The City is moving ahead with plans to build a Somali cultural centre in Etobicoke or in another area.
The City is looking at acquiring land in Etobicoke or other parts of Toronto to help build a Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation.
A report by City executive Vic Gupta was sent on February 2 to the Board of Directors of CreateTO dealing with the pending acquisition or disposition of land by the City for a Somali Centre.
The Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation is a registered non-profit organization led by a group of Somali Canadian young professionals from across Ontario aiming to create a cultural recreation and community space for their countrymen in Toronto.
There are more than 65,000 Somalis in Canada, with about 20,000 alone in Toronto, with most settling in the west end.
The organization said there has been a 40-year effort from the community to develop a culture and recreation centre in Toronto to address the needs of their under-served community.
The main goal of this centre is to create a “central space for the Somali community to gather and receive culturally appropriate community services from non-profit service providers and agencies.”
Toronto City Council adopted a motion in July 2022 to direct CreateTO staff to work with the Somali Centre on a feasibility study to identify potential sites for the facility.
Somali woman celebrating Somalia Day in Toronto.
City officials led a site search of all City-owned properties based on requirements from the Somali Centre and that of new community recreation centres.
The motion asked City officials to work with the Somali Centre and report back once a viable site has been identified with details on site due diligence, the operational model and financial strategy.
Canada is home to over 65,555 people with Somali ancestry, making it one of the countries with the highest number of Somali diaspora, according to the 2021 Census. There are about 20,000 Somalis in the Toronto area with the largest concentration in the City’s west end.
The Somali community is part of the wider population of 265,005 Torontonians of African descent.
A 2017 City plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism reported historically rooted anti-Black racism is faced by populations of African descent, who reported their neighbourhoods felt like a ‘service desert’ with a lack of community and social services that serve their area.
Most Somalis want their centre to have a basketball court, family child care and offer newcomer services.
A survey by 2,500 Somalians show most wanted the Centre to be located in either the Etobicoke or York areas. Many requested a basketball court, with others seeking a fitness centre, family childcare centre and venue for community events.
“Participants noted that prominent arches inspired by traditional Somali architecture should be integrated to create a welcoming ambiance,” according to the survey. “Participants recommended that the Somali Centre should stand as a symbol of cultural pride and environmental responsibility.”
They felt strongly that the Centre should actively work to support Somalis who need help and to provide settlement services for newcomers.
City staff were asked to report back with an update on the Centre, which may include next steps on the financial strategy, operating model, site selection and lease or license arrangements, design and development.