Don Mills was developed sixty years ago with the premise of humanizing the urban sprawl. The neighbourhood was designed as four quadrants, each containing a school, church and park. The architects believed in putting people first and cars second so they designed cul de sacs to slow traffic and pedestrian walkways to improve flow. Don Mills married the natural environment with its urban setting. In 1997, the Ontario Heritage Foundation designated Don Mills as a heritage site that used integral and consistent planning principles, the only community so honoured. La Citadelle International Academy of Arts & Science was conceived in September 2000 upon a clear vision of international and holistic education, Canadian bilingualism, and a spirit of educational excellence. Its exceptionally caring environment and encompassing core-curriculum, combined with a distinguished faculty, a diverse student body and comprehensive resources, equip its students with the knowledge, skills and values required to attain the highest levels of achievement and mastery learning. Don Mills, the first planned urban community in North America may lose a school and approximately four acres of green space if the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) sells Mallow Centre. For the past thirteen years, La Citadelle Academy of Arts & Science has leased the property from the TDSB. During that time, La Citadelle has not only maintained a harmonious relationship with its neighbours but has also maintained and improved the grounds for its students and the Don Mills community by adding safe playground facilities and beautiful landscaping. La Citadelle has built its distinctive high reputation over the past thirteen years on being first and foremost an excellent, progressive, and successful private educational institution that offers its students a holistic, dynamic learning environment, as well as a comprehensive and well-rounded, first-rate bilingual academic program. We are very proud of our school and our community and remain committed to provide continued excellence in education to our students. By the end of November, the board plans to sell the property to the highest bidder. La Citadelle has already offered to lease the property for an additional 49 years. Unfortunately, if this offer is turned down, it will be hard for the school to compete against offers from commercial and residential developers. The sale of the school to said developers would likely destroy the nature of this green and vibrant community, where, any night of the week, La Citadelle's park is full of children playing soccer, baseball, basketball, or using the playground. The loss of this green space would affect hundreds of households. La Citadelle wants to invite the community to partner with the school to preserve Don Mills' integrity. Please show your support for helping to preserve the Don Mills green space by signing this online petition

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