Breakthrough

As she dashed from her home that morning in 2018, Sugar, whose real name was Mary Ann Scott, had no idea that she would be the one to make the breakthrough. Instead, like the other moms from Access to Recreation, a Regent Park advocacy group, she had hustled her kids through breakfast and was now rushing to City Hall where, along with the others, she would make an impassioned deputation to get swim classes for the neighbourhood’s children.

Three years earlier, in 2015, Access to Recreation had been started by a small group of women in response to years of frustration trying to register their children into local swim classes and other city-run recreation programs. They had tried everything. Some had waited all night for in-person registration. Others, fortunate enough to have wifi, found their technology too slow to get online before the spaces were gone. Yet, they were determined to get swim lessons for their children – not just for safety, healthy exercise, or even a future job as a lifeguard, but because athletics could help steer their kids away from drugs and gangs.

Sugar joined Access to Recreation a couple of years later. Although she had never lived in Regent Park, she considered it her neighbourhood. After all, she had spent her teenage years hanging out here, making both good friends and bad choices. In later life, as the mother of six children and living just a few blocks away, she brought all her children to sports programs in Regent Park. Besides, with a community college degree in social work, she was passionate about helping today’s youth make good friends – and better choices.

As the Access group hurried to City Hall, they were desperate for success. They had worked hard – done their research, spoken to the decision-makers in the City’s Division of Parks, Forestry, and Recreation, and pleaded with them to grant priority registration to local residents. But their pleas had fallen on deaf ears. So they’d changed strategies and were now seeking funding for swim classes through the local schools. Once again, they had worked hard. And since they were asking for just a two-year pilot project, surely they would not be refused. After Sugar and the others made their deputations at City Hall, they watched – not daring to breathe – as the Council’s votes were tallied on the big screen. And then: “Oh no! We lost! Again!” 

At lunch break, the dejected little group huddled together at the back of the Council Chamber. Should they go home? Or should they try one final idea? Only the mayor could call a second vote. But how could they convince him that this proposal was important? Perhaps they could leave a letter for him in his office – a letter that might change his mind over the lunch break. 

When the deflated group arrived at the mayor’s office, Sugar found the scene vaguely familiar. Then – all of a sudden – her memory cleared. “I’ve been here before!” she exclaimed. “I came with my daughter, Charity. It was 2016. Charity was on the first Canadian Women’s Rugby Team to play in the Olympics – and they won bronze in Rio! She was the only team member from Toronto, so the mayor wanted to meet her. I’ve got a picture somewhere on my phone.” Tense minutes passed while Sugar frenetically scrolled through her photos, and then, “Yes, it’s here! My daughter presenting the mayor with the team’s signed rugby ball.” 

The others crowded around. Maybe, just maybe, this could change the mayor’s heart and convince him that sports were valuable in a disadvantaged neighbourhood. Dropping the idea of a letter, they headed back to the council chamber. Although it was still lunch break, councillors were beginning to reassemble. They had just enough time to show Sugar’s phone to the Regent Park councillor, who promptly took it over to the mayor. 

As the Access group watched from the back of the council chamber, they saw the mayor nodding, and then – to the group’s amazement – he was heading in their direction. After the usual introductions, Sugar put her hand on his arm and said, “Mr. Mayor, if you want any more Olympians, you need to work with me here.” She knew this was too bold, but he laughed, and so did everyone else.

At the next recess – to the group’s further astonishment – Access members watched as the mayor went to talk with various council members. Yes, they were precisely those councillors who had voted against the pilot project. It was the breakthrough they needed – and when council resumed, and the mayor called the vote for a second time, Access to Recreation won by a landslide.

After the launch of successful swim lessons, Access returned to City Hall, hoping to secure their second year of funding. This time, Sugar rounded up Regent Park’s newest swimmers – one as young as seven – and took them to the budget process. The councillors were enthralled as these little ones told them how much they enjoyed their learn-to-swim classes. The second year of funding passed with ease. 

Of course, Access to Recreation’s fight continues for permanent funding for the school program and priority registration for other programs. Now, though, these mothers are energized. And they value each member because, regardless of all their advocacy work, they never know who will break through and touch the decision-makers’ hearts.