The Bentway is grateful to the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) for supporting Bentway After School, its new youth education initiative, through a $37,400 Seed grant. On Wednesday, MPP Chris Glover stopped in at The Bentway’s Board of Directors meeting to formally congratulate the group on the work it’s doing thanks to this year-long grant, awarded late last year, and hear about its impact on Toronto’s youth and communities.
“Spadina–Fort York is home to vibrant and diverse communities, and programs like Bentway After School help ensure young people feel connected to the neighbourhoods they live in. Through the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, The Bentway is creating opportunities for youth to explore public spaces, build new skills, and develop a sense of belonging while shaping the future of their city. I’m proud to celebrate this investment and the positive impact it is having on families and communities across our riding.”
– Chris Glover, MPP for Spadina-Fort York
Launched this past winter, Bentway After School invites young urbanists aged 8 to 14 to explore and learn about their city through creativity, outdoor discovery, and hands-on engagement. The program empowers participants to better understand and influence the places around them by introducing concepts in urban design, city-building, and placemaking through neighbourhood investigations, storytelling, recreation, and collaborative learning.
The OTF grant supported the critical start-up costs required to launch the program, including curriculum development and engagement with local youth education consultants Maximum City, who helped shape the program’s vision and curriculum.
“We are deeply grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for this generous support. This investment enabled us to launch Bentway After School and create meaningful opportunities for young people to engage with their city in creative, hands-on ways. Participants are developing their own perspectives on community, public space, and city-building while building confidence, curiosity, and a stronger connection to the places they call home.”
– Renee Castonguay, Manager of Programming and Engagement at The Bentway
Thanks to OTF’s support, The Bentway is thrilled to welcome a new cohort of young urbanists to Bentway After School this year. Fall 2026 Registration is open now, featuring three 5-week sessions running on Tuesdays from September 8 through to December 15. This program offers school pick-up from Jean Lumb Public School and Bishop Macdonell Catholic School upon request, and a special roller skating or ice-skating session at our iconic figure-eight skate trail.
The Bentway works to ignite the urban imagination, using the city as site, subject, and canvas. Anchored under Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway and guiding its complex future, The Bentway is a growing public space and creative catalyst. Phase One of The Bentway opened in 2018 and presents a demonstration of what is possible along the Gardiner.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. In 2025-26, OTF invested nearly $107M into 746 community projects. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
