Part of the ongoing process to unknot the planning errors that kept Regent Park impoverished, the private-public partnership between the Toronto Community Housing Corporation and The Daniels Corporation is critical to the effort to resuscitate the ailing district. The addition of new housing and the resurrection of the street grid are, however, only one aspect of the redevelopment. Critical, too, is the provision of space for community bonds to be fostered. In recognition of the importance of community infrastructure, the Hockey Canada Foundation and the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Team Up Foundation have made a significant donation to refurbish an outdoor hockey rink in Regent Park. Drawing on the proceeds from the annual Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic, the funds will flow to the city owned and operated hockey rink located at the corner of Sumach and Shuter Streets in South Regent Park.

Formal presentation of the funds for the project, image courtesy of The Daniels Corporation and the TCHC.

(L-R) Justin Bobb, Youth Engagement Coordinator, Toronto Community Housing;  Mitchell Cohen, President, The Daniels Corporation;  Michael Bartlett, Executive Director, MLSE Team Up Foundation;  Tom Bitove, Past Chair, Hockey Canada Foundation Board & Co-Chair, Hockey Canada Foundation Celebrity Classic.

Joining an aquatic centre, substantial new park and community centre to be completed in 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively, the refurbished hockey rink is a welcome contribution to the redevelopment of a neighbourhood slated to house 12,500 residents. Exciting, too, is the provision for seven arts and social enterprise organizations in the new Regent Park Arts and Culture Centre.

For more information on the most recent projects in Regent Park, take a look through the dataBase listings below.

Related Companies:  Cecconi Simone, Diamond Schmitt Architects, entro, Hariri Pontarini Architects, NAK Design Strategies