Future of Africa Centre's multicultural hub debated at Edmonton executive committee

The long-delayed multicultural community centre by Edmonton's Africa Centre is now one step closer to fruition, after council's executive committee met Wednesday.

The meeting saw dozens of members of Black communities in Edmonton come to city hall to make their voice heard on the direction of the project, as the centre presented its revamped business case to committee. 

The African Multicultural Community Centre is being envisioned as a cultural hub to serve people of African and Caribbean descent, fostering unity, celebrating diversity and providing community services.

This would include an ambitious plan to potentially include amenities like a common space for events, gymnasium, library, commercial space for businesses, kitchen, daycare and low-income housing — all coming in with a price tage of more than $54 million, as outlined by the centre.

Board members of the centre are seeking land for the centre on a surplus school site in the Athlone neighbourhood that previously hosted programming at the former Wellington Junior High School. 

In 2007, the city facilitated a lease agreement with the Edmonton Public School Board, enabling Africa Centre to operate from the school.

Administration acquired the Wellington School and land in 2012 with the intention of helping pave the way for a new facility for the centre. Because of a variety of financial roadblocks, development on the centre has been sluggish. 

"Edmonton is now home to the fastest growing Black community in Canada, with projections that we would make up about 10 per cent of Edmonton's population in coming years," Samuel Juru, executive director of the centre, told committee members on Wednesday. 

"Through this time of growth, the Africa Centre has also grown exponentially to meet the growing needs of our community."

The centre is currently one of four organizations across Canada which is funded by the federal program Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative. 

Juru said the organization has grown to become the largest pan-African non-profit organization in western Canada.

A path forward 

The project has brought to the forefront the complex and nuanced concerns of different members of Edmonton's Black communities. 

A majority of the speakers spoke in favour of the project. 

"We find ourselves at a renewed crossroads," said architect Samuel Oboh, who was on the team tasked with crafting the design of the facility in 2017. 

"What began as a dream has evolved into an intergenerational mission, carried forward by elders, embraced by advocates and now actively championed by youth in the in one of Edmonton's fastest growing communities."

 Ranti George, a social worker and director of the Afro-Caribbean Indigenous Food Bank, told committee the facility would have importance for newcomers and refugees needing a one-stop shop to access key services. 

"We are investing in cross-culture collaboration with all other communities in Edmonton as our Indigenous partners, most importantly, a more equitable and inclusive city, which aligns with Edmonton anti-racism strategy."

A handful of speakers expressed concerns over a lack of meaningful engagement or having their community needs not being on par with other communities.

"Africa is not a monolithic entity. It is a continent of more than fifty countries, each with its own rich heritage, language and tradition," said Mohamed Ahmed with Somali Community Edmonton, noting a lack of engagement with Somali, Sudanese and Eritrean communities based on conversations had with others. 

"We are here, not to oppose progress, but we are here to ensure that the progress is inclusive of all voices."

Community advocate Odion Welch, who was one of the four founding members of Africa Centre counselling clinic, said there needs to be more data provided to show whether engagement had been done to understand the wide ranging concerns by specific communities. 

"Yes, it will be a significant step in showcasing Edmonton as a multicultural city as numbers rise. However, it will also support the erasure of supports for Caribbean Canadians, Black Canadians and mixed Canadians," Welch said.  

Juru responded to noting ongoing consultation and future consultation would take place with a variety of communities.  

Committee ultimately passed a unanimous motion to recommend city council have administration negotiate a $1 deal with the Africa Centre for the land with the option to buy back should construction not begin within 5 years. 

The motion came with multiple stipulations including:

• An updated operating model that includes contingencies for vacancy of commercial and housing units.
•  Letters of support from Black-led organizations that reflect the wide diversity of the African, Black and Caribbean community.
• Evidence of a plan to implement a governance structure for the African Multicultural Community Centre.
• A capital funding strategy with letters of intent from potential funders.