TORONTO (JTA) — Canada’s federal government will contribute up to $15 million toward the building of a massive Jewish community campus north of Toronto.
Monday’s announcement was made by Julian Fantino, Canada’s minister of state for seniors.
The federal funds will support the third phase of the Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Jewish Community Campus project, a sprawling 50-acre site in the Toronto suburb of Vaughan. Its services are to be phased in from 2012 to 2016.
The final phase of the project, to cost $45 million, will include a conference pavilion and atrium, a theater and lecture hall, an outdoor pool, and a number of multi-purpose programming and meeting facilities.
A Jewish high school already is housed on the campus. The completed project will include a network of health and social services.
The Lebovic campus is one of three Jewish community centers in the Toronto area being funded by the United Jewish Appeal Federal of Greater Toronto’s $225-million Tomorrow Campaign. To date, $180 million has been raised for the project.
"Our government remains focused on the economy, which is why we are proud to invest in this local infrastructure project that will create jobs, strengthen Vaughan’s economy and improve the quality of life of [local] families well into the future," said Fantino.
