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|[pic] |KIDS SAFETY VILLAGE OF DURHAM REGION |

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| |MEDIA RELEASE |

FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY

GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY AT THE KIDS' SAFETY VILLAGE

DATE: OCTOBER 12, 2017

LOCATION: KIDS' SAFETY VILLAGE OF DURHAM REGION

1129 ATHOL STREET, WHITBY, ONTARIO L1N 4A6

TIME: 11:00 AM

Dignitaries from the Region of Durham, various municipalities, and major sponsors , such as Ontario Power Generation and General Motors Company, were on hand, at the Kids' Safety Vllage of Durham Region, in Whitby, on October 12, 2017, to break ground for the expansion of the Kids' Safety Village of Durham Region.

Roger Anderson, Chair of Durham Region; Paul Martin, Chief of the Durham Region Police Service; and Lisa Millar, Director of Education for the Durham District School Board, the original Kids' Safety Village original 3 partners, together with the founding service clubs, the Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood, represented by Lennis Trotter, and the Ajax Optimist Club, represented by Ron Mortson, welcomed all of the Fire Departments in Durham Region, repersented by Terry Von Zuben of the Whitby Fire Department, to the Kids' Safety Village Team, and all spoke at the ground breaking ceremony.

All of these partners spoke very enthusiastically of their ongoing commitment to The Kids' Safety Village, at the ground breaking ceremony, which was emceed by Terry Johnston, the voice of Durham Region and Radio Station CKDO's morning man, who is also a Kids'Safety Village Committee member and major volunteer at the Village.

Regional Chair, Roger Anderson, encouraged all of the teachers of grades 1, 2, 3 and 5 to book a trip to the Kids Safety Village and help their students stay street-safe, on the streets and in the spring of 2018, fire-safe in their homes. The Kids' Safety Village remains open, during the construction period to any grade 1, 2, 3 and 5 class in Durham Region, regardless of their school board or affiliation.

Ron Mortson, Ajax Optimist and treasurer of the Kids' Safety Village thanked the many sponsors who have already contributed $484, 000 to the expansion project. He reminded everyone that we are still in need of $150,000 to finish the project. If you know of anyone who can assist with much needed funds in any amount, Ron is very ready and willing to talk to them.

They were joined, at the ground breaking, by MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes ,who represents the riding of Whitby, MPP's Jennifer French and Lorne Coe, Mayors John Henry of Oshawa, Don Mitchell of Whitby, Dave Ryan of Pickering, and many Councilors including Joe Drumm, Derrick Gleed, and Michael Emm of Whitby, various school board trustees and other Regional and City Councilors in the various municipalities in Durham Region, and by many members of the Durham Regional Police Service, members from all of the Fire Departments in Durham Region, and by many members of the Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood and the Ajax Optimist Club, and by Beth Selby and Emmy Iheme, Rotary International District 7070's Assistant Governors.

The Kids' Safety Village of Durham Region has just started to expand its main teaching building to include a fire safety component. When completed, Durham Region fire departments will teach fire safety in the new interactive classroom equipped with a full kitchen, living room and bathroom with features that simulate fire and emergency situations. The expansion includes larger washrooms, community meeting facilities and better accessibility throughout the Village.

“The Kids Safety Village is moving towards a new era, providing and expanding the teaching facility to include an additional classroom,” says Constable Corey Walsh. “The expanded classroom will allow children to learn fire safety lessons. Children will learn how not to burn and how to safely exit a burning building.”

“The Village will also receive a facelift to provide expanded, accessible entry into various buildings that are now difficult for those in wheelchairs to access,” continues Constable Walsh. “It is exciting to know that all children will receive the expanded education and easy access to the Village.”

In addition, roads and sidewalks need to be upgraded and resurfaced, as well as general maintenance to the existing buildings and features within the grounds like the railway crossing.

“I am very excited about the coming expansion of our Kids’ Safety Village,” says Ron Mortson, a member of the Board of Directors for Kids’ Safety Village of Durham Region. “Thousands of children have benefited from the safety lessons learned at the Village over the last 20 years. The new second classroom and addition of the Fire Safety Component will make this an even more valuable resource for our community.”

More than 200,000 school-aged children in Grades 1, 2, 3 and 5 from schools throughout Durham Region have toured and continue to tour this site throughout the school years to learn about safety. These programs range from bike safety and rules of the road to reacting with strangers, all conducted by the Durham Regional Police Service.

We now turn our attention to a major expansion of the classroom to incorporate fire safety so that both key elements, police, and fire, will be housed in one facility. The expanded facility will also allow more children in our rapidly expanding Durham Region to attend the safety lessons in the Village.

