February 21, 2008
Peel board launches Malton project focused on early childhood
Federal government supports research, community development to benefit young children
A new project focused on early childhood development will be officially launched in Malton on Feb. 26. Malton is one of 16 communities chosen by the federal government for its latest national research project called Understanding the Early Years.
This three-year community-led project will complete research about the factors that influence early childhood development. The project is funded by the Government of Canada's Social Development Partnerships Program.
The activities to be completed as part of this project include the following:
- evaluate the early development of young children in Malton and measure their readiness to learn at school
- produce profiles of the Malton community, showing factors that affect healthy outcomes for young children and their families
- interview parents to find out how they assess their children's development and how they rate their neighbourhood
- work with the community to create and implement an action plan for using the research results to improve child development in Malton
The project is governed by a guiding collaborative, a group of community leaders and advocates from the Malton community. "Though the Peel District School Board applied for the project funding and is the project sponsor, this project really belongs to the Malton community," says Rick Williams, Peel board trustee for Malton and a member of the collaborative. "For us, this project is really about community empowerment and capacity building. It's self-directed by the Malton community, through the guidance of the collaborative members. As members of the community, we will make sure the research findings are used right in Malton to make a difference for young children and their families."
At the launch, the guiding collaborative will unveil the vision, purpose and strategic direction of the project. The event will also launch the project's first community resource—a directory of programs and services for young children and their families in Malton.
The launch will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Lancaster Public School, 7425 Netherwood Rd. in Mississauga.
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Media contact: Paul Favaro, Chief of Assessment and Accountability, 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146, ext. 2611, paul.favaro@peelsb.com
Reference: Sylvia Link, Manager of Communications, 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146, ext. 2814, sylvia.link@peelsb.com
Understanding the Early Years Malton Guiding Collaborative
Kubra Arbuk, Lincoln Alexander Secondary School Council
Gursh Budwal, Marvin Heights Public School
Clem Burrowes, Malton Black Development Association
Helene Burrowes, Malton Neighbourhood Services
Wesley Byron Jones, Malton Black Development Association
Mark Cassar, Holy Cross Catholic Separate School
Beverley Davis, Peel Peace Campaign
Delane Finlayson, Faith Alive Christian Church
Lincoln Gillespie, Mount Zion Apostolic Church
Jatinder Grewal, Malton Gurdawara
Del Hall, Mount Zion Apostolic Church
Carreen Hamilton, Mount Zion Apostolic Church
James Harris, Faith Alive Christian Church
Shaffiq Hasan, Malton Islamic Centre
Colin Henry, St. Mark's Presbyterian Church
Thoywell Kennedy
Paulene Kennedy
Romana Khan, Lincoln Alexander Secondary School Council
Marlyne King, Lancaster Public School
Mark Lake, Malton Seventh Day Adventist Church
John Lennox, Faith Alive Christian Church
Steve Lee Young, City of Mississauga, Recreation and Parks
Sumbal Malik, Project Co-ordinator, Understanding the Early Years Malton
Sherine Osbourne, Cathedral of Praise Family Worship Centre
Beverly Pattison, Mount Zion Apostolic Church
Emily Plastina, Holy Cross Catholic Separate School
Russ Pooley, City of Mississauga, Recreation and Parks
Najma Qayyum, IMUS Tax and Immigration Consulting
Denise Ralph-Byron, Malton Black Development Association and Malton Netball Association
Alison Robinson, Malton Church of God of Prophecy
Craig Serjeant, St. Raphael Catholic Elementary School
Greg Socha, City of Mississauga, Recreation and Parks
Natalee Somenzi, City of Mississauga, Recreation and Parks
Cythia Tenn, Malton Church of God of Prophecy
Thomas Thomas, Mississauga Ward 5 Trustee, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
Valerie Thompson, Lexus Titans Wrestling and Homework Club
Mohammad Unus, Malton Islamic Centre
Meena Verma, Punjabi Community Health Centre
Jacqueline Ward, Mississauga Public Library
Sydney Weir, Malton Black Development Association
Rick Williams, Mississauga Ward 5 Trustee, Peel District School Board
