Complete the online survey by October 4, 2020, to share your feedback and help inform the design of the new Wabash Community Recreation Centre.
The City is planning a new community recreation centre at the south-east corner of Sorauren Park, adaptively re-using the existing former Canadian Linseed Oil Mills Ltd. building (1910).
Timelines are subject to change.
The design of the new Wabash Community Recreation Centre will build on 20 years of planning and consultation work by both City staff and the local community, which has played a strong role in driving this project forward.
The City first identified the Wabash site in a 1999 report as one of five historically under-served areas. The site, including the former Canadian Linseed Oil Mill factory, was purchased by the City in 2000 in order to develop a community recreation centre.
Thanks to the advocacy and fundraising by Friends of Sorauren Park and the local community, several improvements were made to the site, including renovations to the Field House in 2008, and the construction of the Town Square in 2014.
The City’s new 20 year Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan again identified the community recreation centre project as a priority for the City, this time specifying that it should include:
The site of the future Wabash Community Recreation Centre is bordered by Sorauren Park to the west and north, Wabash Avenue to the south and the CPR Railway corridor to the east. It is 6,734 square metres in size (outlined in red in the preceding image).
Over the past 20 years, a number of background and technical reports by third-party consultants were completed to inform the development of the new Wabash Community Recreation Centre. Given changes that have occurred to the neighbourhood and to City policies over time, these reports will be used to inform the new design where findings are still valid and applicable.
Full background and technical reports are not available in an accessible format and are therefore not posted to the project website. Instead, an executive summary of each report is available, with a reformatted and accessible copy of each executive summary also available.
To request a copy of any full report, please contact Doug Giles, Senior Project Coordinator, at 416-392-0989 or Doug.Giles@toronto.ca.
This round of public consultation will:
There are multiple ways to get involved in this round of consultation. Go to the Get Involved section for details.
Through a proposal call process, the City has hired the award-winning architectural firm of Diamond & Schmitt Architects Incorporated as prime consultant, along with their team of sub-consultants (Engineers, Heritage Architect, Landscape Architect and Public Engagement consultants), to begin the design process.
City staff hosted a public meeting to introduce the project to the community and to hear initial ideas on potential facility programs/features the community might like to see for the recreation centre. Feedback from this meeting helped to inform the scope of work and hiring of the project’s Consultant Team.
Download a summary of the meeting.
An important part of the planning process includes obtaining feedback from the community to ensure that diverse voices are heard and all ideas and recommendations are considered. The City is working with Swerhun Inc. – consultation and engagement specialists – to ensure that community members and stakeholders are involved in the Wabash Community Recreation Centre planning process.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, community engagement plans have been delayed, however, the engagement process is now restarting.
This phase of engagement will look different than in the past. As we follow guidelines around COVID-19, we will be hosting online meetings, and collecting feedback through online surveys, by telephone, and through the mail.
Two ways to join the meeting:
Join the virtual townhall to learn more about the project and ask questions.
Download the virtual townhall technology instructions.
Join the discussion on September 28, 2020. Choose a time that works best for you:
Register before the event online or by calling 416-642-6605.
Participate in a virtual small group discussion to share your thoughts and hear from others. Think of this as the round-table discussions you would have at an in-person public meeting.
Complete the online survey by October 4, 2020, to share your feedback and help inform the design of the new Wabash Community Recreation Centre.
If you or someone you know does not have access to a computer and/or the internet, request to receive a paper copy of the consultation materials at 416-642-6605. The consultation materials will include a discussion guide and a workbook. We will provide an envelope with pre-paid postage so you can mail the completed workbook back to us.
The City is forming a Community Resource Group (CRG) with representatives from various local community organizations to serve as an advisory body that will act as a sounding board to the project team at key decision points during the consultation process. The CRG will meet multiple times throughout the design process.
The engagement team has connected with several local community organizations for an introductory conversation about the project. These organizations have been invited to submit an application for the CRG. If your organization has not yet been contacted about the CRG membership and you are interested in taking part, please review the Draft Terms of Reference and submit an application.
Information about the CRG will also be shared at the Virtual Townhall to ensure the broader community is made aware of the CRG and has an opportunity to participate. If you miss the initial recruitment, the application form will be updated and you can still submit an application a week after the Virtual Townhall.
If you have any questions about the CRG process, please contact Khly Lamparero, engagement team from Swerhun Inc. at klamparero@swerhun.com or call 416-642-6605.
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