Toronto Community Foundation puts on its game face

The 2012 Ontario Summer Games may have taken place in August, but the reverberations are still being felt through Playing for Keeps Neighbourhood Games.

A cross-sector legacy initiative of over 30 organizations led by Toronto Community Foundation, including key partners Heart and Stroke Foundation, University of Toronto-Faculty of Physical Education and Health, George Brown College, YMCA of Greater Toronto, Hamilton Community Foundation, Ontario Trillium Foundation and Get Active Toronto among others, the program is about bringing people – neighbours, co-workers, friends, family and even strangers – together to share an experience, have fun, and play.

“Playing for Keeps is all about building better connected, stronger, and healthier communities through ‘play’. We are all working together to give Torontonians, and all Ontarians, permission to play and to get to know their neighbours, building a movement that will strengthen communities long after the Games are over,” says Rahul K. Bhardwaj, President & CEO of TCF and Chair of the 2012 Ontario Summer Games.

Playing for Keeps Neighbourhood Games include sports, arts, music and food, everything from basketball to hopscotch, from community gardening to street dancing. The concept is getting a boost from 160 volunteers who took part in specialized Playing for Keeps training co-created by Playing for Keeps and George Brown College, learning about leadership, community engagement, citizenship, and event planning.

“I’m looking forward to working alongside other volunteers to implement Neighbourhood Games in my community. The benefit Playing for Keeps will have on my community will be priceless,” said ambassador Trevor Sookraj, 15.

And while the initiative includes micro-grants to support the Playing for Keeps Neighbourhood Games, Playing for Keeps is also providing an enhanced website that will serve as an information hub – providing tools and a place for Neighbourhood Games participants to share stories, photos and videos.

Photo of Playing for Keeps launch at corner of King and Bay streets. Credit Bill Petro.