Future of Tamil Community Centre could be in jeopardy unless fundraising goal met: organizers

Members of Toronto's Tamil community have been working hard the last few years to fundraise for the construction of a new community centre, but those behind the project say it may be in jeopardy unless significant funding is raised by the fall. 

The Tamil Community Centre (TCC) — to be constructed in Scarborough — is set to include a library, museum, auditorium, recreational spaces and spots to facilitate community programming. 

But that vision hinges on enough financial commitment, says Kubes Navaratnam, a member of the board of directors for the TCC. 

"There is an urgency," said Navaratnam.

"The federal funding, provincial funding and even the city land is conditional on the fact that the community is going to come together and help build this public facility for us."

In 2020, Toronto city council voted unanimously in support of 311 Staines Rd. as the home for the TCC. A land lease was finalized between the city and TCC in 2021 with annual rent of $1 plus HST.

The federal and provincial government announced more than $26 million in funding.

The remaining cost, approximately $40 million, is in the hands of the Tamil community.

The non-profit TCC has launched an online campaign to raise $15 million by Sept. 27, which is the date of its annual general meeting, to keep the project on track. The Founding Families Campaign is searching for 2,500 families to step up and commit to donating $10,000 over the next two years.

"If they do, they get their name engraved in the wall," Navaratnam explained, adding the centre is also accepting donations of any amount.

If it can't raise the funds, the board fears it will have to potentially delay, scale down or cancel the centre altogether.

Keerthana Rang, chair of the board of directors for the TCC, says the project is an opportunity to build something that will preserve Tamil culture, heritage and language, but also serve the greater community.

"It's also an area in Scarborough that is under-served, where there's not enough community spaces," she said.

"So not only will it be great for the community here, but it's going to be an amazing centre for all the communities in Morningside Heights."

Future centre to house community programming

Once it's built — the non-profit centre will also provide an inclusive space where local organizations can offer programming. The Centre for Leadership and Innovation — which offers programming for youth — will be one of them.

It facilitates workshops and events that help promote leadership and innovation among Tamil Canadians and other multicultural communities.

"All of these programs, right now, we are [hosting them] at separate places," said Chen Muthukumaraswamy, who is on the board of directors for the organization.

"But having a Tamil Community Centre, it would be awesome for us to host some of these events there and have a central spot where everyone can come in and mingle together," he said.

If the TCC stays on track with its fundraising goals, it plans to get shovels in the ground in the spring and host a grand opening party in 2028.