Sunday March 2, 2025

Renderings for a planned Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation in Toronto. On Saturday, the federal government announced $20 million for the project.
CREDIT / Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation 

TORONTO, Canada (HOL) — After decades of advocacy and political hurdles, the Somali community in Toronto is one step closer to realizing a long-standing dream. The federal government has committed $20 million to construct the Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation (SCCR) in the city’s Rexdale neighbourhood, marking a significant milestone for Black and Muslim communities in Canada’s largest metropolis.

The 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.

For close to 40 years, Toronto’s Somali community has advocated for a space that reflects its cultural heritage and meets its social needs. Toronto is home to an estimated 20,000 people of Somali ancestry, many of whom fled the country’s civil war in the late 1980s and 1990s. Despite their contributions to the city’s economy, politics, and culture, the community has often struggled with systemic barriers and a lack of public infrastructure tailored to its needs.

The push for a dedicated Somali cultural centre gained traction in 2022 when Toronto’s City Council unanimously approved a motion supporting the project. The vote, championed by local leaders, was seen as an official acknowledgment of the community’s presence and contributions. However, the path to securing a physical space was anything but smooth.

Initially, the SCCR was slated to be built in Buttonwood Park, in the Edenbridge-Humber Valley neighbourhood. The proposal, however, triggered fierce opposition from residents who argued that the development would encroach on valuable green space. The backlash led to political intervention, with Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Councillor Stephen Holyday siding with residents against the plan.

Amid mounting pressure, Mayor Olivia Chow conceded that the city’s consultation process had been flawed, acknowledging that local communities had not been adequately engaged. The proposal was sent back for further review, forcing SCCR advocates to return to the negotiating table. After months of discussions, a new location was identified—95 Humberline Drive in Rexdale, an area with a large Somali population and a long history of Somali-Canadian settlement.

The federal government’s financial commitment has revived hopes for the SCCR, which advocates say will provide vital social infrastructure for Toronto’s Somali community. Zakaria Abdulle, chair of the SCCR, called the funding “a pivotal milestone” in a decades-long fight for recognition.

“For the first time in a long time, our elders, our children, and our youth feel seen and heard. They feel Canadian,” Abdulle said at the funding announcement, which coincided with the beginning of Ramadan.

While the federal government’s investment provides a crucial boost, it is not enough to complete the project. The SCCR is actively seeking additional support from the provincial government and the City of Toronto while also launching community fundraising initiatives.

Mayor Chow has hinted at possible municipal contributions, including waiving development charges and exploring operational funding partnerships. However, her office has yet to make any formal commitments.

Beyond serving as a cultural hub, the centre is expected to address broader socio-economic challenges within the Somali-Canadian community. Advocates emphasize that Black-led community organizations remain underrepresented in Toronto’s social infrastructure, and the SCCR could provide mentorship, recreational programs, and social services in a culturally responsive setting.