TORONTO – This week, Toronto kids are heading to their first day of summer camp – the lucky ones whose parents won the annual registration scramble for a spot in a City program. Thousands of Toronto parents set alarms for 7 a.m., log on with multiple devices, and refresh their screens hoping to grab one of too few spots in City-run summer camps. Many still end up on waitlists.
ABC Toronto today announced a plan to make City of Toronto summer camp registration fairer, simpler, and less stressful for families. CampTO Access Plan is a four-part proposal calling on the City of Toronto to double summer camp capacity over five years, replace the registration scramble with a fairer system, and make sure no family gets left out because of slow internet or an inflexible boss.
“Toronto families should not have to treat summer camp registration like a full-contact sport,” said Kelly Aizicowitz of ABC Toronto. “City camps are essential for working parents and great for kids. We need more spaces, a fairer system, and better support for families trying to register.”
1. Double CampTO capacity over five years
ABC Toronto urges the City to create a five-year plan to double available CampTO spaces, with annual targets, staffing plans, neighbourhood-level waitlist data, and public reporting. New spaces prioritized where waitlists are longest and affordable options are fewest.
2. Use every available public space
The City needs to expand beyond their current network and make use of all available space like: schools, parks, libraries, cultural centres, and community hubs. The City should also work with qualified non-profit partners operating under City standards and pricing, with clear public reporting requirements.
3. End the 7 a.m. scramble
The City should replace time-of-opening registration scramble with a ranked-choice window for high-demand camps and locations. Families would have days, not seconds, to rank their preferences, with spots allocated through a more fair and transparent process.
“This should not come down to who has the fastest internet, the most flexible job, or the ability to have multiple adults online at once,” said Aizicowitz. “Every family deserves a fair shot.”
4. Expand human registration support
ABC Toronto would expand and make more people aware of phone and in-person help. This support should be available before and during major registration periods at community centres, libraries, and local access points, especially for families facing language barriers, limited connectivity, disability, or schedule conflicts.
These measures should be treated as a starting point, not the finish line. Toronto needs more CampTO spaces, a fairer allocation system, and stronger support for families. ABC Toronto’s proposal would make registration more predictable for parents, more equitable for families, and more responsive to the needs of a growing city.