Mr. Speaker, it has been said that the ripest peach is highest on the tree and, if I can expand on that metaphor, York West is a tall tree with a unique harvest.
Promoting Education and Community Health, also known as PEACH, is a local, non-profit, charitable agency that has been rooted in the Jane-Finch community since 1993. Its mandate includes working with marginalized youth in a resiliency-promoting framework and, in my experience, it is exceptional at what it does.
For 20 years, PEACH has helped young people become productive members of our society. It empowers marginalized youth to re-imagine their future, allowing them to overcome setbacks, reconnect to education, experience strong support, improve their skills and become engaged in community activities, express themselves, and feel connected.
In short, PEACH is another word for hope to many who had forgotten the meaning of that word, and for that we are all very thankful.
We thank PEACH and every volunteer who works there.