Fed announces $20 million to build Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation in Toronto

Ontario Construction News staff writer

The federal government has announced $20 million to help build the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation in Toronto.

The 100,000-sq. ft. centre will be a net-zero emissions building and feature a full-sized indoor basketball court for community tournaments and youth training; versatile recreational spaces that can accommodate activities like yoga classes and community meetings; a swimming pool for lessons, fitness sessions, and open swim times; and a library and archival area to serve as both a learning hub and a historical archive.

โ€œFor the past 40 years, Somali Canadians have collaborated with local leaders and policymakers to advocate for a community centre that reflects the diverse needs of Torontoโ€™s Black and Muslim communities,โ€ said Zakaria Abdulle, the chairman and president of the board of directors for the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation. โ€œTodayโ€™s announcement is a major milestone โ€” a distinctly Canadian achievement that honors our shared heritage and ensures it is preserved for future generations.โ€

Funding, announced by Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, is part of the $1.5 billion Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program. It will go toward a 100,000-square-foot net-zero emissions facility designed to serve as a hub for social, cultural, and recreational services. The centre will feature fitness and sports facilities, art and music spaces, and support services for newcomers, providing a long-overdue resource for the Somali Canadian community and beyond.

Initially, the SCCR was slated to be built in Buttonwood Park, in the Edenbridge-Humber Valley neighbourhood. The proposal, however, was opposed by residents who said the development would encroach on valuable green space.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Councillor Stephen Holyday siding with residents against the plan.

โ€œWith this support, our long-held dream of creating a space that fosters inclusion, provides essential services, and nurtures community is now within reach. A project of this scale could only be realized in a country as deeply committed to cultural diversity as Canada. We look forward to the Somali Centreโ€™s lasting positive effect on Etobicoke and beyond.โ€

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