About STAR

Skills Through Activity & Recreation

Throughout the school year, Christie Lake continues its work in the city. The S.T.A.R. program provides athletic, artistic and educational programs for children in low-income areas, free of charge, after school and on weekends. There’s everything from swimming, hockey and karate to computers, cooking and leadership.

Lack of access to skill-building recreational programs is one of the biggest differences between Canadian children in poverty and their middle- and upper- class peers. Structured recreational programs not only build technical skills, they build self-esteem and social skills. Children in poverty rarely participate in these programs because they face so many barriers, including the cost of the program, the cost of equipment, the cost of transportation, and the pre-requisite technical and social skills.

Our programs are located close to home for most families. We have focused our efforts on the Bellevue/Caldwell low-income housing complex in the west end and the Russell Heights complex in the east end. If transportation is still a barrier, we sometimes provide bus tickets or a lift in the camp van.

We also cover all program costs, we provide all equipment, and we actively recruit participants in our target areas.

After a few years with Christie Lake, many children have developed enough skills to be integrated into mainstream programs. Once again we cover cost, transportation and equipment. Additionally, we provide support to both the child and the organisation to ensure a smooth integration.

If you would like to learn HOW YOUR CHILD CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE S.T.A.R. PROGRAM, please click here.

If you would like to SPONSOR A CHILD IN THE S.T.A.R. PROGRAM, please click here.

This project is supported by the Government of Ontario