Centennial College has joined the Inclusive Local Economic Opportunity (ILEO) Initiative in its efforts to support residents of Scarborough.
The Inclusive Local Economic Opportunity (ILEO) Initiative, convened by United Way Greater Toronto and BMO Financial Group, aims to uplift residents by driving economic opportunity within the neighbourhood through support for small businesses, job training, and connecting residents with job opportunities.
Such support is particularly important as the Greater Golden Mile neighbourhood prepares for the construction of more than 75 new buildings, which will help make room for thousands of new residents in the coming years. “As an anchor institution in Scarborough, we are part of the community ecosystem and can play an important role in supporting social and economic prosperity,” said Manjit Jheeta, who oversees industry, employment and community relations.
Centennial College has several campuses in Scarborough, including Ashtonbee, which is in the heart of the Greater Golden Mile.
The college is playing a role in a number of ways. It supplied auditoriums and classrooms to support the Golden Mile Hiring Fair, which was hosted on February 29 by United Way Greater Toronto, ACCES Employment, and the Centre for Inclusive Economic Opportunity, Golden Mile (CIEO).
Centennial’s Community Development program was also involved, with first-year students helping to promote the event in the community, led by a second-year Community Development student on placement with CIEO.
Manjit Jheeta, Vice-President, Industry, Employment and Community Relations, Centennial CollegeAs an anchor institution in Scarborough, we are part of the community ecosystem and can play an important role in supporting social and economic prosperity.
Centennial College Vice President Manjit Jheeta emphasized the important connection between businesses, individuals, community partners, schools and colleges, and how they can work together to help their neighbourhood thrive.
Students enrolled in Centennial College’s journalism programs have also been collaborating with the ILEO initiative and the Centre for Inclusive Economic Opportunity (CIEO) to publish stories and reach residents to tell them about the opportunities available during the upcoming transition.
“The only way that ILEO can ensure that the community will benefit from the upcoming development in the Golden Mile is by connecting with the residents who live here,” said Daniele Zanotti, President and CEO of United Way Greater Toronto.
Centennial College is one of the members of ILEO’s leadership table, which brings together community agencies, private companies and the public sector to work on priorities identified by residents. Centennial College President Craig Stephenson joined the leadership table in early 2023 to participate alongside other executive leaders.
“This initiative is changing, strengthening and building Scarborough into a destination place,” Jheeta said. “You’re going to have a new downtown, but it will be up here in Scarborough, that’ll be culturally thriving, economically thriving, and socially thriving.”
One of the ideas being considered for the Golden Mile redevelopment in the long term is a “communiversity.” Jheeta explained it as embedding “education in the place where communities gather, where they feel comfortable, where they interact with each other,” to encourage the growth of knowledge.
This story was produced as part of a partnership between Centennial College journalism students and United Way Greater Toronto.
The Centre for Inclusive Economic Opportunity, Golden Mile (CIEO) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2020 by 10 community organizations to expand economic opportunities for residents of the Greater Golden Mile.