“The programs at the Kids’ Safety Village saves children’s lives,” says Chief Paul Martin. “More than 15,000 children visit each year. That’s thousands of children who get to learn about roadway safety, railway safety and pedestrian behavior.”

Every year, the DRPS and its Police Services Board invest approximately $60,000 in maintenance. This year the entire village was repaved using these funds and those raised by the volunteer Kids’ Safety Village Board. And the Region of Durham upgraded all of the traffic lights in the village.

The 20-year lease renewal means students from Durham Region will continue to visit the village for class trips and enjoy community events, such as the Halloween Haunt (October 28), the Christmas at The Village ( November 17 to 25) and the Easter Eggstravaganza (Easter Saturday) and Bicycle Fun Day (in May).

The Durham Regional Police Service would like to thank its partners in this venture: the Police Services Board, the Durham District School Board and the Kids’ Safety Village Board and welcome their newest partners, the Fire Departments in Durham Region.

And we are still funndraising to help make the next 20 years a reality asking the public to donate to The Kids Safety Village of Durham Region. We thank the many sponsors who have already contributed $484, 000 to the expansion project., and we need everyone's help to raise the balance of $150,000 to finish the project.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The Kids Safety Village of Durham Region is a kid-sized version of a real town located on the grounds of the Sir William Stephenson Public School in Whitby. Set on 1.2 acres, the village features small buildings, detailed roadways, traffic lights and road signs, an operational railway crossing, battery cars, bicycles and a classroom. 

Here, children learn about road safety as a pedestrian and a cyclist in a controlled, supervised environment. Since 1995, the realistic setting has allowed thousands of children in Durham to test their safety skills in a fun, learning environment.

The Kids' Safety Village is truly a community project dedicated to building a safer future for children. The village was constructed with donations of cash, services and materials from local businesses, citizens and service clubs

Over 15,000 students visit the Village each year.

Each course includes safety-related instruction on topics such as fire, rail, bus and hydro safety, as well as information on safe strangers and the use of 911.

Who We Are:

A police officer staffs the Village, coordinating safety lessons and teaching children about road and bicycle safety. Volunteers are utilized for a variety of assignments, including display assistants, safety advocates and office administration.

Contact Information for Volunteers

There are many opportunities for people to get involved in the Safety Village. It relies on co-operative education students, volunteers and donations to keep the programs running. To find out more about the village and ways you can help, please call us at (905) 579-1520 ext.4804.

E-Mail safetyvillage@drps.ca

Contact Information for Teachers

Phone: 905-668-9893

Fax: 905-668-5697

Mail Address: 1129 Athol St., Whitby, ON L1N 4A6

E-mail: safetyvillage@drps.ca

Where to Find Us:

We are located in Whitby at 1129 Athol Street.

For more information, please visit our website

Visit us on Facebook:

Follow us on Twitter:

OUR RENNOVATION AND EXPANSION PROGRAM – THE FUTURE IS NOW:

​​​The community partners, the Durham Regional Police, the Durham District School Board, and Lennis Trotter, Chair of the Board of the Kids' Safety Village of Durham Region, came together, on October 15, 2015, to pave the way for a big future at the Kids’ Safety Village in Whitby. A new 20-year lease has been signed at the little village—a green light for students in Durham Region to learn about roadway safety in this unique environment.

The Kids’ Safety Village was founded in 1995 by the Oshawa-Parkwood Rotary Club and the Ajax Optimist Club. It is a miniature neighborhood that helps children learn about street and railway safety in a controlled, supervised location. The land is adjacent to Sir William Stephenson Public School and is owned by the Durham District School Board.

“The programs at the Kids’ Safety Village saves children’s lives,” says Chief Paul Martin. “More than 15,000 children visit each year. That’s thousands of children who get to learn about roadway safety, railway safety and pedestrian behavior.”

Every year, the DRPS and its Police Services Board invest approximately $60,000 in maintenance. This year the entire village was repaved using these funds and those raised by the volunteer Kids’ Safety Village Board. And the Region of Durham upgraded all of the traffic lights in the village.

The 20-year lease renewal means students from Durham Region will continue to visit the village for class trips and enjoy community events, such as the Halloween Haunt and Easter Eggstravaganza and Bicycle Fun Day.

The Durham Regional Police Service would like to thank its partners in this venture: the Police Services Board, the Durham District School Board and the Kids’ Safety Village Board.

And you can help make the next 20 years a reality by donating to The Kids Safety Village of Durham Region.

