Breaking Ground on the new Bridletowne Neighbourhood Centre
After more than 10 years of community advocacy and engagement, we broke ground on the new Bridletowne Neighbourhood Centre (BNC) at 1355 Bridletowne Circle on June 19, 2023.
Project plans for the new centre were unveiled at an official ceremony to a crowd that included the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, Jean Yip, Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt, Jennifer McKelvie, Deputy Mayor of Toronto, and more.
Leading integrated social infrastructure
A first of its kind not only in the GTA, but in Ontario, the BNC will be home to an innovative collaboration between our YMCA, the United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT), Scarborough Health Network (SHN), and other community service providers.
By co-locating vital programs, health care, and inclusive community spaces, the BNC will be a leader in integrated social infrastructure, bringing this currently underserved community not just one service to meet one of its many needs, but wrap-around supports — all easily accessible under one roof.
A one-of-a-kind community hub
Located in the Bridletowne neighbourhood of Scarborough, the Centre will be built on the site of the former Timothy Eaton School on Bridletowne Circle in the Warden and Finch area, a short distance from SHN’s Birchmount hospital.
This one-of-a-kind community hub will offer:
- A YMCA health and fitness facility and licensed child care centre.
- SHN’s Dialysis and Chronic Disease Clinics, expanding their hemodialysis and chronic kidney disease programs with 45 dialysis treatment stations and nine home-training stations.
- UWGT space will house a network of local agencies offering social services, physical and mental health promotion and culturally specific programming for local East and Southeast Asian communities.
- Shared space for community and cultural events, and office and retail space to support the project’s sustainability.
Coming together to bring the project to life
Countless stakeholders and supporters are coming together to make this innovative project possible. Here’s what just some of them have to say about the new BNC:
“Community hubs play a pivotal role in building strong communities where Canadians want to live, work, and raise their families. Our government is pleased to support the YMCA of Greater Toronto with the Bridletowne Neighbourhood Centre project. Offering health and fitness facilities, youth programming, child care and after-school programs, and access to essential services, the centre will be a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive heart of the neighbourhood that residents will benefit from for decades to come. With the YMCA working together with the Scarborough Health Network and the United Way, this is truly a community effort.”
— Jean Yip, Member of Parliament for Scarborough—Agincourt, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities
“The ground-breaking of the Bridletowne Neighbourhood Centre marks an exciting milestone for families in Scarborough. This new centre will be an important hub for community services, gatherings and recreation and will help to ensure that residents of this growing community have more access to convenient care, close to home.”
— The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
“The Bridletowne Neighbourhood Centre sets a new standard for what is possible when local residents, anchor organizations, and governments come together in support of our shared community. By removing barriers to social, recreational, and health programming, this holistic hub will foster a further sense of community in Bridletowne, and ensure residents have access to the tools, resources, and opportunities necessary to achieve their true potential.”
— Jennifer McKelvie, Deputy Mayor of Toronto
“After more than a decade of hard work, I am delighted to celebrate this milestone for the Bridletowne Neighbourhood Centre. The collective efforts and perseverance of local residents, government, community partners and our charity have made today possible. The Centre will bring vital and urgently needed programs and supports to the Scarborough—Agincourt community in an accessible and welcoming space. It will be a community anchor for generations to come.”
— Medhat Mahdy, former President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater Toronto.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at our exciting groundbreaking event! Your support is greatly appreciated and will ensure Scarborough community members gain access to life-changing essential services and social infrastructure.
Here are some photos capturing the excitement of the day:
Learn more about the future impact our new Y will have in the Scarborough—Agincourt community and stay up to date at ymcagta.org as the project progresses.
