The Government of Canada is investing $20 million over the next two hears for urgent capital work at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. Arts and culture help strengthen our communities and having spaces that bring artists and the public together contributes to the vitality of our country.
Ontario Construction News states that the federal Harbourfront Centre Funding Program provides operating funding to the Harbourfront Centre to allow it to offer access to cultural, educational and recreational programs and activities on the Toronto waterfront. It also supports its fixed operating costs and facilitates the Harbourfront Centre's ability to leverage funding from other sources and find other revenue-generating strategies.
"This cultural and artistic centre in Toronto is a unique and valuable part of the development of Canadian cultural expression and professional artistic presentation in Canada. The Government of Canada is proud to help strengthen the infrastructure and enrich the performance spaces at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre, a flagship destination for the community."
Minister of Canadian Heritage | Steven Guilbeault
Marah Braye, Harbourfront CEO, stated that the Canadian Heritage's significant capital investment recognizes the vital role the Centre has played hosting a diverse range of artists and communities in its venues for close to 50 years.
This funding will enable them to continue to build an inclusive and sustainable cultural centre and repair aging infrastructure so that they will be able to continue to present world-class programming to their audiences.
The Harbourfront Centre creates cultural and artistic events and activities to enliven, educate and entertain the public on Toronto's waterfront. It is estimated that nearly 5 million people visit the site annually.
A few of the activities offered at the Centre include:
- Day camp programs for both March Break and throughout the summer
- Over 100 classes for kids, teens and adults for skating
- Craft and design courses taught by Craft & design Artists-in-Residence for beginner and intermediate with hands-on experience in creative expression
- Sailing and powerboating courses in their internationally recognized Sail Canada 'Centre of Excellence in Training' facility, offering practical, on-water experience
- School visits
- Book Clubs
- Festivals
- Performing arts
Newswire reports that the Government of Canada knows that cultural and community infrastructure helps build strong, dynamic and prosperous communities. That is why the government is making an important investment in Toronto's Harbourfront Centre, a key cultural centre that contributes to the vitality of Toronto's waterfront and is a destination for visitors from across Canada and around the world.
This investment will help in undertaking priority capital improvements and repairs that will update performance spaces and venues, and address issues necessary to safely welcome back artists, visitors, audiences and staff who have faced extraordinary challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Investing in the Harbourfront Centre will not only improve the infrastructure, but will also support access to arts, culture and recreation, and provide greater opportunities to showcase the diversity and richness of Canada.