The Kids Safety Village of Durham Region has started to expand its main teaching building to include a fire safety component. When completed, Durham Region fire departments will teach fire safety in the new interactive classroom equipped with a full kitchen, living room and bathroom with features that simulate fire and emergency situations. The expansion includes larger washrooms, community meeting facilities and better accessibility throughout the Village.

“The Kids Safety Village is moving towards a new era, providing and expanding the teaching facility to include an additional classroom,” says Constable Corey Walsh. “The expanded classroom will allow children to learn fire safety lessons. Children will learn how not to burn and how to safely exit a burning building.”

“The Village will also receive a facelift to provide expanded, accessible entry into various buildings that are now difficult for those in wheelchairs to access,” continues Constable Walsh. “It is exciting to know that all children will receive the expanded education and easy access to the Village.”

In addition, roads and sidewalks need to be upgraded and resurfaced, as well as general maintenance to the existing buildings and features within the grounds like the railway crossing.

“I am very excited about the coming expansion of our Kids’ Safety Village,” says Ron Mortson, a member of the Board of Directors for Kids’ Safety Village of Durham Region. “Thousands of children have benefited from the safety lessons learned at the Village over the last 20 years. The new second classroom and addition of the Fire Safety Component will make this an even more valuable resource for our community.”

Hayley McNamara, a UOIT graduate, and a past Rotaract President, recalls visiting the Kids’ Safety Village of Durham Region as a youngster.

“As a child, I remember attending Safety Village and gaining the confidence I needed in road safety through their fun and interactive learning environment,” says McNamara. “After my first visit, I can recall how ecstatic I was to return to Safety Village for my bicycle and helmet training. Durham’s Safety Village helps students with different learning techniques understand the importance of road safety by combining practical and in class experiences.

Adds McNamara, “Over the years, Safety Village has helped numerous children within the Durham community gain self-assurance in a safe learning environment. This simulated town environment (which includes traffic lights, road signs, an operational railway crossing, small buildings and roadways) provides students with a memorable experience of their safety training. Without this program, children would lack the understanding of road safety.”

*****

Contacts:

Treasurer Ron Mortson: 905-706-0154 or ronmortson@

President Lennis Trotter: 905-985-0963 or lennis.trotter@

Constable Corey Walsh: 905-668-9893, email: safetyvillage@drps.ca

History and Background:

Traffic accidents are a leading threat to school age children, and the Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood, the Optimist Club of Ajax, and the Durham Regional Police, in southern Ontario, Canada, thought that it was imperative to reduce that threat and create greater safety awareness for young children, in a realistic street setting.

On September 13, 1995, the three organizations opened this innovative, educational concept called “The Kids’ Safety Village of Durham Region”, on a 1.2 acre site in Whitby, Ontario, Canada on land donated by the Durham Board of Education (just north of Highway 401 and Brock Street). It is a miniature village used to teach street safety and awareness, annually to over 15,000 elementary school children, aged 6, 7 and 8. In the first 20 years, over 200,000 children have toured the facility and learned how to be safe on the streets.

The Kids’ Safety Village of Durham Region is a non-profit, charitable organization run by a volunteer board of directors. Daily instruction and programs are provided by the Durham Regional Police Association.

More than 90 organizations and individuals contributed to the construction of the Village through either financial support or in-kind donations of construction materials and labour, while another 160 sponsors contributed to furnish the Village with bikes, helmets, battery-operated jeeps, classroom furniture and the like.

The 1.2-acre site was donated by the Durham District School Board. More than 200,000 school-aged children in Grades 1, 2 and 3 from Durham Region have toured this site throughout the school years to learn about safety. These programs range from bike safety and rules of the road to reacting with strangers.

There are many other programs, including a Graffiti Awareness program for Grade 5 students.

Special events, such as the Halloween Haunt and Christmas in the Village utilize the Village during off hours.

Some of the site sponsors include: General Motors of Canada; Rotary Clubs of Durham Region; Optimist Clubs of Durham Region; Scotiabank; Durham Fire and Police Services; and various non-profit community groups.

The Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood and the Optimist Club of Ajax continue to follow their dream to provide hands-on safety awareness to the children in southern Ontario. As Past Rotary International President Jim Lacey said in his January 1999 message, in The Rotarian Magazine, “Children are our future, and it is our responsibility to provide a safe, nurturing environment in which they can grow and thrive”.

*****

Contacts:

Treasurer Ron Mortson: 905-706-0154 or ronmortson@

President Lennis Trotter: 905-985-0963 or lennis.trotter@

Constable Corey Walsh: 905-668-9893, email: safetyvillage@drps.ca

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