Toronto’s Armenian Community Centre is about to undergo a significant renovation project.

The centre will use more than $3 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments to fund construction of a 15,500-square foot expansion of its facility. The work will include six multi-purpose rooms, a music room, common room, and a robotics lab.

Additional improvements include: an expanded gathering lounge; a larger entrance to the facility; new, accessible universal washrooms; more storage; and renovations of the gymnasium floor and HVAC system.

Once complete, the centre will become a more comprehensive, multi-purpose community hub that will offer additional programming to meet growing cultural and recreational needs, and is expected to result in an additional 15,000 visitors per year.  

"In partnership with the federal and provincial governments, the Armenian Youth Centre expansion project will create much-needed additional recreational and cultural facilities for our local community, helping us support new programs and services, and enabling us to build a stronger and safer future for our community,” said Sevag Khoshian, president of the Armenian Community Centre of Toronto. “Since its inception, the Armenian community of Toronto has hosted a multitude of services for all segments of society - supporting generations while promoting the principles of community, volunteerism, leadership, and active and healthy living."

The Armenian Youth Centre is located at 50 Hallcrown Place in North York. It was built in 2004 and is a multi-purpose community and recreational facility with meeting, conference, theatrical, dance and athletics space.

"The Armenian Community Centre of Toronto is more than a landmark in the city; it is a treasured recreational gathering place in the community to celebrate Armenian culture and heritage,” said Don Valley North MPP Vincent Ke. “Today’s announcement demonstrates Ontario’s commitment to investing in infrastructure projects that promise to improve quality of life, support our communities, and attract jobs that will boost our economy."

Construction is slated to begin this summer and end in the fall of 2023.

The Government of Canada is investing more than $1.7 million in this project through the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream (CCRIS) of the Investing in Canada plan. The Government of Ontario is contributing more than $1.4 million, while the Armenian Community Centre of Toronto is providing more than $1.1 million toward this project.