GOVERNOR GENERAL VISITED PATHWAYS TO EDUCATION PROGRAM SITE IN TORONTO

TORONTO, Nov. 15 /CNW/ - On Saturday, November 13, 2010 His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, travelled to Toronto to visit the Rexdale Pathways to Education facility.

Pathways to Education Canada, a not-for-profit organization of which His Excellency is patron, is focused on reducing the high school dropout rate of youth in low-income communities. The Pathways program provides four key supports — academic, social, financial, and advocacy - to ensure youth successfully complete high school, continue on to post-secondary studies, and choose meaningful careers.

During his visit, the Governor General participated in a round-table discussion, where he learned firsthand from program participants, volunteers and administrators about the challenges and successes the charitable organization and participating students have experienced over the years.

The Rexdale Pathways program aims at increasing the future potential of youths in the Jamestown community, leading to better career options and the ability to return to their communities as professionals, resources and role models. The Rexdale Pathways to Education program is delivered in partnership with the Rexdale Community Health Centre. It began in August 2007 and has over 395 students in grade 9, 10, 11 and 12 across 30 different high schools.

"Pathways to Education is honoured to be amongst the first organizations to receive official patronage status from Canada's new Governor General" said David Hughes, President and CEO, Pathways to Education Canada. "His Excellency's long-standing commitment to the interconnectedness of knowledge and to the motto Contemplare Meliora, meaning "To envisage a better world," is certainly in line with Pathways goal to ensure all youth are given the opportunity to further their education and achieve their full potential." 

The Pathways to Education program offers a comprehensive, community-based and results-focused approach that sets it apart from other programs in its holistic commitment to improving the opportunities of participating students. Pathways provides academic tutoring, group and career-oriented mentoring, student advocacy and financial assistance, including transit tickets or meal vouchers as well as academic scholarships for post-secondary studies. Since its inception in 2001, Pathways has expanded to eleven communities across the country as part of its long term goal to serve 10,000 students in 20 communities by 2015.

About Pathways to Education Canada - www.pathwaystoeducation.ca

Pathways to Education Canada is a community-based charitable organization that is reducing poverty and its effects by lowering the dropout rate and increasing access to post-secondary education among youth in low income communities. Pathways was developed by the Regent Park Community Health Centre which launched the initial program in 2001 and now operates in eleven communities, with programs in Toronto (Regent Park, Lawrence Heights, Rexdale and Scarborough) well as Kitchener, Ottawa, Hamilton, Montreal, Halifax, Kingston, and Winnipeg.

For further information:

Tonisha Bath, Optimum Public Relations, 416.967.8125, [email protected]