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Where do we belanu? -a= For six years now, C a r n e g i e Centre h a s b e e n supervised by the city Social Planning Department. That's the w a y Carnegie p a t r o n s , staff and the Carnegie Community Centre Association Board prefer it. Under Social Planning, we have become the most unique and successful community centre in Canada. As well, we have a direct line to City Hall. That's how we got the $700,000 for renovations. But now the Carnegie Centre Review Panel recommends that we be switched to the Parks Board. Why? The Panel admits that most everybody in Carnegie wants' to stay with Social Planning, but it says the Parks Board would provide better "administrative support structures" to run the centre. There are several good reasons to avoid the Parks Board : It would be harder to keep programs free. We would have to go out and raise money from somewhere.
W e would have t o c o m p e t e with more t h a n 20 other Centres, like Point Grey and Kerrisdale, for funding for new programs. Our street-wise staff, especially at info, security and CPA, could be squeezed out in favor of new employees with the "proper1' (professional) credentials. () T h e City would lose $210,000 per year, plus $ 1 million retroactive, in federal money for Carnegie if there is a switch. The Parks Board is a recreation service. It is not equipped t o deal w i t h t h e social programs that Carnegie needs. This question is crucial to the future of Carnegie and community. Almost 90% of residents live in an environment or economic constriction and social hardship. Camegie, under Social Planning, is a haven and an oasis and can't become a classroom experiment. :