After years of planning and frustration, construction of the Bridletowne Neighbourhood Centre of Community in north Scarborough will finally go ahead.

Plans to build a community hub in the region were officially approved by the City of Toronto in 2012. The city bought a piece of the former Timothy Eaton Business and Technical Institute property on Bridletowne Circle with the view of transforming it into a regional dialysis program and YMCA. But the challenge of funding the project, which would also house child-care spaces, was too great to get the project built. In 2019, the project looked destined to fail.

The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have changed all that.

The federal government announced on June 10 that it would contribute nearly $27 million to the project through the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada plan.

For its part, the province agreed to fund more than $22.3 million, with the YMCA of Greater Toronto contributing nearly $15 million, United Way Greater Toronto more than $3 million, and the City of Toronto $9.8 million in the form of investments that were not otherwise covered, including $3.9 million in capital funding for a new childcare centre.

"This is wonderful news. After years of hard work by all levels of government and stakeholders, I am looking forward to seeing shovels in the ground as this project moves forward,” said Nick Mantas, City of Toronto Councillor for Scarborough–Agincourt. “The Bridletowne Hub will generate significant and much-needed benefits, services and jobs for the residents of the community. These services will have a lasting impact and I am glad that everyone is committed to making it happen."

The project will see the construction of an 82,440-square foot building in the neighbourhood, with spaces for community, youth and fitness programming. The YMCA of Greater Toronto will use approximately 68,652 square feet of the space as a centre of community to house health and fitness facilities, including a pool and gymnasium; licensed childcare and before-and-after school programming; and a community space. The United Way will have a dedicated space of 13,788 square feet for community agencies to directly assist local community members.

"The Steeles L'Amoreaux community is a strong diverse, vibrant area of our city that is in great need of a community centre,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory. “The combined investment and collaboration from all levels of government, neighbourhood agencies and community members, is helping us build the Bridletowne Neighbourhood Centre. This will enhance the quality of life for our residents and provide an opportunity for residents to meet new people, socialize, and access vital programs and support."

The facility will allow the YMCA of Greater Toronto, United Way Greater Toronto, and other partners to reduce existing service gaps in the community by connecting fragmented services and enhancing access to programs and services for those in the Bridletowne Community and surrounding area.