Health care hub breaks ground at Bathurst and Finch.
Politician, dignitaries and members of the community help break ground Wednesday for the Bathurst-Finch Community Centre and Hub to be built beside Northview Heights Secondary School.
Staff photo/DAN PEARCE
A new community hub at Bathurst Street and Finch Avenue broke ground Wednesday, July 6.
Unison Health and Community Services, along with 11 anchoring and supporting partners, were on scene as ceremonial shovels dug into the ground housing Northview Heights Secondary School, where the Bathurst-Finch Community Hub is expected to open next spring.
The $8-million, 18,000-square-foot hub will be located where the current school parking lot is. Once construction begins, the parking lot will relocate to the other side of the school. The land has been leased to Unison by the Toronto District School Board.
The hub will house Unison's new satellite site providing treatment services, illness prevention, health promotion and community development through a team of health care professionals. A dental clinic will be operated through Toronto Public Health.
Anchoring partners CUIAS, Family Service Toronto, JVS Toronto, Kababayan Community Services, KCWA Family and Social Services and North York Community House will provide a range of services including settlement, counseling, case management and employment. Other partners include Big Brothers and Big Sisters Toronto, Circle of Care, Downsview Services for Seniors, Hong Fook Mental Health Association and North York Women's Centre. These partners will offer mentoring, caregiver/family support, case co-ordination, life skills and violence prevention services.
Additionally, the hub will provide dedicated space and a garden for community members to convene and run programs.
"I'm very glad this is now here for our community," said area resident Lula Seid, who came out to the ground breaking with her three children. "I'm really glad it's steps from my house. This was definitely missing in the community."
Seid said she travels to the Allen Road and Lawrence Avenue area for Unison's services, but once the Bathurst-Finch Community Hub opens she plans to take advantage of the health care services for her family and seniors programs for her father.
"This reaffirms Ward 10 is on the road to revitalization," said local councillor James Pasternak.
Capital funds for the hub development are being provided through the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, United Way Toronto and the federal government's Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.