Blackhurst Cultural Centre signs a 49-year lease agreement with City of Toronto

BY PAUL JUNOR

It was a great day of celebration on Thursday, April 25^th, 2024, when it was announced that the Bathurst Cultural Centre (BCC) signed a 49-year lease agreement with the City of Toronto. This is an important development in the history of the non-profit center as it will now begin the construction of a permanent location of this important cultural and historical meeting place in Toronto. The new home will be located at 777 Bathurst Street adjacent to its present location. The approval of the 49-year long-term lease agreement was granted by the City of Toronto in December 2020. It resulted after Westbank Corporations bought Mirvish Village in 2013 where the famed Honest Ed store was located.

Miguel San Vicente and Dr. Itah Sadu has operated the bookstore “A Different Booklist” for about three decades. As a fixture in the: Black, African and Caribbean community it has become a popular and well-known location for those who are interested in literature from diverse BIPOC writers and voices.

In attendance at the announcement were many board members of the BCC as well as: patrons, donors, community members and civic government officials. Toronto’s mayor Olivia Chow spoke to the crowd. She expressed best wishes for the success of BCC which has been an integral part of the City of Toronto since it was renamed a few years ago. She states, “Together, let’s build a city that’s: affordable, safer, more caring, more understanding of history and culture, where everyone feels they belong.”

Stanley Julien has been instrumental in the formation of the BCC as a founding patron and one of the individuals who was part of the initial board of the BCC. He notes, “What I am looking forward to is that years from now, there is a young Black kid who is speaking in front of a crowd and saying how the Blackhurst Cultural Centre impacted them and what it meant to their life.”

A message was written by Chrystia Freedland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. It mentioned that “The BCC will serve as an important gathering place to celebrate the rich history of the Black community in Toronto and to inspire the next generation to carry on that legacy. I wish you all the best as you move into your beautiful space.”

Itah Sadu, Managing Director of the Blackhurst Cultural Centre expressed her excitement at this momentous occasion. She states, “This is indeed a significant moment in history for the Blackhurst Centre as this neighborhood carries the spirit of the Underground Railroad and so many outstanding Black Canadians. This week, we celebrate the pioneer Donald Moore and his historic trip to Ottawa to petition the government to open up immigration from the Caribbean. Today I am proud to be in a gathering where some of the early domestics came and women were part of those early greeters at the airport. As I look around the place I see history, and I also see young people working here. This is a great moment for generations.”

Andrew Garrett, investor and developer who is a BCC board member gave his remarks. “I attended one of the first meetings with the city to discuss the lease.

At that time, we were optimistic. It has taken time, but today my wife and I are truly proud of the outcome and this significant milestone.”

Christina Myers also expressed excitement. She states, “There is never an ordinary day when you work at the center. I love working with the team here because when the doors open up magic happens. That’s great for us young people.”