Toronto – Councillor Vincent Crisanti (Etobicoke North) was joined by Heather Masterson, President and CEO of Travelers Canada; Marlene Ibsen, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Travelers Foundation and Vice President of Community Relations, Travelers; Derrick Dixon, Project Manager at KABOOM!; and Hamdi Ali, Somali Women and Children’s Support Network and the Somali Canadian Association of Etobicoke – along with local community volunteers – to celebrate the completion of the City of Toronto’s newest playground at 350 Dixon Rd.
This new outdoor play space resulted from a collaboration between corporate and local volunteers. Approximately 100 Travelers Canada employees and local community members, led by the Somali Women and Children’s Support Network and the Somali Canadian Association of Etobicoke, helped build the playground over three days. The design of the play area was chosen with input from children in the neighbourhood including those attending summer camp at the nearby Kingsview Village Community School and families from the local Somali community.
The revitalized play area at Dixon Park was upgraded with new materials and equipment. Some of the new and accessible play equipment includes a slide, ring bridge, climber, a sign language panel, a large format match four game and new swing equipment that includes an accessible swing. Volunteers will also enhance the park by installing pollinator garden planter benches and refreshing the paint.
Travelers Canada provided funding and partnered with the City and KABOOM!, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending play space inequity. Together with the City, these partners identified, designed and assembled a new playground to replace an aging play structure needing revitalization.
KABOOM! has partnered with the City on other playgrounds in Toronto, bringing together local communities to deliver new and revitalized play spaces for neighbourhoods. Examples of successful builds include Glamorgan Park (2019), Driftwood Parkette (2016), Heron Park (2015) and MacGregor Park (2014).
“This newly refurbished playground was designed and built by, and for, the many residents in this vibrant community. My thanks to the input and support of the Somali Women and Children’s Support Network and the Somali Canadian Association of Etobicoke, who were deeply involved in this project. We are sincerely grateful to Travelers Canada for their financial contribution, their staff who volunteered to help build the playground, and KABOOM! for their help in making all this happen.” – Councillor Vincent Crisanti (Etobicoke North)
“Travelers is committed to supporting the neighborhoods where we live and work, which includes providing safe community playspaces to help kids reach their full potential. We are proud to work with KABOOM! and the City of Toronto on this tremendous project and make dreams a reality for children in the city.” – Heather Masterson, President and CEO of Travelers Canada
Playgrounds are an iconic part of childhood where kids collect some of their best memories and experience the countless physical and mental health benefits of play. KABOOM! is thrilled to work with our partners to bring to life the new playspace at Dixon Park and ensure that generations of kids in Toronto can grow up happy and healthy through access to playspaces where they feel they are valued and belong.” – Lysa Ratliff, CEO of KABOOM!.
“Now that Dixon Park has been revitalized, it will give our children a place to grow, learn and dream. It will also provide a welcoming space where families in the community can come together, play, connect, relax, and build lasting memories.” – Hamdi Ali, Somali Women and Children’s Support Network and the Somali Canadian Association of Etobicoke