TORONTO – The federal government has announced it will invest $20 million in its longtime Somali Cultural Recreation Centre in Toronto through its green and comprehensive community building program.
The project will see the construction of net-zero emissions facilities that will address the needs of Toronto’s Somali community and provide social, cultural and recreational services to residents of the surrounding area, the release explains.
According to the project’s website, the 100,000-square-foot center will include a full-size indoor basketball court that hosts community tournaments and youth training sessions. A multifunctional recreational space where you can transform into to host everything from yoga classes to community meetings. A swimming pool for lessons, aquatic fitness and open swimming time. Libraries and archive spaces that act as learning hubs and historical archives.
“For the past 40 years, Canadians in Somali have worked alongside local leaders and policymakers to advocate for community centres that meet the diverse needs of Toronto’s black and Muslim communities. Today’s announcement marks a pivotal milestone that is clearly a Canadian rite of passage, celebrating our shared heritage and beginning to truly defend it for future generations.”
“With this support, our long-standing dream of establishing a space for all Canadians – a place to promote inclusion, provide critical services and nurture communities – is ultimately within reach. This scale and importance project could only be realized in a country that, like Canada, deeply appreciates cultural diversity. We look forward to the positive and lasting impact that the Somali Centre has on Etobikoek and beyond.”
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