr. Dan Offord, Camp Director, received the cheque from Micheline Martin, Royal Bank Regional Vice–President, Ottawa in front of 120 children in attendance at the S.T.A.R. program.
The children, parents and Christie Lake Board members present were ecstatic with the news that the Royal Bank had chosen its organization for this program.
“Dr. Dan”, who has volunteered for the past forty-four years as the Camp Director, was very pleased that Christie Lake was the chosen organization for the Ottawa area. “It means that for the year 2000 we will be able to expand the S.TA.R. program for the Bellevue/Caldwell Public Housing Complex.”
The winter S.T.A.R. program is an extension of the camp program. Christie Lake Camp has been open for 77 years and offering the opportunity for children from disadvantaged communities to grow through learning skills through recreation. The S.T.A.R. program serves campers, their friends, and siblings from the age of six. Over one-third of the campers in 1998 participated in the STAR program in the fall, winter and spring of 1998-99.
To date, limited financial resources have dictated the number of children served and the number of skill-development programs offered. Due to this grant, the STAR program will expand its services to Bellevue. According to Rose Wakeham, President of the Bellevue Manor Tenants' Association “We are very excited about the increased programs that Christie Lake will be able to offer. It means a lot for our community to help our young children grow through recreational services offered by the S.T.A.R. program.”
According to Mrs. Martin, this is the part of her job she really enjoys. “The bank gave 15 After-School Program grants across Canada, and I am very pleased that our city and specifically Christie Lake S.T.A.R. program was allocated one. This pilot project came into effect after a special panel of education experts were convened this past April with the hope that they could suggest ways for the Royal Bank to make a real difference in the lives of Canadian youth.”
Mrs. Martin hopes to get Royal Bank employees to visit both the S.T.A.R. program and to the Camp this summer.
For more information, please contact Neil Leslie at Christie Lake Community Centers: 742-6922
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Dr. Dan Offord, Camp Director for Christie Lake Community Centers receives a cheque from Micheline Martin, Royal Bank Regional Vice-President, Ottawa for $35,000 towards the S.T.A.R. (Skills Through Activities and Recreation) In-City Winter Program. The presentation took place at the S.T.A.R. Christmas Party.