Computer literacy program marks 10 years of training

By Duncan McAllister —

L to R: Paul Cooper, director of public relations, Dell Canada, Dave Pearce, VP, TD Canada Trust technology solutions, Dr. Rick Tobias, director of the Yonge St. Mission, Joel D. Bradley, IT Exchange, and Deep Mehta, IT Exchange.

Many excited young students packed the auditorium at Lord Dufferin public school Nov. 25 to receive computers for their efforts in graduating from courses at the TD Securities Computer Literacy Centre. 71 graduating students, aged from five to 16, and primarily from the Cabbagetown and Regent Park neighbourhoods, attended the ceremony.

Founded in 1999 to help young people gain employment and computer literacy skills, the centre is located at the Yonge Street Mission and is celebrating its tenth anniversary. It has an impressive record of enrollment over the past then years: 3,600 students have participated in March break or summer computer camps, and 1,400 students have graduated from introductory courses and received computers, with 205 students enrolling this fall, marking the largest graduating class in the history of the centre.

Julian Williams, who manages the computer lab, was the speaker for the evening, introducing keynote speakers from the centre’s primary partners including Dr. Rick Tobias, director of the Yonge St. Mission, Dave Pearce, VP, TD Canada Trust technology solutions and Paul Cooper, director of public relations, Dell Canada.

Dr. Tobias told the parents “that this is an investment in your kid’s life.” and to the students that “we’re proud of you. You earned your computers.”

The ceremony continued with the presentation of certificates and refurbished Dell desktop and laptop computers. Microsoft Canada, donates software in support of the program and AOL Canada offers graduates one year of free dialup Internet service. The refurbishment of all computers is managed by IT Exchange.