Tibetan community looks to build on fundraising

Tibetan community looks to build on fundraising. The Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre is seeking donations to help fund the completion of renovations in time for His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit this October. (September 1, 2010) Staff photo/NICK PERRY

The federal government said in April it will match funds raised toward the $6.6 million project that involves adding a gym, multi-purpose hall, and a Tibetan-Canadian museum to the existing Tibetan Canadian Culture Centre (TCCC) centre at 40 Titan Rd.

But a Sept. 1 statement from organizers of the Dalai Lama's October visit to Toronto, during which the religious leader is scheduled to officially open the new centre, notes, "to date, the Tibetan community committed to raise $300,000 and looks to non-Tibetan supporters to help raise the remaining $3 million."

The statement also notes the Tibetan community "hopes to raise the remaining funds prior to the official visit in October. This would allow His Holiness the Dalai Lama to formally inaugurate and bless a fully-funded cultural centre."

Namgyal Nangsetsang, of the media department for the Dalai Lama visit, noted in an email to Toronto Community News Sept. 1 that demolition of the front end of the building is complete and renovations have begun.

"Initially there were some delays due to environmental restrictions according to City of Toronto which found lead in the roof paint, which is now being replaced to meet with the bylaw safety measures," reads the email. Despite the lack of funds, "the TCCC renovation project will not downsize and continues to move forward in their goal to have a fully renovated building by March 31, 2011."

During a visit from Toronto Community News to the TCCC in late July, Lhakpa Tsering, administrative manager of The Tibetan Cultural Centre, anticipated 80 per cent of the work will be done by Oct. 23, the date of the opening ceremony, with work on "details" to continue following the religious leader's visit.

The centre is not only to serve the Tibetan community, said Tsering during the visit. "As this becomes a better place, more people will use it," he said.

Meanwhile, the TCCC and Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario (CTAO) are welcoming two monks set to arrive Sept. 5 from the Namgyal Monastery based in Dharamsala, India, to help prepare for the Dalai Lama's visit. The monks will perform special ceremonies, including the filling of Buddhist statues with relics, in advance of the official inauguration of the TCCC, noted organizers.

The Sept. 1 statement explains the Tibetan community, "a unified and hard-working community of only 5,000 people", secured $3.2 million in 2007 - including $100,000 from the Dalai Lama - to buy the warehouse building which serves as the venue for the TCCC.

For more information about the centre or to make a donation, visit www.tcccgc.org

For information about the visit of the Dalai Lama to Toronto this fall, visit www.dalailamatoronto2010.org